GRAPHIC PICS of my day learning to caponize

[Sylviaanne]

• You can search for "Weitlaner retractor" on eBay. There are different sellers. Different types and sizes will come up. You want a 4" or 4.5" model with blunt teeth.

Does someone know a better way to get information together without doing what I am doing and posting on the post to save it for reference? Sylvia

 

[Kassaundra]

Again, for reference.

I used that retractor before getting the Chinese tools, and it works okay, but honestly the Chinese retractors can't be beat imo. The Chinese tool set has a pair of "grabbys" that work very well if you can't quite manage the string (wire) method.

 

[Kassaundra]

Does someone know a better way to get information together without doing what I am doing and posting on the post to save it for reference? Sylvia

If your using a computer you could copy and paste to a specific file on your computer.

 

[Sylviaanne]

I used that retractor before getting the Chinese tools, and it works okay, but honestly the Chinese retractors can't be beat imo. The Chinese tool set has a pair of "grabbys" that work very well if you can't quite manage the string (wire) method.

I like the idea of the straw, staples and wire. It looks easy to use and definitely easy to make. Sylvia

 

[Sylviaanne]

Wow this is not as easy as it looks..... no matter how much I read and watch the video or study the pictures, and the anatomy..... I tried a processed chicken this morning I bought from the store, and I think I killed it again. Poor thing, I stabbed and cut that thing all over still don't think I found the right spot. I really want to keep my favorite rooster, but with my skills I just don't think it will happen and he is running out of time You all were correct about the the rib spreader that come in the kit, I couldn't get those to stay inside a processed chicken much less a live chicken. Yikes

ROFL I'm not ready yet but had planned on using freshly killed birds to practice on. I have some boughten chicken in the freezer. I guess I could practice finding where to make the incisions but I don't have any tools. Maybe I can get some next month but it might take longer.

 

[elsiebb]

My day trying to caponize.... I've read this thread from start to finish, some of it multiple times. I've watched lots and lots of videos. I bought tools from Poco. I've practiced on birds from the grocery store. Saturday I brought home ten 6 week old cockerels and today I gave it my first try. I didn't lose any birds, but I didn't caponize any either. I successfully opened up the first bird, but could not find the testes. Rooted around for a bit (not a long bit) and gave up, tried to seal the skin (with wound sealer - didn't work) and sent him off for food and water. Tried again with a second bird. Same problem. He was much squirmier than the first and I am working alone, so it was more problematic so he also went off for food and water with a hole in his back but testes intact. The third one I was determined to keep at it until I found them, but despite two successful cuts, the third time I was in the wrong place and didn't get into the body cavity. He was off the table in less than a minute. So the other seven have had a stay of execution while I come here for some tips - what might I be doing wrong that I couldn't see the testes on either of the first two birds? I followed directions an made the cut between the bottom two ribs, just didn't see anything inside that looked right. What do you recommend for how I proceed from here? Thanks for your collective wisdom!

 

[Sylviaanne]

I was going to tell everyone that I found metal tubes about the same length as a plastic straw, but smaller in diameter at either Lowes or Home Depot. I thought they might work good for the testes removal tool instead of a plastic straw. The tubes were in the area where they have all the bolts and nuts and weird screws, in a drawer that had specialty items. I found them by accident and thought when I saw them that they might be good for caponizing tools. I havent found any wire yet I thought would be ok....if anyone has any thoughts on the wire part, please tell me.
I'm pretty sure it was Lowes, but could have been the other.
What a great thread!

Hmm, does it have to be wire? Could it be fishing line? Would that work. I have no idea how difficult or easy it is to remove the testes. Sometimes it sounds easy, not so much in other posts.

 

[Kassaundra]

My day trying to caponize.... I've read this thread from start to finish, some of it multiple times. I've watched lots and lots of videos. I bought tools from Poco. I've practiced on birds from the grocery store. Saturday I brought home ten 6 week old cockerels and today I gave it my first try. I didn't lose any birds, but I didn't caponize any either. I successfully opened up the first bird, but could not find the testes. Rooted around for a bit (not a long bit) and gave up, tried to seal the skin (with wound sealer - didn't work) and sent him off for food and water. Tried again with a second bird. Same problem. He was much squirmier than the first and I am working alone, so it was more problematic so he also went off for food and water with a hole in his back but testes intact. The third one I was determined to keep at it until I found them, but despite two successful cuts, the third time I was in the wrong place and didn't get into the body cavity. He was off the table in less than a minute. So the other seven have had a stay of execution while I come here for some tips - what might I be doing wrong that I couldn't see the testes on either of the first two birds? I followed directions an made the cut between the bottom two ribs, just didn't see anything inside that looked right. What do you recommend for how I proceed from here? Thanks for your collective wisdom!

Set up a bird like you are going to caponize, plucked and restrained, take a sharpie and mark exactly where you would cut were you going to cut the bird, take a few pics at least one of the whole bird in the pic and at least one close in showing the landmarks and post them so we can see where you are cutting. In the correct location you should be able to see the teste very easily w/ very little moving of intestines, especially if properly fasted. (also how sure are you they are boys???)

 

[Sylviaanne]

I'm dealing with this issue right now! My capons have grown to the point that I needed to move them to the bigger run, which has to be shared with my little flock of layers. The capons (even the largest of them) are so low on the pecking order they have to fly up just to get to ground level

. I lost 3 birds within 24 hours. I integrated them into a very large shared run with separate coops and plenty of roosting space. I did this on the same day I added a round of young laying pullets. There was the usual pecking order adjustment, but I ended up having to build a separate run/coop for the capons as they were just getting beat up on by everyone else ( 3 different breeds in this batch and all pretty big). I'm not sure if it HAS to be done, but I'm planning on doing all future birds seperately from start to finish.

I read that capons can make good brooders, how can they be used as brooders if they have to be separate?

 

[Maggiesdad]

Elsie what kind of cockerel and what size were they? Some of the more melanotic birds have dark grey or black testes, and that always throws me off... It wasn't 'til I found some half black half yellow testes that I figured it out. On the one lb birds the unit may be the size of a grain of uncooked rice. And I swear once you touch them, they get smaller...