Incubators Anonymous

[ladycat]

Stupid question: What is "capon"?

No such thing as a stupid question (but they're the easiest to answer!)

It's a neutered male chicken.

 

[calichicken]

Stupid question: What is "capon"?

No such thing as a stupid question (but they're the easiest to answer!)

It's a neutered male chicken.

Well I just learned something new! I didn't even know they neutered chickens??????

 

[ladycat]

Well I just learned something new! I didn't even know they neutered chickens??????

Yes, hens can be spayed, too.

But generally the reason cockerels are caponized is because it makes them real tender (for eating) even when they get big.

 

[sonderah]

When I was a kid, I can remember seeing "Capon" in the grocery store but didn't know what they were. I though they were another type of fowl, like chicken, duck, goose or game hens. I haven't noticed any Capons in the grocery stores for ever! Doesn't mean they aren't there, I just don't notice. I was surfing here on BYC and found this thread: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/675898/graphic-pics-of-my-day-learning-to-caponize

I started to read and since I now have chickens and I am using an incubator which means lots more chicks than my 7 unbroody hens would give me, I thought I'd like to caponize some of my cockerels and have them be my brooders. I figured that I am going to have lots of cockerels. I have also gotten some silkie chicks now, 10 of them I don't know the sex of but I am hoping they will sit eggs and be brooders too. That link will give you information on the caponizing clinics. It doesn't sound hard, just scary. LOL

So, you would caponize them then give them away for meat basically?

I, personally, count backward from what month the weather starts warming up and the sunlight increases and laying naturally picks up; I figure out at what age I think the breed(s) I want to hatch are going to lay, and then I start hatching so that the pullets are going to going to have the longest laying season possible.
That's just me.  So, no, I wouldn't start hatching IN March, I'd start hatching for March laying.

Lol well I still have several babies, & more due to hatch a week from today. 41 eggs left in now. Maybe I'll set 1 more good size hatch, but I'm thinking that should be more than enough. I did sell my turkeys yesterday, dropping them off tomorrow, so lots of room available to grow these babies out now!

Yes, hens can be spayed, too.

But generally the reason cockerels are caponized is because it makes them real tender (for eating) even when they get big.

Well ain't that nifty! Who'd a think it? Do they still crow after caponizing? And are they usually more docile after?

 

[Sylviaanne]

So, you would caponize them then give them away for meat basically?

Well ain't that nifty! Who'd a think it? Do they still crow after caponizing? And are they usually more docile after?

No, I don't plan on giving them away or selling them. Plan on using them myself.
If the cockerels crow before they are caponized they will still crow for a while afterwards but not as much and as time goes on, not at all. At least that is what I have read. Yes, they are more docile and don't fight or try to mate with the girls.

 

[Faraday40]

Great news:
At 18 days old, the large navel scab completely came off. It was there this morning & nothing's noticeable now. I allowed the two from my ICU to join the others in the grassy play yard. No scuffles, so they'll be sleeping in the garage tonight with the rest of chicks. I just checked & all is well.

Here are a few pics of Hope's progress.
incubator


1 day old


1 week old


2 weeks old


Today - no more visible naval!



Now I hope Hope is a female. It's a Coronation Sussex, so s/he has a lot more growing to do.

 

[gander007]

Great news:
At 18 days old, the large navel scab completely came off. It was there this morning & nothing's noticeable now. I allowed the two from my ICU to join the others in the grassy play yard. No scuffles, so they'll be sleeping in the garage tonight with the rest of chicks. I just checked & all is well.

Here are a few pics of Hope's progress.
incubator


1 day old


1 week old


2 weeks old


Today - no more visible naval!



Now I hope Hope is a female. It's a Coronation Sussex, so s/he has a lot more growing to do.

Now she has dune so well and such a cutie

 

[sonderah]

Got rid of my turkeys Saturday, did a few adjustments, and now the huge pen we had for them is a giant grow out pen for all these babies!! Got 12 out there now, 14 in the big kid brooder to go in a few weeks, 3 new tiny 4 day old silkies in the baby side of the brooder, and 41 eggs going to the hatcher tomorrow! Good thing I now have LOTS of grow out room!! Depending on this hatch, & how many make it, I may set ONE more time before Feb or March.

ETA- Oh yeah, & we started setting posts yesterday for the coop/run for our Polish Pen!!! I was afraid the hubs would wanna use the turkey pen, and I'd be SOL on grow out. Lol

 

[TeaChick]

Yes, hens can be spayed, too.

But generally the reason cockerels are caponized is because it makes them real tender (for eating) even when they get big.

I'm not sure whether I want to know how they go about getting them out...

But thank you for the information. =)

So, you would caponize them then give them away for meat basically?
Lol well I still have several babies, & more due to hatch a week from today. 41 eggs left in now. Maybe I'll set 1 more good size hatch, but I'm thinking that should be more than enough. I did sell my turkeys yesterday, dropping them off tomorrow, so lots of room available to grow these babies out now!

Well ain't that nifty! Who'd a think it? Do they still crow after caponizing? And are they usually more docile after?

Oh, I see.
I was just saying that I would set eggs so the pullets start laying in March; that would mean setting them in...(March minus six months for them to start laying equals hatching in September, which means setting eggs in August for me.) =D

No, I don't plan on giving them away or selling them. Plan on using them myself.
If the cockerels crow before they are caponized they will still crow for a while afterwards but not as much and as time goes on, not at all. At least that is what I have read. Yes, they are more docile and don't fight or try to mate with the girls.

You do this yourself? At home? Or do you take them to a vet?
I'm going to search this and see if I can find an article on here about doing it.

Great news:
At 18 days old, the large navel scab completely came off. It was there this morning & nothing's noticeable now. I allowed the two from my ICU to join the others in the grassy play yard. No scuffles, so they'll be sleeping in the garage tonight with the rest of chicks. I just checked & all is well.

Here are a few pics of Hope's progress.
incubator


1 day old


1 week old


2 weeks old


Today - no more visible naval!



Now I hope Hope is a female. It's a Coronation Sussex, so s/he has a lot more growing to do.

Yay!!! for Hope!!!

Hoping with you that s/he is a girl with you!!

Got rid of my turkeys Saturday, did a few adjustments, and now the huge pen we had for them is a giant grow out pen for all these babies!! Got 12 out there now, 14 in the big kid brooder to go in a few weeks, 3 new tiny 4 day old silkies in the baby side of the brooder, and 41 eggs going to the hatcher tomorrow! Good thing I now have LOTS of grow out room!!

Depending on this hatch, & how many make it, I may set ONE more time before Feb or March.

ETA- Oh yeah, & we started setting posts yesterday for the coop/run for our Polish Pen!!! I was afraid the hubs would wanna use the turkey pen, and I'd be SOL on grow out. Lol

Good for you!!!
I need to get a coop built for my Jr roo and the "Little Girls", then I'll need to talk my DH into a grow pen for chicks we're not going to be free ranging. Hmmm.....




So, here's my post.
I got a HUGE egg from my nicest hen, so I stuck it in the 'bator with the hatch I already have going on; I'm hoping for twins.

I'm thinking about adding one egg from my pullet who started laying two weeks ago. If I do that, I'm thinking about just sticking the egg she laid today in there. Thoughts?

 

[Sylviaanne]

You do this yourself? At home? Or do you take them to a vet?
I'm going to search this and see if I can find an article on here about doing it.

I don't do it yet. I am planning on taking a class to learn how. I have advertised in my area and gotten no results back for anyone who knows how to do it locally. As I understand it, most vets don't know how to do it because most vets don't do poultry.
Here is the link where I learned about it: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/675898/graphic-pics-of-my-day-learning-to-caponize