Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1906-06-14
GROWING CAPONS.
dnles Not Intended For breeding
Should Re Caponfzed.

keT ana the making ana the growing
Of capons are becoming much more
prevalent than formerly Farmers
throughout the country have become
Interested in the proposition. Many Of
them yard feed or fatten all the chick
ems, ducks and geese that they send to
market. A smaller number have been
interested In capons. That all may be
as thoroughly well informed on this
subject as possible the following state
ment of lady in Edgar county, ILL.,,
who is a large raiser of capons, is taken
from the Indiana Farmer:
Comparatively few among the poul-
try Of the farms are caponized. Many
have never seen capons, yet if well
managed there is profit In caponizing
all the roosters not wanted for breed
ing purposes or for fries. The chicks
early enough to go as broilers would
hardly pay to be made into capons, but
the later ROSTERS could be made very
profitable by this means.
"a chick from six weeks to two
months old is about the right age to
operate upon, the early maturing
breeds at six weeks, the smaller ones
at two months
'sThe ones selected to be caponized
should be confined one evening in a dry
coop, given no feed or water and oper-
ated upon the next day any time from
10 until o'clock. This is to get the
benefit of the straight rays of the sun
OF course any good daylight will do,
but later and earlier will necessitate
closer watching and tipping the table
to get the direct light.
Procure book with reliable di-
rections on the subject, purchase a
good set of tools (some dealers send
printed directions that are explicit
enough without the book and work ac-
cording to the directions. Any one
handy with tools can make the table,
to suit the height of the operator.
1.-THE cruel part Of the treatment is
in depriving the chicks of the feed
and water for the half day before oper-
ating and the scare the operation gives
them. There is little pain where one
possesses proper tools and is quick
hand.
.As soon as through place them in a
coop with clean, short grass for bot
tom and give food and water. Soft
food is preferable until the cut heals.
They should also be kept in roomy
coop until well to prevent the hurting
Of the wound or Of getting dirt around
the cut, which will cause dark place
in the skin for all time.
In few days they may be released,
and no extra attention need be given
them until fattening time except to
watch for wind puffs.
ssFor wind puffs just perforate the
skin with sharp needle.
''Capons grow very large. The comb
doesn't grow any more, but the plum
age grows very abundantly and takes
on more brilliant colors than that Of
either the hens or the cocks. A bril-
liant plumaged breed, such as Brown
Leghorns or Penciled Hamburgs,
makes beautiful capons; also the Par
fridge Cochins.
"They are very quiet, won't fight or
disturb anything, and this is the great
reason they grow so fast. All the feed
is put to the use Of growing flesh, fat
and plumage
ssThere is more profit in capons of the
intermediate and larger breeds, of
course, more gain each as compared
with cocks of the same breed. Indeed
capons of the Cochin breeds, when fat
tened in January, will weigh eighteen
and twenty pounds each, and as they
are much higher in price per pound
from to s cents per pound higher
some years-than are other chicks the
profit is easily seen.
ssThe fatalities during the operation
of caponizing are very few, and as they
are caused simply by bleeding the
death is as humane as any can be and
the victims are good to eat. The per
cent of deaths after the operation is
over will average about one in fifty.
This, Of course, doesn't count accidents,
disease or svarmints' that may attack
any flock.
ssCapons are easily controlled and If
desired may be allowed to run with the
hens until fattening time.
Turkeys could be easily caponized,
and a Bronze capon would be brill
liant monster, capon I would surely
like to see. But as nice turkeys usually
bring such a good price not many per
sons care to take the trouble to capon-
lie them"
Sh;nnfnp live Poultry.