[mintymoos]

hi, i know that surgical and chemical caponizing is illegal, but i`ve been thinking (not always a good thing!). would it be possible to produce the same effects by feeding a cockerel a diet high in natural phyto-oestrogens (plant estrogens), ie soya, red clover, lentils, oats. I used to have a health food store, and we had a lot of success with soy and red clover in particular for menopausal symptoms because of their high estrogen content. Does anyone have any thoughts on this, or has anyone ever tried it, and if so did it work? thanks, mel.

[Aunt Sally]

Surely that would just be another form of chemical caponisation (chemicals from a natural origin).

The practice was outlawed because it was considered cruel due to the effects on the bird rather than because of the way it was carried out.

[mintymoos]

hi, hadn`t thought of it like that, i haven`t actually put it into practice as i wanted to see what everyone thought about it first, thanks for that, mel.x

[Jane-M]

What are the cruel effects? surely it is simply neutering the same as we do to all other domestic and farm livestock? Seems odd.

[Aunt Sally]

It makes them grow as big as a turkey.  A size they are not genetically suited for.  It puts a huge strain on their heart and lungs and they often can't walk.

[chickenlady]

The cockerals ive seen are the size of turkeys anyway! and meat chickens that are raised intesively often cant support their own body weight as they grow so fast yet that is legal! has the world gone mad!!  :blink: surely chemical or surgical caponization would be  better than culling an otherwise healthy male bird!???

Debbie

[Jane-M]

Aha. Poor things. I second Chickenlady, it's the breeding of these monster birds that should be outlawed not the caponising  of other slow growing birds. I wonder why gelding a horse doesn't make it into a carthorse? or a miniature poodle into a standard?

[mintymoos]

hi all, and thanks for the input,  it`s the fact that when my young cockerel starts to crow, my other half will be killing him, unless i can either stop, or at least limit the crowing, that made me think of whether you could caponize using plant estrogens.  The cockerel is so soft, sits on my shoulder + grooms my hair, follows me everywhere when i`m outside. Desperately want to keep him, and to be honest i don`t how what else, if anything, can be done to achieve this, mel, x

[GrannieAnnie]

but surely caponising won't stop him crowing???     You'd need to remove his vocal cords!!!   

[SMD66]

I would have thought too that the chemicals will be passed on in the meat? 
Why not give him 2-3 weeks on growers/finisher pellets, he will put more weight on than on layers.

[dizzylizzie]

i would be interested in that because im a bit scared that my new little maren is a boy . i love him dearly already, and wouldnt want to kill him/her just because he crows.....well if it turns out the reason for the comb is hes a boy, i may have to have a house chicken/cockerel

[joyfull]

but surely caponising won't stop him crowing???     You'd need to remove his vocal cords!!!   

Perhaps he'll just crow in a higher pitched voice   

[dizzylizzie]

lol

[GrannieAnnie]

 

[mintymoos]

hello again, i really don`t know if it would stop him crowing completely,  it might just `girly` him up a bit! . i`m vegetarian, so wouldn`t eat him anyway, and other half won`t be allowed to eat him! if i do decide to try it, and i think i will, as i really don`t want to lose him, i will let you know if it works. No idea how long it would take to have any effect though, he`s nearly 4 months old now, hasn`t started crowing yet anyway, his dad was about 8 months old before he started, quite late i think from what i`ve read, but we will see what happens. :)xx