The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1894-05-11
EXPERIMENT WITH CAP0NS
This Subject Carefully Treated
by Prof. F. L. Washburn.

Bulletin NO. 81 Issued by the enIorloio3-
ic;l department of the Oregon experiment
station is nov being distributed 1t Con.
tains two very interesting articles, one on |
the subject us the codling moth and other |
pests, while the second treats On the sub !
i.ct of capons and capoulzing. The latter !
contains the results of experiments made bV |
Professor f.. L. Washburn, besides much |
other information OF value to those inter
est.d in the poultry business. AS this Is !
cnmparativ ely new sub ject and OF consider
able local interest, a synopsis OF the article
is here given:
A capon is an altered rooster. Like a
steer, a capon IS more quiet, lays on more
flesh ond fat and remains tender Tor many
months eer the operation. Birds IL and
10 months Old that had been capo h!z':d have
been killed here and their meat found ex-
tremely delicate and tender. If kept the
proper length of time they will weigh from
90 to 80 per cent. more than rooster ni the
same age and in most eastern n-arkets VIII
bring from Is t. 40 cents per pound Alter
the operation, the wattles do not grow
They do not chase the hens, and neither
fl INT nor crow. They are very hearty eat
ers for the first few months after caponiZ-
ing. hut after that consume about the same
amount of food that ordinary fowls do. If
the operation does not succeed Ill removing
all the testicular matter or the sack encsos-
ing it, the glands grow--sometlmes to an
enormous sIze-and assume distorted
shapes 1t is then that the bird is known
as a slip. He gains fat and better flesh
than cockere grows rapidly and tor a
time resembles, i'll outward appearance.
capon. But after three or four months the
comb and wattles grow, the bird develops Il
crow and chas,s the hens worse than r"os-
ter. The period of gain has at this point
ceased and the bird should he killed at
once. In some markets the meat of a slip
brings nearly much per pound as that OF
q capon.
MANY are of the opinion that the opera
tion is cruel, but it is no more So than the
operation performed on calves, pigs and
colts. 1t is performed quickly and the bird
begins to eat 81 after being released from
the caponizng board. An inefficient opc-
rator will not lose over two per cent. of the
birds operated upon. and any chick so
killed dies from hemorrhage, aud is good
for table use as if death had been caused by
beheadins. CaponiZing instruments are
sold in sets. at from 81 60 to S.. 90 and over
The instruments actually necessary ATE
sharp penknfe, spring or spreader to keep
the ribs apart, capnnlAng canula, deli
cate steel hook aud pair of small sharp
pointed scissors. A cap"nizing board will
also be necessary. The bulletin gives full
QeScT1DIlOn OI LHl3 UtdEu ilItl uOW IIG up
Grafton should be performed. The bird
should be from 24 to months old and
should be kept without food or water for
period of from % to 80 hours next preced-
ing the operation. Experiments so far
have shown that the Light Brahma and
Plymouth Rock breeds make by far the
best capnns. The Black Langshans ex-
cellent also, but are slow growers. Partridge
Cochins are highly spoken of. The Indian
gamer make fine capons, as well as crosses
of this species with other large breeds.
The experiments made here were under
tho game conditions as would be found
any farm About thirty fouls were used in
the experiments and the capons were not
= given special care nor special food. In
treated roos.ers of the same species and
Same brood were used as checks in many
cases. Plymouth Rock AMI Brown Leg.
horn rooster caponizerl at the age of
five months. at which time il weighed 9
pounds. l5A ounces. 5mrnths and 81 days
later it weighed 5 pounds. and dressed
weighed 81 pounds. A check was kept on
above capon by bird from the same brood
that weighed poruds, 81 ounces when 5
- months old. At the age of 10 months and
81 days it was killed and weighed pounds
alive and q dressed. A Black Longshan
caponized at the age of months weighed
pounds and III ounces; IL months and I9
days later it weighed lOa pounds alive and
II dressed and was in excellent condition.
The results of other experiments in this
line also proved favorable.
The matter of growing capons for profit
is subject that Prof. Washburn has thor
oughly familiarized himself with. AS
result of his Investigations he says that un
le ss fowls are sold by the pound it will not
pay from financial standp int.
He is informed that III Portland and few
other large cities the practice of selling
poultry by the dozen is gradually disap-
paaring, aud believes that when fowls are
sold by the pound, as they shoul he. it
will be easy matter for the rails. of Ca
pons to successfully compete with those fur
nishing the scrawny. tough fowls now dis :
played in our markets.
Quotations FROM Boston price list for
1891 and 1892 show that from January lst
to May 18th, New Jersey capons brought
from 20 to Is cents per pound. BroiIers
were selling at the same time from Is to 55
cents per pound. In the early summer ca
pons are scarce and bring a much better
price. On July TIN, 1892. capons weigh
ing nine and ten pounds were retailing in
Fulton Market. New York City, for 3j
cents per pound. The latter part of May
1891, a member of the firm of Elson Bros.
and Gilman wrote to Mr.. Cushman, of the
1silpuc tADcEliuCuG oGtvioL, tHaG he
could that day sell ton of capons, if lie
had them. at 2l to IS cents per pound.
With regard to the outlook for this busi
ness in Oregon, Mr.. Washbura says: SIT
is probable that il our wealthy people could
be educated to the point of appreciatng ca
pom meat, and they would doubtless prove
apt pupils, this favorite Of epicureans
would command good prices in Portland
and elsewhere throughout Oregon. A mar
ket man in our metropolis told me a short
time since that he had no doubt but that
fancy prices could he realized OIL capons and
expressed willingness to contract for a
large number for February. He did not,
however, state what he would pay for
them"
In order to bring capons on the marke ct
all through the year and in large numbers
the use of the incubator will be necessary.
This bulletin evidences careful research
and much time and pains and contains
funi of valuable information on the sub.
ject treated, and no person interested in
the business of growing poultry should be
without copy. 1t will be sent free to all
resjlents of OREGON who request it.