GRAPHIC PICS of my day learning to caponize

[Kassaundra]

You guys are funny! I use my own pic as avatar, but I am VERY selective. I am not one to use unflattering pics as avatar, I have several FB friends I just shake my head and wonder about!!! lol lol lol My FB avatar is not always me, I change that one up much more often.

 

[MagicChicken]

Quote:
Thanks, I hadn't thought about the bleed-out issue. It may be a moot point for now. This morning, both chicks were unsteadily hopping around with one virtually useless leg. They had been that way for nearly a week with no improvement. Tonight, after I gathered all the caponizing equipment and reviewed the procedure again online and in my head, I went to collect the chicks from their hospital cage so I could cull them and practice caponizing them. Except both chicks were standing... on both legs... wondering where the treats were. LOL! I can't help but wonder if they knew something was up and decided they had better show some signs of improvement.

At any rate, they've gone from cull list to watch list. If they really are improving I'll put them back outside in a few more days. Mom the broody is still sitting on everybody at night, so I can probably sneak these chicks back under her without much squabbling. No capon practice for me yet!

 

[Kassaundra]

Glad they are doing better, there will be more opportunities.

 

[MagicChicken]

I noticed that most of you seem to go in from the left side, but in the Chinese videos they seem to go in from the right side. Has anyone tried going in from the right? I'm wondering if it's easier to get both testes from the right side?

 

[Darkangael]

Not sure I am curious if anyone has tried the right side also. Since I have no chickens yet as my hatch was a bust.

 

[BCMaraniac]

Not sure I am curious if anyone has tried the right side also. Since I have no chickens yet as my hatch was a bust.

I noticed that most of you seem to go in from the left side, but in the Chinese videos they seem to go in from the right side. Has anyone tried going in from the right? I'm wondering if it's easier to get both testes from the right side?

I have caponized from the right side and have had some success, but I only do so if I am certain that it is a cockerel. The reason for starting on the left side is that the testicle is more easily identified than the right, so if there is not a testicle on the left, then you have a pullet. Also, most folks here on the forum make two incisions, so they start on the left for the reason I just mentioned, then go to the right side. However, some people can get both testicles from the left side as well.

 

[Kassaundra]

I have tried both ways and never been successful at removing both testes w/ one cut.

Left side first is for gender id as BCM stated, right side first is suppose to be for removal of both w/ one cut, however it has not worked for me.

 

[LindaB220]

LOL. I won't change mine either.......unless I get a better capon......

Totally off the subject, BCMaraniac, but I have been watching Schlecht Hatcheries for the past few months to check on availability of new stock. They were offering BC maran's for $4 SR. I'm sure not terrific quality wise but still a good buy. I noticed a couple of days ago the picture of them has been pulled. So I emailed Etta the owner to see if any would be offered. It seems the neighbor's dogs got in and of course killed them all. So they're upset. Maybe next year. She sounds so nice. Ok, through with my rambling. Back to caponing.

 

[BCMaraniac]

LindaB.

That is so terrible. I feel so blessed that I have only lost one bird to a predator......a young cockerel......and the predator was one of my dogs. The two dogs....the Great Pyr and Australian Shepherd....that watch out for my birds keep everything away are great. I have another young Great Pyr that has no sense whatsoever that I have to keep away from the chickens, and she got loose and killed a 10-12 week old cockerel.

Are you caponizing yet?

 

[WalkingWolf1]

The day finally got here. We operated on two 5 week old ckrls this morning. The first incision was one rib too far up and I corrected for the rest. I didn't have to recut but it was more work finding and removing the nugget. I didn't attempt both from one side -- two cuts for both. The second bled a lot less than the first. The first bird was a much more excited than the second.

After the procedure the second bird never missed a step. He was standing and eating (mashed up boiled eggs) right away. The first bird however stayed "sitting" down for about 1/2 hour before getting up and moving around. He ate but just wouldn't get up. Both are now up and moving around the cage eating and drinking.

Many thanks to the contributors of this thread that have helped to revive and dying art.