Well, My Capon Crowed Today

[Chewbagawk]

I was sound asleep in my suburban house when at 6:55 AM I heard my capon Kashmir crow! At first I didn't believe it, but ten seconds later he did it again. I threw off the covers, grabbed my No Crow collar off of my desk, and ran outside before my neighbors found out where the crow was coming from. Long story short, after ten attempts of putting the collar on while he tried to turtle his way out of it, Kashmir is now quiet.

I was surprised to hear Kashmir crow. After I noticed his masculine traits at 5 weeks old, I took him to the vet and had him caponized when he was 9 weeks old. I was aware that the process wouldn't absolutely halt his male development, but now that he's 25 weeks old I thought I was in the safe zone. Apparently not! At least he's always been very quiet, so his crows were pretty pathetic without the collar. It was a full-fledge crow, but about half the decibel that I would expect. My room is right next to the coop, and no one else even heard it. My pulled Pocahontas can be louder than him!

Kashmir hasn't even attempted to crow since I put the collar on, and he's already pretty much used to it. The four other girls, however, aren't. It's funny to see them chase him around trying to peck at the strange Velcro contraption around his neck. He's always been the submissive, cowardly one; which is another reason why I never expected him to crow! I'm just glad I prepared just in case and bought a collar.

My boy is all grown up!

 

[sourland]

He is extremely masculine looking for a bird that has been caponized. Not doubting your vet, but ---------------------------

 

[BBQJOE]

Please excuse my ignorance, but why even have a rooster if you're going to caponize it?

 

[Folly's place]

He looks like a cockrel to me. Were all of both testicles removed? Maybe... Mary

 

[Chewbagawk]

I understand the doubts, but she (the vet) said she made sure she totally removed all trace of the testis, and she had done it before. His behavior definitely changed after his "operation" and it did take 6 months for him to even think about crowing. Whatever the reason for him to continue developing like a rooster, I'll live with it. I have dirt on any and all neighbors that would even think of causing a fuss (when it comes to animals, it's hard ball).

Responding to the question regarding why I even have a rooster, it wasn't exactly my choice. I bought him (along with my other SLW pullet) at a feed store, and while they were sold to me as sexed pullets (according to my bill of sale), one of them happened to be male. I didn't kill him because I don't think an animal should be killed solely because they were born a certain way. Not his fault he is a rooster.

All I can do is try to give him the best possible life.

 

[Chewbagawk]

Update: Based on the pictures of 6 month old roosters I've seen (as well as capons of that age), he's not as developed as he naturally would be at that age. Seems like his waddles should be bigger, his legs should be thicker, he should be more muscular, should have crowed earlier, etc.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Update: Based on the pictures of 6 month old roosters I've seen (as well as capons of that age), he's not as developed as he naturally would be at that age. Seems like his waddles should be bigger, his legs should be thicker, he should be more muscular, should have crowed earlier, etc.

No expert here on capons, but I would agree with your assessment as to his physical characteristics....not a full fledged 5 to 6 month old Wyandotte rooster.

My understanding is caponizing will change the aggressiveness in the bird and create more tender meat but will not necessarily affect crowing. Capons can and will still crow (albeit I suspicion with less frequency lacking the male hormones). Of course the male feathers develop as the default feathering is male without the female estrogen to soften and round the feather follicles.

I've had good luck with the no-crow collar in keeping my fully in tact rooster quieter (as a courtesy to my neighbors). I've noticed the collar itself helps with the frequency and definitely the noise decibel. I would let him crow, but the neighbors might think differently.

LofMc

 

[Chewbagawk]

No expert here on capons, but I would agree with your assessment as to his physical characteristics....not a full fledged 5 to 6 month old Wyandotte rooster.

My understanding is caponizing will change the aggressiveness in the bird and create more tender meat but will not necessarily affect crowing. Capons can and will still crow (albeit I suspicion with less frequency lacking the male hormones). Of course the male feathers develop as the default feathering is male without the female estrogen to soften and round the feather follicles.

I've had good luck with the no-crow collar in keeping my fully in tact rooster quieter (as a courtesy to my neighbors). I've noticed the collar itself helps with the frequency and definitely the noise decibel. I would let him crow, but the neighbors might think differently.

LofMc

Yeah that is as far as my understanding goes. I knew that the operation would help with aggression (one of the many reasons I can't have a rooster). It's not like caponizing him at that age would make him grow into a hen. I was just hoping he'd never get the urge to crow for his own sake; Personally, crowing does not bother me, and I love that sound much more than cat fights, loud arguments in Chinese, children screaming for hours, two month long roofing jobs, etc. (I'm looking at YOU, picky neighbors).

So far, it seems like the collar is working. Not a peep out of him this morning. Maybe he just didn't feel like it today.

 

[bngowe]

For comparison, here is a picture of my gold laced wyandotte capon at 28 weeks. Head is suppose to be hen-like and small. My capon learned to crow from the roosters in the area. It’s about a half crow though. My other capon doesn’t crow at all, so maybe it just depends on the capon?

 

[Ponyfeather]

My two-year-old, Bantam Phoenix hen that crows... also he sure doesn't look like a rooster would look at that age. He seems more fluffy then the roosters I have known at his age. But all animals have things hardwired into them, so one capon might crow and another might not. I have a gelding who will still mate with mares he likes. But then he was gelded late in life.

I'm glad you were able to find a vet willing to caponized him.