Capon

[Bigshooter]

So my dad hates raising cornish x chicks.  And I don't like eating old tough chicken so I did some looking into this.  I have cut a lot of animals but after watching some youtube vids I don't know if I can do this.   Anyone ever casterated any chickens?  How hard is it to do?

[huntingfool7]

I have not done this but backyardchickensdotcom has a lot of threads with pictures on this. 
Most of them are cutting both sides.  This one does it all through one incision - 
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/675898/graphic-pics-of-my-day-learning-to-caponize
Wiping the area with alcohol to highlight blood vessels was an interesting tip.

Here's a study on caponizing pheasants.  The write up on the procedure may be helpful.  Interesting.
http://www.vef.unizg.hr/vetarhiv/papers/2006-76-7-24.pdf

[Bigshooter]

Thanks for posting the links.

[huntingfool7]

BTW- I agree with your Dad.  While it's an amazing breed, dealing with 6-9 week old cornishX is a real PITA.  If I were to do it again, I'd slaughter the lot at 5-1/2 weeks.  Cut them before the real crappy crap begins!

[Jonathan_S]

Start with dead chickens for practice.  I did 70 RIR cockerels a few years ago and only lost one.

[Bigshooter]

Start with dead chickens for practice.  I did 70 RIR cockerels a few years ago and only lost one.

When you did the 70 was that your first time ever doing it?  Also did you buy a capon kit?  If so where from?

[Jonathan_S]

Start with dead chickens for practice.  I did 70 RIR cockerels a few years ago and only lost one.

When you did the 70 was that your first time ever doing it?  Also did you buy a capon kit?  If so where from?

I didn't buy a kit.  I used a scalpel, alcohol and a small copper tube with safety wire that looked like a miniature catch-pole.  This is to grab the target with and remove from the cavity before slicing it free.

There are kits that are available from some place in China.  I believe you have to be in contact with them directly for payment etc.  Could be a gamble 

[Bigshooter]

Still scared to try doing this.  But still want to do it.  Anyone else ever try?

[Jonathan_S]

Still scared to try doing this.  But still want to do it.  Anyone else ever try?

Unfortunately there is not much of an opportunity to learn beyond just grabbing one up and giving it heck. Just make sure they are young when you do it before blood vessels grow large. You will be surprised how little they bleed when you swab the area with alcohol (cools the skin and discourages blood flow)

[skipjack]

Have you ever considered a different breed to see if you like the meat better? I raise freedom rangers... Takes an extra week or two but they forage and are active.. Don't think I could casterate a bird. I read somewhere that after slaughter package and leave on ice for 24 hours before freezing and the meat won't be tough.

[Bigshooter]

Have you ever considered a different breed to see if you like the meat better? I raise freedom rangers... Takes an extra week or two but they forage and are active.. Don't think I could casterate a bird. I read somewhere that after slaughter package and leave on ice for 24 hours before freezing and the meat won't be tough.

Raised freedom rangers last year was really disappointed with them.

[Bigshooter]

Still scared to try doing this.  But still want to do it.  Anyone else ever try?

Unfortunately there is not much of an opportunity to learn beyond just grabbing one up and giving it heck. Just make sure they are young when you do it before blood vessels grow large. You will be surprised how little they bleed when you swab the area with alcohol (cools the skin and discourages blood flow)

That's what i'm going to do.  No way around it.  Should have some chicks in 4 weeks.  Then going to cut them at 4 weeks old.  I'll post how it went when i'm done.

[skipjack]

What did you dislike about the freedom rangers? I'm pretty new to the chicken thing only been doing it a few years.. What other kind are better? I have been wanting to try others to learn more about it. I use chicken tractors that I move everyday.

[Jonathan_S]

What did you dislike about the freedom rangers? I'm pretty new to the chicken thing only been doing it a few years.. What other kind are better? I have been wanting to try others to learn more about it. I use chicken tractors that I move everyday.

Probably carcass size and it is tougher to process them because they are older and tougher. Freedom Rangers are fine if you have a huge, safe area with sufficient food.

Tractors are good for getting the extra vitamins/niacin and greens but they won't find sufficient forage, bugs etc to offset food costs.

All in your preference 

[Bigshooter]

What did you dislike about the freedom rangers? I'm pretty new to the chicken thing only been doing it a few years.. What other kind are better? I have been wanting to try others to learn more about it. I use chicken tractors that I move everyday.

Carcass size sucks.  We butchered 25 last year at 16 weeks old and averaged less than 4lbs per chicken.  I have some Delaware male chicks coming.  Going to cut some but not all of them so we can see the difference in size.  I have read a lot of good stuff about Delaware capons and also Nake Neck capons.  Plus both are known for being decent meat chickens.  I will post up a review later this year on how all of this goes.

[Bigshooter]

Well I didn't get to try making capon's last year.  I had so many chicks die before I could ever try that the few that didn't die I didn't want to take the chance of killing them during the procedure.  But I did buy a Chinese capon kit last summer.  And I will try this year.  My dad just got 25 male dorking chicks.  He wants 1 rooster so I should have a bunch of chicks to operate on in 4 or 5 weeks.   

[jennabug]

Well I didn't get to try making capon's last year.  I had so many chicks die before I could ever try that the few that didn't die I didn't want to take the chance of killing them during the procedure.  But I did buy a Chinese capon kit last summer.  And I will try this year.  My dad just got 25 male dorking chicks.  He wants 1 rooster so I should have a bunch of chicks to operate on in 4 or 5 weeks.

I'm really interested in hearing how it goes.

[Bigshooter]

Well I didn't get to try making capon's last year.  I had so many chicks die before I could ever try that the few that didn't die I didn't want to take the chance of killing them during the procedure.  But I did buy a Chinese capon kit last summer.  And I will try this year.  My dad just got 25 male dorking chicks.  He wants 1 rooster so I should have a bunch of chicks to operate on in 4 or 5 weeks.

I'm really interested in hearing how it goes.

Didn't get the chance to try and make any capon's again this year.  A dog killed all but 6 of the dorking chicks right before I was going to give it a try.  We did butch 4 out of the 6 at 22 weeks old and my dad said it was the best chicken he has ever tried.  I'm going to cook one Thursday for dinner and see how good it really is.  If it's as good as my dad keeps telling me I will try again next year with dorking as my breed of choice and see how good they are as capon's.

[jennabug]

  
Damn dogs. Mine got in there one year and took my entire flock. Now the dogs are a little more trained and the chickens are a lot more protected. Lol
Interesting to hear the dorkings are so tasty. There's a lady nearby that is breeding barbezieux chickens, which are also supposed to be quite tasty too.

[Bigshooter]

I fried up a Dorking and it was really good.  But what really impressed me is how tender it was.  Usually after I fry a home grown chicken I like to put it in the crock pot with a little beer and let is simmer until the meat just about falls off the bone.  That way I know it will be tender.  But this Dorking was fork tender after frying like a Cornish cross would be.  The down side of the Dorking is the carcass size wasn't great.  I didn't weigh any of them but I would guess 3 - 3.5 lbs.  I plan on making a bunch of Dorking capons next spring and let them grow an extra month and see if the size difference is worth it.