Would you consider keeping a capon as a pet?

[QueenMisha]

This was cross-posted on the /r/backyardchickens sub on reddit. I'm copy-pasting what I wrote from there (with grammar improvements).

Quote:

 

[Teila]

Howdy QueenMisha

Please do not take this as a judgement and in an effort to assist you, this is simply my feelings in answer to your question.

I am not allowed to have roosters where I live. I have, however, purchased fertile eggs for my broodies and slowly built my flock up to the maximum six I am allowed to have.

My gals are my babies and having bantams, spend more time broody than they do laying eggs; so it is a good thing that I am not in this for the egg production and they are just a bonus.

I have had a couple of little ones that I was devastated to hear crow and had to find them new homes. But, I would not consider caponizing them just so that I could keep them and instead spent time finding them new homes where they would be able to be the boys they were; crow, breed etc.

So in answer to “If an accidental rooster became your favorite bird, would you be willing to have him caponized if it meant you would be able to keep him?”
No, I would not.

"Would you buy a capon as a pet, even if it didn't produce anything and was purely ornamental?"
No, I would not. Only because I can only have a limited number of chickens and if I was needing to increase the numbers, I would hatch eggs here and rehome any roosters.

I hope you get a few responses which help with your research and also wish you luck with your endeavour

 

[Toddrick]

It's not that easy for most people to rehome cockerels. I myself was thinking caponizong would be an ideal solution for people who can't have roosters but want to keep their favorite cockerels. It is no different than neutering a dog, which is required by law here without a breeder's license, so I see absolutely nothing wrong with it. All my dogs are spayed/neutered, as I'm sure most others' are.

 

[Teila]

Hey all

To pre-empt any discussion of my comments, I just want to clarify that I have responded to QueenMisha with my personal honest opinion in answer to her questions to enable her to determine numbers of how many would or would not be interested in caponizing roosters.

In this scenario, I do not think that the reasons people are giving need to be addressed, criticised or judged.

I was also not commenting on whether this was or was not a good idea or ideal solution; simply stating whether I would do it.

As I will respect the opinions that others may post, I hope to receive the same in return.

 

[donrae]

I would not keep them as pets. To me chickens are livestock, I don't get the same enjoyment from them I do from my dogs, to me they're not pets. I do think roosters are beautiful and interesting creatures and would love to have a whole yard of them, but caponizing would remove the very reasons I like them. I might consider keeping some as meat birds if the surgery were available to me and cost effective---I'm just not sure my eyes are good enough for me to do it myself.

I know many folks do think of their birds as pets and fall in love with Oops rooster chicks. I think if caponizing were more widely available more folks would keep them. I see it as no different than neutering my dog or horses. They live perfectly happy lives not breeding or exhibiting other sex-based behaviors.

I already have a Purely Ornamental dog who takes my discretionary income for her feed, I would not want to spend extra money maintaining non-productive fowl.

 

[Free Feather]

I would not buy a pet capon because there are thousands of intact roosters out there who need homes. Even though I do not like castration, neutering, etc., this procedure could potentially save the life of many roosters who would normally be murdered because they are male. So I think it is better than them dying, and you should give it a shot.

 

[Mrs. K]

As ranchers, we neuter lots of animals, they are generally much healthier and happier. If it is done right, the animal has minimmal physical setbacks. I think it might be a niche that could be very popular.

A lot of people keep chickens as pets. This is a solution.

I myself have wondered if it would keep the meat more tender. But I am going to try keeping them a couple days in the fridge first.

Mrs K