Castrating cockerels?!

[Evie91]

Just watching Mickey Flanagan in France. He”s on a chicken farm and owner has just told him the male chickens are castrated. Never heard of this before, anyone else?

 

[cobgoblin]

We used to have them here. They were sold for meat as capons. Castration was banned here many years ago.

 

[Evie91]

I never knew that. Why was it banned? When we routinely castrate sheep,dogs,cats,horses etc

 

[cobgoblin]

It was usually done with hormones and that is definitely banned. I don't think physical castration is banned, but not many people know how to do it and I doubt it would be commercially viable.

 

[Evie91]

Interesting thank you. Wonder if they no longer crow afterward.

 

[cobgoblin]

I shouldn't think they would crow.. They also ended up huge.
I can remember eating capon as a child.

 

[cobgoblin]

This will tell you more than you probably want to know..

https://modernfarmer.com/2014/04/ca...piece-agriculture-somewhat-disturbing-luxury/

 

[Evie91]

Thanks for that really interesting and quite horrific. Amazing what animals/birds can survive.