Who has caponized a rooster lately?

[McButterpants]

I used zip ties to hold the legs together. They worked very well and were about $3 for 100- I did find that bigger is better - the smaller ties didn't cut or break skin, but looked uncomfortable when I put tension on them, the 14" size was wide enough so I switched to using those. I caponized a batch of birds over a month ago they were hatched on 4.28 and I have yet to hear any crowing or attempts to crow. This is however my first experience with roosters and caponizing so I dint know if they should be crowing at this age. I have now added a wide elastic cloth ribbon to my kit, I tried it today and it worked well once secured, but was not as easy as the zip ties. Problem with the ties is you go through so many, at least the way I did it. I used 1 each for the legs and wings and then made a "chain" loop with a second one on each to put the tension to hold the birds.

 

[coyotesmommy]

Hate to make you waste some more zip ties but can you take a picture of what you mean by chain the legs to the wing please...

 

[partsRheavy]

I experimented with zip ties to hold a cockerel but wasn't really happy with them because it seemed to take too long to cut the zip tie to release him.

The old method of a loop of string tied to a half-brick works best for us. We use one half-brick and string loop for the legs and another for the wings. Everything is re-usable unless the string gets messed up.

The brick mfg's in this area create bricks with holes in them, which are very convenient for this purpose.

Last year, I used a boatload of zip ties but it was for another purpose. Needed them to raccoon-proof the henhouse along with hardware cloth!

 

[coyotesmommy]

I experimented with zip ties to hold a cockerel but wasn't really happy with them because it seemed to take too long to cut the zip tie to release him.

The old method of a loop of string tied to a half-brick works best for us. We use one half-brick and string loop for the legs and another for the wings. Everything is re-usable unless the string gets messed up.

The brick mfg's in this area create bricks with holes in them, which are very convenient for this purpose.

Last year, I used a boatload of zip ties but it was for another purpose. Needed them to raccoon-proof the henhouse along with hardware cloth!

HEhehee thank goodness for zip ties, they are very handy I think zip ties are what is holding together most of my chicken coop

 

[brahmabreeder]

I just caponized four cockerels today. This time I waited until they weighed 1.5 lbs. It went much better with the more size. All the birds lived and I managed to get everything out. The cockerel I did at a month still hasn't crowed. I believe it is four months old.

 

[Blaineiac]

You can release zip ties for reuse by using a knife to lift the tab and slide it back through. Never caponized, just wanted to throw that out. Blaine

 

[chickenmama22]

I have been working on my caponizing skills for a few months. Yesterday, I put one of my biggest capons (~ 3 months old, caponized around 4-6 weeks) with 6 two week old chicks. I had them in the house last night in case they fought, but moved them outside today. Last night the birds seemed to avoid the Cuckoo Marans capon, but tonight when I checked on them, the chicks were UNDER the capon to keep warm! I am thrilled to save electricity since I won't need to give the chicks a heat lamp! I just didn't think it would work!

 

[coyotesmommy]

ohh that is sweet so you have the caponizing down pretty good... where are you anywhere near north texas?

 

[chickenmama22]

ohh that is sweet   so you have the caponizing down pretty good... where are you anywhere near north texas?

I would never claim to be a pro... I do enjoy the challenge. I'm in South Jersey (near Philly), but sometimes we visit the Valley in TX (McAllen/Harlingen/San Antonio).

Study and research as much as you can, practice on culled (dead) chicks and then try it for real.

I use razor blades for the incision, old caponizing kit spreader, forcepts and sharp "crochet hook" probe AND a 70 lumen headlamp from Walmart.

 

[PrettyLacedFeathers]

Does anyone know of someone who is experienced with caponizing chickens near orlando, FL?