Probably not. For starters, they're not female and therefore not a hen.

Second, the term "baking hen" is used when referring to a bird only fit to bake. In fact capons are quite moist and tender and will remain so even after they fully mature. This means any capon you get from our farm will be just as good to cook even when they're a year or more old. And because of this capons can be cooked any way you like and should not be limited to just baking which is what you'd choose to do with a bird that's not so moist or tender.

In summary, the term "baking hen" is generally used to describe an older, "past her prime" bird. Most likely an egg layer throughout her life, baking is the preferred method to cook such a bird because it will help tenderize the meat and make them more palpable for the dining room table.

I'm sorry but we're not able to track every store that carries our capons. The chances are that some fine grocery store in you region does. To find out, I suggest you make a few phone calls to see. If you are not able to locate a local supplier, give us a call at 641-710-2060 if you'd like to order one direct.

No doubt there is some misinformation being sent around about the availability of our Capons. You can rest assured that we are still very much in the business of both growing and supplying wonderful capons all around the country. Feel free to give us a call at 641-710-2060 anytime. I can't say we'll be able to answer every call as we are very busy right now. But if you leave an message, we'll be sure to call you back with pricing and shipping options.

For starters, the meat of a capon is very tender. The theory here revolves around the "less is more" concept. In other words, less testosterone equals meat which isn't as tough or fibrous. We all know testosterone contributes to muscle growth and aggressive behavior so without this key hormone, capons seem to grow meat which is more palatable, tender and plumb. No doubt there is more fat on a capon and when compared to a commercially grown chicken, the capon is clearly more juicy and better suited for our dining room tables.

Capons are more docile and don't run around the barn yard looking for a fight. Male chickens will normally be quite aggressive. In fact, they are more commonly used in sport than any other animal around the world. Cock fights are still quite popular and a lot of this has to do with the general demeanor of the average male chicken. Gritty, aggressive and tough, roosters are quick to fight and in general all this behavior produces a tough bird not desirable for the kitchen table.

The complete opposite to these fighting birds would be a capon. Docile, calm and content, capons happily coexist meandering as they please around the farm without the interference of hormones during development. The lack of testosterone allows their meat to grow with less of a gamy taste. They're easier to handle, control and grow. On our farms, capons live a relaxing life style much akin to a vacation compared to the average chicken. This clearly enables them to develop moist and meaty frames ideally suited for consumption.

Capons are less likely to sustain injury or medical issues. They appear calm and collective and no doubt their life style enables them to grow and mature without the normal stresses and strains most chickens encounter. By not fighting or experiencing conflicts and stress like most roosters, capons minimize the trauma, cuts and bruises most any chicken receives while running free and wild. This means less medication and less chemical injections like growth hormones and antibiotics. In fact our capons aren't fed growth hormones. No doubt most any chemical can be a contributor to fibrous meat and commercially grown chickens are pumped full of them. With no artificial stimulants in their feed, our capons are able to grow tender and plumb and continue to remain this way even as a mature adult bird.

Lastly, capons will live a year or more and since their lives are less stressful, this extended life expectancy allows their bodies to reach full potential. Without the common male hormones flowing, capons will keep their tender flesh and at no point does maturation negatively affect them. When we do finally bring out capons to harvest, they've reached a size that's ideal for the average dinner table serving everyone plenty of delicious healthy meat with some left over for sandwiches later in the week!

You'll need to ask for a capon if your supermarket isn't stocking them right now. Chances are they only sell our birds during the holiday season or they might have moved them to another location in the store. If you cannot find what you want, order from us direct and we can get you a fresh capon delivered in 2 days.

• The capon will be moist and juicy. It's not even close; traditional chicken is just dry compared to a capon.
• The capon can be cut easily with just a fork. No need to ever use a knife on a capon.
• The capon will be easy to take apart almost as if it was slow cooked for days.
• The capon will be tastier, easier to chew and much healthier to consume on a regular basis.
• The capon compared to a chicken is like comparing a Cadillac to a Go Cart!

We distribute our birds through several wholesalers and where they end up is anyone's guess. Most of our sales are seasonal and it might be hard to find one if it's not around the Holiday season. Just look for our brand:

North Iowa Capons

And if you can't find them locally, order from us direct using this link:

http://caponchicken.com/order

We are the main growers of capons here in the United States. As for a local supplier; we have found most supermarkets only carry capon seasonally so it might be hard to find. We do ship direct and you can submit the order form below to get a fresh bird sent right to your house.