Back Door

[Confused.]

Hi,

 

I've been offered some cockerels for free, and I'd like them, but I don't want them breeding with my hens at all, so I thought about caponising them. I thought it was just like getting an animal neutered, but it seems, to say the least, a tad more complicated..

 

Can it be done by a vet in the UK?

 

All feedback on caponising appreciated.

[Egluntyne]

Had a look on 'tinterwb and it seems that:

 

1. It is no longer legal in the UK.

 

2. It had to be done between ages 6-10 weeks before sexual maturity.

 

3. It is an extremely dangerous procedure with a high mortality rate as the testes are located high in the abdomen, near the kidneys, very difficult to access, with a potential for massive blood loss and the operation included breaking the rib cage. No wonder it is no longer legal.

 

Hardly seems worth it...and on a purely economical note , the cost of the operation would be many times the value of the bird.

 

Is there any particular reason why you don't want the cockerels to run with the females?

 

Any fertilised eggs would not hatch if they were removed from the nest every day.

[feemcg]

I've seen a poor cockerel being caponised on tv - the farmer tied it's feet together, laid it on its back, slit an opening in it's belly, poked about then flicked the testicles out with his thumb, untied the bird's feet and it ran away - it was all very quick but horrible to watch.

[Egluntyne]

No wonder it is illegal.

[Confused.]

Thanks for all your input, I see it's not ethical then.

 

 

Is there any particular reason why you don't want the cockerels to run with the females?

 

Any fertilised eggs would not hatch if they were removed from the nest every day.

 

Well, I just don't believe in breeding more chickens. Mine are rescues and whilst I wanna get more rescues, I don't think it's right to breed more domestic animals, certainly not when there's still many that need adopting.

 

I'll have to see about keeping the guys and the girls seperated then.

[Egluntyne]

There won't be any chicks if you remove the eggs everyday, and keep them somewhere cool.

[chelsea]

I've seen a poor cockerel being caponised on tv - the farmer tied it's feet together, laid it on its back, slit an opening in it's belly, poked about then flicked the testicles out with his thumb, untied the bird's feet and it ran away - it was all very quick but horrible to watch.

 

 

 

i've never heard of it before, just as well, sounds horrific

[Gallina]

I have seen roast capon on menus. If it's illegal, where do they get the capons from? Or is the term used loosely? Or am I living in the past?

 

There's a recipe here that explains why capons are good to eat:

http://f00d-for-thought.blogspot.com/2006/12/roast-capon-with-honey.html

 

They must have been considered a rich man's delicacy in the past: see the "All the world's a stage" speech in "As You Like It". The sixth age of man is as follows:

 

And then the justice

In fair round belly, with good capon lin'd,

With eyes severe, and beard of formal cut,

Full of wise saws, and modern instances,

[Guest]

I've seen a poor cockerel being caponised on tv - the farmer tied it's feet together, laid it on its back, slit an opening in it's belly, poked about then flicked the testicles out with his thumb, untied the bird's feet and it ran away - it was all very quick but horrible to watch.

 

 

oh how cruel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Cinnamon]

In my ignorance I thought Capons were just a large breed of chicken

My grandmum always used to get them........

[Tina C]

I thought that too - or some sort of bird anyway.

 

You learn something new every day.

[MedusA]

I didn't know it was illegal. That's what comes of being veggie for 23 years, you don't keep up with things. What a barbaric practice. I am so glad it has been banned!

[Tina C]

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/PS051

 

OMG I just read this.

 

I am a long-time vegetarian too so I don't really take much notice of 'meat' issues either, but I was intrigued.

[Egluntyne]

So it is still legal in the US.

[Gallina]

That is horrible. But (call me cynical), I bet it has been banned in the UK more because of infection than for the good of the male cockerel.

 

And all it means is that male chicks are now gassed as soon as they hatch: they aren't allowed to grow up at all any more.

 

Castration is something we tend to ignore, but anyone who eats beef is responsible for large-scale castration; and even vegetarians are probably grateful that the countryside is not populated by rabid bulls.

 

I've been looking up castration of other meat animals and have come up with the following for anyone who is interested:

 

Beef:

http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/livestock/beef/facts/07-029.htm

 

Pigs

"Castration in pigs is not widely practiced in the UK and is prohibited under current Assured British Pigs Farm Assurance Standards. It is however standard practice in other parts of the EU and outside the EU."

 

Sheep

Not a routine procedure in the UK, but see:

http://www.sac.ac.uk/research/animalhealthwelfare/sheep/lambing/castration/

[Eyren]

I knew that capons were castrated cockerels, but always wondered how they did it since birds don't have external genitalia - yuk!