Capons

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Graham Hyde

Joined: 03 Apr 2011
Posts: 365

Posted: Fri Apr 24, 15 3:58 am Post subject: Capons

Hi, I recently read an old book from 1910 regarding capons.
The article stated that the flavour of the meat was superior to a chicken, that a capon was more docile than a cockerel and did not develop spurs and grew to almost twice the size.
I do acquire cockerels, a native type which are too small to eat. These are currently sold, however capons may be an alternative.
Has anyone on DS'ers caponized a bird or can anyone recommend a book regarding this?

joanne

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 7100
Location: Morecambe, Lancashire

Posted: Fri Apr 24, 15 5:41 am Post subject:
Caponing is banned in the UK for being a cruel practice so I doubt anyone has tasted true capons in a very long time

Nick

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford

Posted: Fri Apr 24, 15 5:48 am Post subject:
Dunno, you can import them, and it's still done across France, Spain and Italy.

Falstaff

Joined: 27 May 2009
Posts: 1014

Posted: Fri Apr 24, 15 7:34 am Post subject:

joanne wrote:

Caponing is banned in the UK for being a cruel practice so I doubt anyone has tasted true capons in a very long time

I don't think that's quite right, Caponising (Castrating) chemically is banned that's true. because as far as I know the workers started developing breasts and the like. I believe there were concerns that the chemicals may remain active in the meat and affect consumers.

The taste was far superior to turkey or cockerel and as far as I know it is not illegal to perform the operation surgically - but cost is the problem.

So in answer to Graham's Query, I suppose you need to acquire the pellets from a supplier outside the uk - or learn to do it surgically. - I Did see a set of instructions on the net a few years ago

Graham Hyde

Joined: 03 Apr 2011
Posts: 365

Posted: Fri Apr 24, 15 8:27 am Post subject:

Hi. Thanks for the replies.

Yes, I am after knowledge of surgical caponizing.

I know it is still practiced in the USA and instruments are available there.

As to cruelty, I guess it's no more than castrating a dog, a horse or pig.

I do remember capons being sold in the UK before the ban, they were quite popular at Christmas as an alternative to turkeys.

Last edited by Graham Hyde on Fri Apr 24, 15 8:35 am; edited 1 time in total

Shan

Joined: 13 Jan 2009
Posts: 9075
Location: South Wales

Posted: Fri Apr 24, 15 11:41 am Post subject:

Graham Hyde wrote:

Those procedures are generally practiced with a anaesthetic.

Bebo

Joined: 21 May 2007
Posts: 12590
Location: East Sussex

Posted: Fri Apr 24, 15 11:55 am Post subject:
The big difference is that the knackers are outside on a horse, dog or pig. With cockerels you have to cut into them.

Graham Hyde

Joined: 03 Apr 2011
Posts: 365

Posted: Fri Apr 24, 15 12:19 pm Post subject:
Hi. Thanks for the responses. There are lots of sites on the web showing how, there are professionals who complete the task in under a minute, I know the procedure of cutting and removing, my comments about cruelty related to the state of the animal after the removal, what I asked for was and I quote...... Has anyone on DS'ers caponized a bird or can anyone recommend a book regarding this?

Nick

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford

Posted: Fri Apr 24, 15 12:21 pm Post subject:
This is Downsizer. We answer the question we wanted you to ask.

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45674
Location: Essex

Posted: Fri Apr 24, 15 1:26 pm Post subject:

Nick wrote:

This is Downsizer. We answer the question we wanted you to ask.

Graham has a lot to learn

mal55

Joined: 15 Jul 2009
Posts: 168
Location: Erewash or in the dog house

Posted: Mon May 04, 15 3:24 pm Post subject:

I thought caponising was illegal right the way across the EU with any caponised birds being imported.
Chemical castration is also illegal for obvious reasons. I'm not sure but the chemicals used may have been used for bringing bitches into season so there's no way you'd want your daughters to eat the stuff let alone your sons! There were cases of farmers who lived largely off their own produce developing breasts.
I remember when I was a kid, a man a couple of doors up bought a couple of chemically castrated cockerels to fatten up for Christmas and let one run on for Easter. The thing was about the same size as a donkey (to a small boy) when the chemical implant wore off. It lost it's placid naure and reverted to aggressive cockerel mode. It absolutely terrorized the street. Us kids weren't allowed out on our own in case the cockerel attacked us and women took their lives in their hands when hanging out washing. It attacked the owner's daughter and he went for it with an axe (he was a lorry driver in the pre-power steering days) and it pushed him through a 6 foot hedge. At the finish he got Mr Rowson to come and shoot the bloomin' thing!!
Happy days!!

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46235
Location: yes

Posted: Mon May 04, 15 7:36 pm Post subject:
interfering with nature has implications

Jam Lady

Joined: 28 Dec 2006
Posts: 2571
Location: New Jersey, USA

Posted: Mon May 04, 15 8:39 pm Post subject:

I have eaten capon, which is tender and delicious. Never even thought about attempting the surgery.

Probably be good idea to take a couple of freshly dead cockerels. Cut one open to see where what is located. Then practice on dead birds until you are comfortable attempting it on a live one.

Or see if you can obtain better bred meat type chickens than the gamecock type that are likely more common where you are located.

Woo

Joined: 19 Sep 2011
Posts: 787
Location: Mayenne, Pays de Loire

Posted: Sat May 09, 15 7:01 am Post subject:
It is still practiced in France. there was even a program on channel 4 about the culinary benefits. Jimmy Doherty, I think. he didn't give instruction just commented on the practice to get HUGE meat birds. It's seen like the practice of castrating piglets and lambs. 'Bah OUI!' not something I want to get information on.

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46235
Location: yes

Posted: Sat May 09, 15 2:35 pm Post subject:

as a slight aside ,i cooked a m n s organic chicken last night

it was on it's sell by date so a tenner rather than �17

dressed weight 2.4 k which is big enough for a good meat to bone ratio

ie a similar size to yer average capon but without the hormones or cutting

it looks like this sasso bird will make at least ten meal portions + stock and dog bones

perhaps trying to find and obtain sasso meat birds would give the required result and avoid the "issues"of capons

im surprised they are not global cos they can turn chook food into meat very effectively .

other birds have super characteristics in specific conditions but a well fed organic sasso can be a big un (a few are more roadrunner in style )and they do seem to work in an organic /free range style( better than with a short broiler life) in terms of point of use for taste,texture and size .

long lived ,small,nasty tempered free range cocks might have the medal for best taste in a stew but the terminal generation sort of chook seems acceptable in meat birds and sasso are better after a happytime than broiler ones might indicate .

grannie had rhode island red x sussex as meat birds which worked quite well and a 6 to 12 month beast could be a 3kg lump in the kitchen

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