GRAPHIC PICS of my day learning to caponize

[Neuport]

For what it's worth, I clean the tools with hot soapy water after use, dry them and put a drop of mineral oil on any moving parts. Before use I soak them in alcohol. I wipe down surfaces but I'm not fanatical and I agree with nail, it's far from sterile but I do the best I can within reason.

@nail - I'll try the clamps next time. I hadn't thought to clamp the cords to the table. Should work much better.

 

[Neuport]

BTW - Here is the Leghorn 2 days postop. He has calmed down and is quite tame and seems to be none the worse for wear.

 

[Squamate Farmer]

I forgot to ask, how does everyone sterilize their instruments? I'm sorry if this has already been asked & answered, I haven't read every page

. I was thinking about boiling them as I don't have access to, or own an autoclave.
Thank you,
Rose

I keep a tupperware with F-10 (1:250 dilution) disinfectant at the ready, tools go into the tub if they are not being used. One the caponizing is done for the day, tools are washed with soap and hot water, then dried and put into their own storage box. Autoclave is way overkill, even diluted bleach would suffice as long as it is well rinsed before introducing it into the next bird cavity.

 

[Rose-adamaj]

I keep a tupperware with F-10 (1:250 dilution) disinfectant at the ready, tools go into the tub if they are not being used. One the caponizing is done for the day, tools are washed with soap and hot water, then dried and put into their own storage box. Autoclave is way overkill, even diluted bleach would suffice as long as it is well rinsed before introducing it into the next bird cavity.

It is easy to forget that inflection doesn't show in the written word. I was trying for humor with the autoclave statement.
Now that's out of the way, lol.
Thank you Sqamate Farmer, Neuport, Kassaundra & Naillikwj82 for your responses.
Rose

 

[dfr1973]

This morning's caponizing score: out of 4, I feel certain 3 are capons and one is a maybe. That's at least a 75%, which is a C.

The last one was the crankiest, and may have had a small piece fall down behind the intestine.

As for tools, we wash ours after dishes at the end of the day, and in between birds I wipe them down with an alcohol prep. Since I am outdoors for it, I don't see any reason to go to extraordinary lengths.

 

[jbkirk]

So I recaponized the one that didn't die the first time and it is doing well.
Though Kassundra did you use a coffee straw or a normal straw?

 

[Deerfield Acres]

So I recaponized the one that didn't die the first time and it is doing well.

 

[TaraBellaBirds]

@jbkirk & @dfr1973


I only did 2 of the 3 11 week old males. Even at this age there was a huge difference in the testicle size and texture.
The 8 week old males were pretty simple to get a hold of and get out in one piece. It's possible I may have another slip but I don't think so.

Now I will start on the 7 week olds for this weekend.

 

[wvhomesteader]

Excellently put.
Moreover, birds do not have the same nerve structure that humans or other animals have and therefore don't feel pain for these types of procedures.

Thanks to all who gave their testimony and feedback on this post. I found it to be very informative.

Op- Thanks for the wonderful detailed pictures.

 

RaeRae2 - Ok, I'm sorry.  But why would you not take the bird to an avian vet and have this done with local anesthetic?  This is brutal animal abuse in my opinion.  Pluck their feathers out, slice them open, and remove testicles with NO anesthetic? 

You are obviously in the wrong section. Caponizing has long been part of raising meat chickens.  If you find this offensive then go over to some fluffy feel good section like raising baby chicks.

1st.  Most of us aren't lucky enough to have avian vets in our area.
2nd It would be a fortune to caponize a bird which would then make it cheaper and easier to just kill the roosters
3rd  Anestitizing any bird if very dangerous to the bird, many husbandry practices have shown better results in many animals for which people think OMG. yet better for the animal.
4th  THIS IS THE MEAT BIRD SECTION.  We raise meat birds to kill and eat.  You may call that disgusting (though it is rude to come to our forum to do it) but everything shown above is not worse than what happens to the birds that come in the nice little styrofoam trays at the grocery store.  Go watch Food Inc.  become more realistic about your food or become a vegan.

 

[Beer can]

'Food Inc' is why I decided to get back into having chickens and a big garden. We might not be able to grow and raise everything our family needs, but we can put a dent in it.