It seems that there are more male chickens hatching this year than normal

[Kabootar]

N

Good plan. Did you teach yourself to caponize?

No, my father taught me to caponize, 9 years ago. In the beginning I killed many birds, but I learned quickly. Now it takes me only two minutes to caponize a cockerel, my father can caponize atleast two cockerels in a minute though. Last year I caponized some 350 or so birds with only 1 dead (a fidgety leghorn with high BP) and two slips. I thinks that is good enough.

 

[ChickNanny13]

@Kabootar That would be an idea wonder if I could get my Vet to do it It probably wouldn't be cost effective. I'll google/YouTube it and see if I have the stomach to do so, thanks for the idea.

 

[Kabootar]

@Kabootar That would be an idea wonder if I could get my Vet to do it It probably wouldn't be cost effective. I'll google/YouTube it and see if I have the stomach to do so, thanks for the idea.

I doubt your vet will do it. In India, China and other countries there are specialists (caponizers) that do it. In some countries the farmers do it themselves. No one takes a chicken to a vet to get it caponized.

 

[ChickNanny13]

A person could do well providing that service here. I'm sure there are farmers/ranchers that but doubt many backyard raisers do. T.hanks for the idea, will see if anyone here does such a 'service' ... Sure would solve the cockerel issue in hatching.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I've never done it but am familiar with the process. If you butcher extra cockerels, that's the perfect time to practice. After the bird is killed you can see what you are doing from the inside and outside.
You need a caponizing kit to spread the ribs and grab the testes. You go in from the back of the bird.
Vets should be able to do it but I doubt they will. Until they get practice, they may be afraid they'll kill the bird.

 

[SueT]

It (caponizing) would make a fascinating how to article, if someone were to write one.....and include photos. (hint hint)
Also I'm sure people would want to know if it's possible to caponize an older bird, an adult even?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

It (caponizing) would make a fascinating how to article, if someone were to write one.....and include photos. (hint hint)
Also I'm sure people would want to know if it's possible to caponize an older bird, an adult even?

It isn't advised to caponize an adult.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

It (caponizing) would make a fascinating how to article, if someone were to write one.....and include photos. (hint hint)
Also I'm sure people would want to know if it's possible to caponize an older bird, an adult even?

This should answer most of your questions.
https://www.countryfarm-lifestyles.com/caponize-chickens.html#.XVx__mfsbct
The idea of caponizing, just like castration, is to remove the aggressive hormones and the desire to mate. And also send the food energy for growing birds to meat production. Capons can become huge.
There are some stores around me that carry capons. They are kept in the frozen food section with other birds like turkeys, ducks, geese, quail, squab, etc..

 

[ChickenCanoe]

It looks like there was a tutorial on here about 7 years ago.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/graphic-pics-of-my-day-learning-to-caponize.675898/

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Most hatcheries and poultry related companies carry caponizing kits as well as amazon.
https://www.meyerhatchery.com/productinfo.a5w?prodID=CK