GRAPHIC PICS of my day learning to caponize

[Kassaundra]

I probably should add some pics of the tools. Next time we get together for this I will take pics of her tools and I may take some pics of mine.

 

[franklinstreetwest]

Thanks for the description, it helped a lot. I think I have a pretty good mental picture of what the tool is and how it functions now. Actual pictures would be an awesome addition to your tutorial! I hope you decide to add to it in the future. I will definately be printing this off and saving it in my big book of "Things Box People Say Are Impossible". Thank you again for posting this.

 

[Kassaundra]

naillick gave me an idea. He offered the posting use of some of his pics of his tools. When I went to his page and saw the tools he used that gave me an idea. For those of you who have tried or who want to try and are gathering tools. Post pics of the tools you have used how you use them and how successful they were or were not. For those that are gathering tools post pics and maybe others that have experience can offer ideas if they think they will be useful or not.

 

[MacGuyver]

My caoponizing tools.



They came with a very nice set of instructions.



Original box too.



Here's just randomly everything in the box.



This is the blade included. I don't actually use it. I bought a scalpel and blades.



This is the blunt probe for moving intestines around. Works well.



These are the scoop forceps that I actually use to grab the testicle. I love these. They are my favorite tool and I really bought the set mostly for them. No regrets.



This is the tool that most people are trying to recreate with their straws and staples. I don't really like it that well. Maybe I'm just no good at it, or I have the wrong wire (foundation wire from beekeeping), but I can't manipulate it very well.



These are the rib spreaders included with my tools. They're crap. Honestly.



Toe punch? I don't know why it was in my kit, but, whatever.



I bought these retractors separately and use them instead of the rib spreaders. I like them much better.



This hook is for tearing the membrane when you get inside the body cavity. I like it, but I bought a modern one that I like better.

 

[Ksane]

Ummm...MacGuyver...?? Do you know how to caponize also?? Do you want to make a bit of extra spending money? We're not too far from each other, I'd be indebted forever if you could do some cockerels for me.

 

[Kassaundra]

Thanks Macguyver for posting your tool pics. I have those retractors too.

 

[partsRheavy]

Thanks for the pics! We have the same Philadelphia set of tools and retractor here. My caponizing buddy sometimes also likes to use a pair of curved hemostats for removal.

 

[MacGuyver]

Ummm...MacGuyver...?? Do you know how to caponize also?? Do you want to make a bit of extra spending money? We're not too far from each other, I'd be indebted forever if you could do some cockerels for me.

If by "know how to caponize" you mean "have spent an afternoon with Coral learning how and practiced on two birds" then yes, yes I know how to caponize. If by "know how to caponize" however, you mean "have enough experience to feel confident that I could do a good job on your little guys with an acceptably low risk of harm", then no. I'm sorry. I don't know how to caponize. After next spring I intend to have more practice and could do that.

 

[partsRheavy]

Imagine a flock where there are 50-100 adult chickens that have been hatched out of an incubator or hatched by broodies, so they are approximately 50:50 male:female. A few of the males are given away, sold, or eaten, but there are still around 30-40% roosters.

I've seen the result. Almost all of the hens have bald backs and quite a few of the roosters have practically no tail feathers.

In this case, it's a form of cruelty to "just leave them be" rather than actively managing the flock. A medium or large group of chickens (say, 10-15 or more perhaps) that is left at a 50:50 ratio of males to females will result in a situation like I have described.

Chickens are intensely social animals and the ratio of males to females is important to their health and well-being.

Quite a few capons will coexist peacefully with the other chickens in a flock, whereas if they were left as roosters they would be scrapping, pulling feathers out etc. as I've described.

By the way, if you're vegetarian, either don't keep chickens or just order a couple sexed pullets from a hatchery. That way these sorts of issues won't come up for you.

And, if you order sexed female chicks, the hatchery personnel already, um, possibly did some dirty work about those male baby chicks. Or if they're nice and want the male chicks to have a chance at growing up, they will sell them at a discount to...meat eaters.

 

[PlatypusPerry]

How very cool to see! Thank you for posting all those pictures and information!