The Great Capon Experiment

[Kassaundra]

Quote:
So ........................ how did it go? Everyone still alive? Did you get to do the very young one?

 

[Tiffrz-N-Kidz]

Well, it went really well from an educational point of view, but not so well for the bird.

Let me preface this by noting that the vet is used to operating under anesthesia, and they do not teach caponizing at vet school, so I am grateful to him for even attempting to do the surgery. At one point, a major artery was nicked, and the bird bled out. The vet attempted to stop the bleeding but was not successful. It was a quick end, for that I am grateful.

We did, however, actually caponize the bird and learned LOTS from the experience. He even helped dress the bird out for me and I will be making stock from him tonight.

As soon as the McNuggets get a little more size to them, we'll start caponizing them. I may ask around and see if I can get another donated roo or 2 from local breeders.

If any of you experienced caponizers has suggestions, I'd love to hear from you. I am not discouraged at all, just even more focused on learning all I can. I did find out that the vet and his wife raise meat chickens and show/meat rabbits themselves.

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

The poor vet - I am sure he felt bad - but and not to sound flippant - the bird served his purpose. If his life was 3 months or 12 months, his purpose was to teach and be dinner in the end.


What was the most amazing or odd thing you learned?


I am actually thinking about "trying" this on a bird whom I have processed - mine will be older but the area to cut should be the same (correct?). Maybe if I gain experience on a carcass first I will try with a live chicken. *sigh*

 

[Sunny Side Up]

Okay, now I don't have to feel so bad about killing the first cockerel that I ever tried to caponize. The mistake I made was trying to cut the organ loose before picking it out. Whatever I cut must have been a blood vessel, because the cavity quickly filled with blood and the poor bird died within minutes. He wasn't a total loss, because we flipped him over and practiced on his other side.

There we learned to just grab the testicle with the forceps, clamp the tool shut, and then twist & pull at the same time. I start rotating the tool around & around, while slowly pulling it out. This seems to stretch & snap the little connective cord, freeing the testicle for removal. There is no blood loss in the cavity afterwards. I don't poke around in the cavity with anything sharp.

We just buried the little guy, at 10 weeks he wasn't worth cleaning for cooking.

 

[Kassaundra]

Also shows there is a learning curve whether a vet or a chicken owner. Once the skill is learned it is no less humane for the chicken owner then the vet. And learning the skill no less humane.

The Mcnuggets are 3 wks old? What age is going to be the first attempt w/ them?

 

[KatyTheChickenLady]

very cool! this is now on my list of things to get to!

 

[Tiffrz-N-Kidz]

Sunny -
That sounds a lot like what happened to us. Something went pop and suddenly there was a pool of blood in the cavity.

Horse Featherz -
He did feel badly but as you said, the bird served its purpose. The most amazing part I thought, was learning that birds have no diaphram and very few ribs. Once the membrane was torn, the bird made this odd whooshing/whistling sound. The vet was readfy for it but I was startled! I must have been all bug-eyed because he said, "I TOLD you they didn't have diaphrams."

Oh, and I nearly passed out when the blood started. I was OK with the blood at first but then he started sopping it up with gauze and I had to excuse myself because I was getting tunnel vision and my ears were all cottony.

I did get over it, but I am going to have to make sure I have someone with me when I do the deed so if I pass out they can wake me up!

Kassaundra -
The McNuggets are 3 weeks old and sadly one drowned over the weekend. There was this 5 inch hole in ground in their new "Big Boy House" that was hidden by the grass, and when it rained, the runoff went under the side walls and filled up the hole. The rest of the heathens must have pushed him in and sat on him. Poor guy. I have to relook the position of the BBH but Idid fill in the hole, so there should be no further danger. But I did open him up and found one of the doo dads all by myself

AND I was not grossed out at all. Big progress for this city chick. The doo dad was about the size of a big eye goober, and finding it amonsgt the guts and organs was surprisingly difficult. Once I found it it was all slippery so I am ordering some cupped ended tweezers with little teeth on them to see if that helps grabbing the things.

I think there is guidance that says they need to be a mimum weight before there is a good chance of finding the things relatively easily, so unless another one dies I will probably wait at least another week or 2 before trying it on a live one.

 

[KatyTheChickenLady]

very interesting still!

 

[Kassaundra]

I also read that no food for 12 hrs prior to the event makes it easier to find the testes. This wasn't an option on the accidental death though.

 

[Tiffrz-N-Kidz]

I did withhold feed for 12 hours for the older roo and have to tell you that empty guts give LOTS more space inside.

I did give water, though, I just can't see depriving any animal of water.