Who has caponized a rooster lately?

[coyotesmommy]

Who has caponized a rooster lately? I have read about everything I can find on it and before I take the big plunge, I want some first hand knowledge from folks. I have heard conflicting things, I know it makes the rooster more docile, fatter, removing the testosterone takes the fight out but does it stop them from CROWING?

 

[brahmabreeder]

I did it on four white leghorns. I ended up with three after all was said and done. Mine hasn't crowed yet and is about two months old. The other two just died because of stupid racoons. I will be doing 22 more this coming weekend and the one after. The surgery is actually quite simple. Jut don't try to do it too quick. I think that's why I killed the one bird.

 

[PressOn]

Does it keep them from crowing though?

 

[brahmabreeder]

I can't say for sure but I will say yes. This is my first year doing this so I haven't had any mature yet. My other uncaponized white leghorn roosters were already crowing by this age. I think it has to do with how early you perform the surgery.

 

[coyotesmommy]

I think I am going to try it, I have 5 roos and I will start with the one I like the least. Did you order the little $33 kit? I am not very squeamish and I just have to remember to be calm think twice before each step and remember I am doing this so that I wont have to get rid of my favorite one because of his crowing, which they have not started yet.

 

[PressOn]

Be sure to give us a crowing report six months from now.

 

[brahmabreeder]

I did buy a caponizing kit. The rib spreaders suck! If you have a helper you could probably make them work. I will give you two a report on crowing later on. Just some one is going to have to remind me. I have noticed my bird is more docile. It looks like a pullet right now. Comb and wattles aren't real red and are small. One thing I read that still interests me is that you could use them to brood chicks. If I caponized my one of my buffxlight brahma crosses I would have a giant brooder. If he would hatch eggs that would be even better...

 

[coyotesmommy]

I a m going to try to wrangle my husband into helping me. How bloody was it? Do you cull your own chickens? Which method did you use to tie them down? SOOOO many questions. Thank you.

 

[naillikwj82]

If a cockeral is successfully caponed it will not crow. They may sometimes brood (adopt) chicks. they will not sit eggs!
coyotesmommy- watch for pm

 

[brahmabreeder]

What I did to tie them down is I just wrapped string around the legs then since I had them on a board I went under the board and then tied the wings together. It was only bloody when I hit what ever I hit in the one. Other wise it is pretty blood free. I don't really cull my own birds I just prefer giving them away. Then again this is my first year trying to breed chickens so I might start culling. BTW naillikwj82 I just thought it might be worth a try. I thought I read some where that some one in like europe had trained them to hatch eggs. I couldn't find any decent info. on the whole raising chicks and hatching part. Just thought it was worth a try.