GRAPHIC PICS of my day learning to caponize

[ChookAtThis]

I can pretty reliably tell gender pretty early in my birds, I do the ones I'm sure of younger, if I am hinky about any they wait a few weeks until I can see for sure.

Kassaundra, this is what I'm having the HARDEST time with. I've only had chooks for a year so I'm sure some of it comes from experience, but how on earth can you tell? I'm basically clueless until they start crowing. Is there some resource you can point me to to help me learn? Otherwise all my roos will be much older than recommended to Capon. Thanks!

 

[Neuport]

2 for 2

This guy was a bit older than the last. I was at the feed store yesterday and asked if they knew of any 6-8 week old cockerels that folks were trying to give away. They had someone come in that day and gave me his number and I picked him up after work.

The previous owner said he was 8 weeks old and just starting to try to crow. Apart from the fact that he was much more developed than the other cockerel I operated on, they could have been twins. Same coloration,etc. He was also much stronger and had much more attitude. I am hoping he mellows out over the next week or so.

This procedure went smoothly. Smaller incision than last time. I ended up having to enlarge it slightly because the testicles were so much larger and I needed room to get them out. I tried my modified retractor but the modified jaws were not deep enough. The Reitlaner worked great though. I think I will just stick with it. The snare performed flawlessly. With the thin wire you have the choice of pulling tightly and cutting or gently pulling the tissues free. I did one each way because someone had asked if it could be used to cut. I ended up suturing the ribs incision with 4-0 gut and the skin with 3-0 silk because I had it, was only doing one and not pressed for time, wanted to see if I could avoid wind puffs, and I just don't like leaving those big holes especially on one this old.

Here are some pictures. I include these not to be graphic but because it would have been helpful to me when I was trying to figure it out.

About 25mm



Post-op stink eye

 

[Kassaundra]

2 for 2

This guy was a bit older than the last. I was at the feed store yesterday and asked if they knew of any 6-8 week old cockerels that folks were trying to give away. They had someone come in that day and gave me his number and I picked him up after work.

The previous owner said he was 8 weeks old and just starting to try to crow. Apart from the fact that he was much more developed than the other cockerel I operated on, they could have been twins. Same coloration,etc. He was also much stronger and had much more attitude. I am hoping he mellows out over the next week or so.

This procedure went smoothly. Smaller incision than last time. I ended up having to enlarge it slightly because the testicles were so much larger and I needed room to get them out. I tried my modified retractor but the modified jaws were not deep enough. The Reitlaner worked great though. I think I will just stick with it. The snare performed flawlessly. With the thin wire you have the choice of pulling tightly and cutting or gently pulling the tissues free. I did one each way because someone had asked if it could be used to cut. I ended up suturing the ribs incision with 4-0 gut and the skin with 3-0 silk because I had it, was only doing one and not pressed for time, wanted to see if I could avoid wind puffs, and I just don't like leaving those big holes especially on one this old.

Here are some pictures. I include these not to be graphic but because it would have been helpful to me when I was trying to figure it out.

About 25mm



Post-op stink eye

First off, Congrats!!!!!!!

Secondly, that boy is much older then 8 weeks!!!!!

Yes, his attitude will mellow DRAMATICALLY over the next few days / weeks

 

[Kassaundra]

Kassaundra, this is what I'm having the HARDEST time with. I've only had chooks for a year so I'm sure some of it comes from experience, but how on earth can you tell? I'm basically clueless until they start crowing. Is there some resource you can point me to to help me learn? Otherwise all my roos will be much older than recommended to Capon. Thanks!

A lot is spending time early on looking at the "what gender is my ........ posts" here on byc, and really watching and noticing my own young birds and what they turn out to be. In the early very young stages sometimes it is more about attitude. Some boys have different down patterning / color. Boys legs are thicker starting pretty young, they "heads up" more at unexpected noises, as they start feathering in their feathers are colored / patterned differently then the girls. The boys from a pretty young age "feel" different when you pick them up, heavier then you expected. (couple of weeks)

Try posting pics to this thread or other threads if they are a specific breed, good head shots and side body shots are best.

 

[Deerfield Acres]

Neuport, nice job!!

I am separating my first batch of 10 today and a second batch of 15 tomorrow in two rabbit hutches with hardware cloth floors. I plan to caponize on Friday and Saturday. I plan to return them to their deep litter pen on Monday and rotate another 10 and 15 into the hutches for separating at the same time and finish caponizing the rest of the boys on Wednesday and Thursday next week.

I am nervous but ready to go.

 

[Neuport]

Thanks guys!

Deerfield, good luck. I wish I was close enough to help. One note on the snare. For the one I did today, the loop looked too small to go over the testicle but it slipped right over and worked down easily due to the resiliency of the wire. If you have any big ones, give it a try before giving up.

 

[Deerfield Acres]

Thanks guys!

Deerfield, good luck. I wish I was close enough to help. One note on the snare. For the one I did today, the loop looked too small to go over the testicle but it slipped right over and worked down easily due to the resiliency of the wire. If you have any big ones, give it a try before giving up.

Will do! Thanks for the tip.

 

[LindaB220]

Thanks guys!

Deerfield, good luck. I wish I was close enough to help. One note on the snare. For the one I did today, the loop looked too small to go over the testicle but it slipped right over and worked down easily due to the resiliency of the wire. If you have any big ones, give it a try before giving up.

Great job!!!!! What a cutie he will be!

 

[dfr1973]

Neuport, nice job!!

I am separating my first batch of 10 today and a second batch of 15 tomorrow in two rabbit hutches with hardware cloth floors. I plan to caponize on Friday and Saturday. I plan to return them to their deep litter pen on Monday and rotate another 10 and 15 into the hutches for separating at the same time and finish caponizing the rest of the boys on Wednesday and Thursday next week.

I am nervous but ready to go.

Sounds similar to my scheduled caponizing marathon, which starts tomorrow morning. I have a bad back, so I think four at a time (three mornings in a row!) will be enough until I get faster. Good luck, and may the Force be with you!

Neuport, congrats on the success. Those look like they were decent-sized to be pulling out whole.

I slaughtered a 26 week old cockerel this morning - he flared and kicked at me one too many times when I went to get eggs out of the tractor. Each of his testes were larger than his gizzard - close to three inches long! When I showed them to hubby, he said, "Well that certainly explains a lot!"

This was the first time I've slaughtered one that has finished puberty, and wow was he tough to skin! I should have plucked him. It likely would have been faster.

 

[Kassaundra]

Sounds similar to my scheduled caponizing marathon, which starts tomorrow morning. I have a bad back, so I think four at a time (three mornings in a row!) will be enough until I get faster. Good luck, and may the Force be with you!

Neuport, congrats on the success. Those look like they were decent-sized to be pulling out whole.

I slaughtered a 26 week old cockerel this morning - he flared and kicked at me one too many times when I went to get eggs out of the tractor. Each of his testes were larger than his gizzard - close to three inches long! When I showed them to hubby, he said, "Well that certainly explains a lot!"

This was the first time I've slaughtered one that has finished puberty, and wow was he tough to skin! I should have plucked him. It likely would have been faster.

Those full grown boys are much easier to pluck then skin, that connective tissue will fight back! One of the many, many reasons I love my Naked necks, soooooo much easier to pluck.

Flaring at me once gets the death sentence here, I put up w/ an aggressive roo when we first started, had to bring a weapon in w/ me every time I was in the chicken part of the yard, never again!