GRAPHIC PICS of my day learning to caponize

[aart]

Hmm, well you taught me something. These instruments are definitely attracted to my watch clasp, which is some variety of rare earth magnet. It’s fairly strong, so I suppose that could exaggerate my perception of the strength of the magnetic response. If not steel, then what?

It's steel or iron, just not stainless steel.
Wish I could remember the chemical content quantities, but I CRS...
.... and am to lazy to look it up .

 

[CindyinSD]

What is CRS?

 

[CindyinSD]

Oops...nevermind I have the same problem there. It’s getting scary, in fact.

 

[Mosey2003]

Saw today at the store, $3.89/lb, yeouch.

 

[CindyinSD]

$31.35?!? Holy smokes! That had better be some goooood eatin! From our time in Rochester, HyVee seemed pricey to me, but still... I guess you’re gonna be feeding and housing them longer than a CX broiler. Even so, wow!

 

[Mosey2003]

Well, I tried one. Did not succeed, but did not kill him.
I think I cut one rib too far forward, could not locate testes. It's hard when they're little! And it's a very small space.
Will try again next week.

 

[CindyinSD]

Good job! That’s gotta take a lot of nerve, but it’s the only way to learn it. It must be real hard to feel those little ribs. It seems like most of the other people had that same problem.

One video I watched, the lady rubbed the plucked skin with alcohol to see the blood vessels in the skin so she could avoid them if possible. It seemed to me it made the ribs easier to see as well. Someone somewhere else said not to use alcohol. I’m not sure why—maybe it stings if you’ve just then plucked the feathers? I think I’ll use it unless it seems to be hurting.

 

[Sara L]

Good job! That’s gotta take a lot of nerve, but it’s the only way to learn it. It must be real hard to feel those little ribs. It seems like most of the other people had that same problem.

One video I watched, the lady rubbed the plucked skin with alcohol to see the blood vessels in the skin so she could avoid them if possible. It seemed to me it made the ribs easier to see as well. Someone somewhere else said not to use alcohol. I’m not sure why—maybe it stings if you’ve just then plucked the feathers? I think I’ll use it unless it seems to be hurting.

I think the issue with the alcohol was that if you don't wait long enough for it to evaporate, it will sting when you make the incision, causing the bird pain/distress.

 

[Mosey2003]

Yes, I used alcohol so could see the veins. It was harder to locate the last rib than I anticipated. Maybe because he was a bit small? The movement from breathing made it hard! I really thought it would be foolproof to find the end of the ribs and simply go up one, but it wasn't. I think bigger is better for this, at least at first.
Since there's only 3 of them they can stay in the brooder either until the other two are fully caponized and big enough to hang with the pullets, or until they're a nice little meal. I think I may have had him stretched a bit too tight too. Will reevaluate.

 

[Kabootar]

So happy to see you guys trying to learn the forgotten (at least in USA) art of caponization. I understand that it maybe a difficult procedure for a sensitive person, but the art of castrating chickens is an important skill to have if you want to run a sustainable poultry operation. So stick with it in the new year.

Have a happy and successful new year ahead.