GRAPHIC PICS of my day learning to caponize

[BCMaraniac]

Here is what I figured out: When you make your incision, make it a little bigger toward the front of the bird. Get through all of the layers of the membranes(peritoneum) and locate the right testicle. Loosen it up just a bit by removing the membrane around it, and when you do, try to get hold of it(it is quite stringy) and pull as much as you can out of the opening, and cut it off(it pulls it loose from some of the intestines, which makes it easier to move them out of the way, plus it not being there helps with visibility.

Use the right testicle to help you get oriented. Directly below the testicle as you are looking at it, there is usually a pulsating blood vessel(you can actually see the blood moving through it). To your left you will see another large blood vessel, but it is not pulsating. The left testicle is located almost directly under that large vein, but it sits a little lower toward the tail than the right one. You will need to have enough room so that you can come at it from the side yet under that large vein(the vena cava, I think). Carefully begin removing the membrane a little at a time, and you should gradually see the testicle. You literally have to go up under that vein to elevate the testicle from behind it to see the whole thing.

 

[BCMaraniac]

That is how I got the photos, took them while my mentor was doing the procedure, everytime I have been doing it too I have been unable to get pics.

I had a free hand for the camera, the retractor was holding everything open.....even the bird was cooperating. I only had to use one hand to keep the intestine out of the way. But the camera blocked my light source. If my hubby had been there to hold a light from the side to illuminate the surgical field, I think I could have gotten a great picture, which I know would make it easier for you to find that left testicle. The right and left testicle were exposed, yet you could tell that the left one was tucked up underneath the vena cava. You could also see that the left testicle is located a little lower(toward the tail) than the right one.....errrrrrrrrrr.....still makes me mad.

 

[naillikwj82]

Reply to post 335 with pictures:
When the time comes to process the birds, check how much testes is left. The three birds to the right are slips. A complete capon will not have an erect tail, nor bright wattles, and next to no comb development at all, giving the appearance of a smaller head. They don't carry themselves like a proud cockerel. Even a miniscule amount of testes left attached to a blood supply will continue to develop and create testosterone. The varying degrees of a slip may range from just wattle color...wattles and upright tail.....to everything just short of full cockerel attempting to crow. Keep in mind that a small amount of tissue continues to develop, so with age the development is more, so the testosterone levels slowly increase and cockerel traits become more apparent. They still tasted good. What happens in the longer term is that the bird becomes more active, no longer the couch potato, resulting in high muscle use. There is an old university book (naturally I can't find it now, but think it was from Cornell) that depicts the amount of tissue left, and equates this to the severity of the slip's unwanted characteristics at length of term. Bearing in mind that 80 years ago the capons were sold with heads, and tails intact for proof of capon product.
I caponize birds regularly all year, and am quite proficient, even so about 15 percent result in slips of varying ranges. I also feel that the degree of slip may be in direct relation to the size of cockerel on day of caponizing. where a 1 - 1.5 pound bird generates no slips (small testes, weak connective tissue), to a 1.5 - 2 pound bird the chances are increased (larger testes, further firmer connective tissue development). I will not do a bird at 2 pounds, rather just take him up to 3.5 - 4 pounds and use as broiler/fryer.
Kass, thanks again for starting this thread.
jeff

 

[BCMaraniac]

Jeff,

I don't see pictures.....is it me or did they not upload????

What is the youngest age that you have caponized?

Do you caponize from one side or both?

Sorry for all of the questions, but most of us here are very much newbies at this caponizing thing.

 

[naillikwj82]

I caponize when the bird approaches one pound. That is the ideal weight for me. The incision is now 3/4 to 1 inch so that I can perform the removal. It can be done on smaller birds with success, Zionjudah has been successful, but not by one who has benign tremor as I. My procedure is also from each side, starting with the left first, as the left is more prominent. This became needed for difficult to sex birds with Pea combs, and is now my routine starting side. If there is no testes apparent on the left, the pullet is back to feed and water with the rest of the birds, and will still attain point of lay in the normal time frame. (Though I still process pullets for table fare, and they are delicious too!)

 

[BCMaraniac]

I caponize when the bird approaches one pound. That is the ideal weight for me. The incision is now 3/4 to 1 inch so that I can perform the removal. It can be done on smaller birds with success, Zionjudah has been successful, but not by one who has benign tremor as I. My procedure is also from each side, starting with the left first, as the left is more prominent. This became needed for difficult to sex birds with Pea combs, and is now my routine starting side. If there is no testes apparent on the left, the pullet is back to feed and water with the rest of the birds, and will still attain point of lay in the normal time frame. (Though I still process pullets for table fare, and they are delicious too!)

Thanks for the picture. This week I caponized 7 cockerels, (1) at 4 weeks, and (6) at 4 1/2 weeks. I didn't weigh them, but I was able to remove both testicles from the right side in all of them.....I am slower than molasses, however. It is a bit tedious with that size bird, but I am getting much more comfortable with it, so I am hopeful that I will become more efficient timewise with more experience. My next project is poulardizing pullets in a month or so.

 

[Zootopia]

Kass,
Can you re-post the ordering info for the Kit? I've looked back and can't seem to find it. I am going to put some JGxNH and BRxDelaware in the bator for fall meaties and that will be the perfect time to try out my skills with the smaller birds.
Thanks

 

[Kassaundra]

Kass,
Can you re-post the ordering info for the Kit? I've looked back and can't seem to find it. I am going to put some JGxNH and BRxDelaware in the bator for fall meaties and that will be the perfect time to try out my skills with the smaller birds.
Thanks

http://www.mistertao.com/yext/search?keyword=capon&cn_keyword=%E9%98%89%E9%B8%A1&type=all

 

[Kassaundra]

Kass,
Can you re-post the ordering info for the Kit? I've looked back and can't seem to find it. I am going to put some JGxNH and BRxDelaware in the bator for fall meaties and that will be the perfect time to try out my skills with the smaller birds.
Thanks

Poco Pollo also said she has 2 sets left of the ones she ordered, both the large and the small bird sets and instructional CD. She said you could contact her by pm if you'd like to get them from her.

 

[BCMaraniac]

Wooo Hoooo congrats!!!!!!! My next batch I plan to do at 4 weeks

Kassaundra,

Do you already have chicks that you are planning to caponize at 4 weeks?