GRAPHIC PICS of my day learning to caponize

[Kassaundra]

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.

Glad it all went well. Some react that way, get thier beak all bent out of shape and pout a bit, but most don't. If I have a more flighty or excitable one I give them a little extra time secured down but not starting the procedure to let them calm, or place a towel or sock over head/eyes.

 

[BCMaraniac]

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.

Congrats! The first one is always the worst. I lost my first one, and knew if I didn't continue as planned that I would chicken out and give up altogether. It's been my experience if they bleed a little more than usual that they sometimes will sit for a little while before moving around and eating. The majority of them act like they are starved and haven't eaten in a week!

 

[HaplessRunner]

What are the "ideal ages" to caponize? I have some young cockerels (too many actually) that I would like to give caponizing a shot. And how old is too old to try?

 

[Maggiesdad]

They should be a little bit starved!

 

[Maggiesdad]

What are the "ideal ages" to caponize? I have some young cockerels (too many actually) that I would like to give caponizing a shot. And how old is too old to try?

The smaller the better, but there is a trade off on working tiny with nervous fumbling fingers. 1 to 1-1/2lb is a good starting point... some where around 6-8wks, depending on your stock.

Once your confidence and success builds, then move to smaller birds. They heal faster and have less of a setback in growth.

 

[BCMaraniac]

MD, I agree wholeheartedly. That is what I did. Establish confidence and competence, then go to the smaller birds.

 

[WalkingWolf1]

What are the "ideal ages" to caponize? I have some young cockerels (too many actually) that I would like to give caponizing a shot. And how old is too old to try?

Last year I tried on two ckrls that were ~9mo old. We knew they were too old but they were being butchered anyway so that was the initial foray. I learned a lot from that experience and knew heeding the advice of experience from here that the younger birds are the way to go. I purposefully waited till 5 weeks. This seemed to be a common denominator in the reading I had done. I like what we found. The birds were big enough yet the testes were still nice and firm. We had no trouble locating the testes in the body cavity. They are a nice light yellow in contrast to everything around them. I have the "chinese" tools that are talked about earlier in this thread and they worked well.

Thanks BCM and Kass as it was you guys and all the others that have put down a nice clear path for us to follow. The guy I raise chickens with came over with two of his sons and we all learned a lot. He will be receiving 300 CX in about a month and he says I can have all the capon practice I could want

. Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas..

 

[BCMaraniac]

Last year I tried on two ckrls that were ~9mo old. We knew they were too old but they were being butchered anyway so that was the initial foray. I learned a lot from that experience and knew heeding the advice of experience from here that the younger birds are the way to go. I purposefully waited till 5 weeks. This seemed to be a common denominator in the reading I had done. I like what we found. The birds were big enough yet the testes were still nice and firm. We had no trouble locating the testes in the body cavity. They are a nice light yellow in contrast to everything around them. I have the "chinese" tools that are talked about earlier in this thread and they worked well.

Thanks BCM and Kass as it was you guys and all the others that have put down a nice clear path for us to follow. The guy I raise chickens with came over with two of his sons and we all learned a lot. He will be receiving 300 CX in about a month and he says I can have all the capon practice I could want

. Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas..

Merry Christmas to you as well WW. It was this thread that Kass started that got me interested in caponizing, and I thank her for that. However, I did go a little capon-crazy, and practically every boy on my place ran scared...LOL. I think I even made my DH nervous

I have had success and failure, but I have had a lot of good chicken to eat. Even a capon slip roasts very nicely in the oven. I even gave poulardizing a go, though some of them are giving me eggs.....LOL. I hope to continue to pursue that, since the poulards tend to fill out and give plumper breasts than the capons, though they are smaller.

If you decide to take your buddy up on his offer, just remember how quickly they grow, and how much muscle there is. A 1 - 1 1/2 pound CX will probably be about 2-3 weeks old. Also, make sure that the thigh muscle which slides over those lower ribs with expiration is out of the way of your knife. If you cut it, you will have much more bleeding, and it is painful for the bird. This is where cutting just the skin with your initial incision is a very good thing, so you can see it. I have a small retractor that is simply a piece of metal with a "J" shape on the end that I slip under the thigh muscle to gently pull it out of the way until I make my incision between the ribs. If you haven't noticed it before, I am sure you will with the CX.

 

[Kassaundra]

It always makes me feel good when others have been helped by a thread I started, we have had many positive contributors over the life of this thread, I appreciate all of you who have helped to make this thread what it is.

 

[Poco Pollo]

Merry Christmas Eve

I've had several requests for Chinese capon tools sets, so I will be ordering again on January 15th. If you would like to order tools or a disinfecting box, please send me a PM.
The double set has two sizes: Rooster size and chick size.
This single set has a round blade and works for chicks and older birds.
The boxes are aluminum and are approximately 7 1/2" X 3 1/2" X 2"

I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!