How to Caponize a Chicken

Caponizing a rooster video (warning graphic in nature). Details on how to caponize/neuter a rooster, why some folks caponize chickens and warning of things to watch out for are listed below.

Reasons to Caponize/Neuter a Rooster

The reason many people caponize/neuter roosters is to remove the testicles on the male bird. Caponizing/Neutering the rooster eliminates the testosterone that they produce which changes the way the rooster acts, making him less aggressive with other males, causes him to lose interest in mating, is said to cause the bird to gain weight faster and makes the meat of the bird to be less stringy. Caponizing/Neutering can be very dangerous if you do not know what you are doing.

How to Caponize/Neuter a  Rooster

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Clean the area with soap and water. Make sure no soap residue remains.
Sterilize all tools in boiling water.
​Locate the two bottom ribs.  
Make an incision in between the bottom two ribs about an inch long. Use surgical rib spreaders are used to hold the incision open.
Locate the testicle (a small yellowish oval shape). Use surgical tweezers to move tissues, in order to locate and gently remove the testicles.
Clean the incision with iodine.
Close the wound with sterile dissolving thread for stitches (make sure no feathers or other foreign objects enter the wound).
Isolate the bird in a cage so they do not get the incision dirty or do anything to harm the incision. Check the incision for infection (redness) twice a day.
Sprinkle probiotics on the birds food daily until the incision is completely healed.
You should see signs of healing by the next day and every day after. Dissolvable stitches are best because you will not have to remove them later. If you use a different sterile thread that does not dissolve you will need to remove the stitches in 7 to 10 days after surgery. NOTE: We do not caponize/neuter roosters at Chicken Heaven On Earth. If caponization is needed ​we take our roosters to a licensed veterinarian to perform the procedure and do not recommend that you perform this surgery yourself. Below you will see footage of an actual caponization. Warning: Graphic video. 

Featured Video: How to Caponize a Chicken (Part 1)

Warning: This is an age restricted video and it contains graphic material (blood). This video shows an actual surgery removing a rooster's testicles. This surgery is very dangerous to perform if you do not know what you are doing, as there is a tendon with a main artery right where the testicles are located, one nick or slip of the blade on this artery will cause the bird to bleed out and die.  

Featured Video How to Caponize a Chicken (Part 2)

IMPORTANT-How to Stitch Up the Incision/Wound After Caponizing/Neutering a Rooster

Watch a video showing how to caponize/neuter a rooster. Detailed instructions on how to stitch up the incision after caponizing/neutering a rooster. Go to How to Stitch Up The Incision After Caponizing/Neutering a Rooster

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Warnings about Caponizing Your Chicken

If your chicken shows signs of listlessness, paleness, droopy ruffled feathers or has other symptoms that indicate the bird is not in good health you should NOT caponize the bird at this time. Wait until the bird has been treated and recovers completely before performing or having someone perform any kind of surgery. Caponizing is a procedure that should be done by a veterinarian which treats chickens or someone who has done it before. The risk of cutting an artery by accident is high. If you suspect your chicken is sick either take it to a veterinarian that treats chickens or if you cannot afford to do so, check out chicken sickness page which shows signs, symptoms and treatments. 

Find Out More About Roosters

Everything you need to know about roosters from why roosters crow, keeping them as pets, and more. Go to Everything About Roosters

See More Chicken Surgeries

Go to Chicken Surgeries
Reference: How to caponize a chicken part 1. (June 7, 2014). FarmlifeNC. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkSqltc_eiw