The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-06-14
SURPLUS COCKERELS
WILL YIELD PROFITS
Should Be Sold as Soon as They
Reach Broiler Age or
BE Caponized.
BOTH PLANS WORK WELL
Enable Producer to Avoid Fall
Season When Markets
Are Flooded.
BOTH PLANS WORK WELL

~ Prof. r. u. sTONEBCRN.
In the poultry business the productive
units, the Individual hens and chickens,
are small and have comparatively little
income bringing power. The chance OF
making II large profit depends upon ones
ability to 30 manage Il large number OF
units as to make each bring In "a small
profit. Stated in another way. the profits
from a poultry business are the sum OF
number of small profits and the losses
the sum OF n number Of small losses.
This leads right UP TO the fact that
the uccesstul--fnauc,ally successful
poultrymen are those VINO recognize tho
value of the unit. who 50 manage their
iocks as 10 prevent excessive mortality.
10 secure the greatest number of eggs or
the largest gain In weight, VINO sell their
products In the fnust valuable form and
at the right time to bring good prices.
One very important problem has TO do
with the marketing OF the cuckerels,
which form about 80 per cent. OF the
chicks hatched each year But few OF
these are needed for breeding purposes
the rest must be turned into table poul-
try This condition prevails on poultry
plants and general farms In all purts or
the country, and consequently millions OF
these male birds must be disposed OF In
the period between midsummer and the
late fail, when all flocks are rounded up
and placed IN winter quarters. Thus IL
happens that there lJ likely to be big
surplus during the fall months and prices
rule lower than at any other season OF
the year.
Much OF this stock Is quite mature and
has reached the stage where muscles are
hard and tough. or course the demand
for table birds Of this quality is relatively
small, ana quotations are made accord
ingly
The progressive poultryman readily APP
h.. "a tbnt there ig
10 be made IN selling on this low market
In competition with the great mass OF
stock reared with little care and at low
cost on the general farm. Therefore he
aims to dispose OF his surplus males early
IN the season in the form OF broilcrs II
the market is right, or else caponizes and
holds them until the fall glut IL past and
prices again reach = satisfactory level.
The males from the early hatched
bropds reacn the desired brOier weights
before the big supply becomes available,
and consequently they may be disposed
OF for this purpose TO best advantage. AS
a matter OF iact, there il more actual
profit to be obtained IN selling them In
this form than In holding them until they
reach heavier weight. They are thus
pushed on the plant to the great adNan-
taRe of tine rest OF the stock which. con-
seQuently, has more room in the houses
and on the range and makes better
growth. Further, the poultryman Is re-
ieved OF the necessity OF feeding and car
ing for them. From every point of view.
therefore, II pays TO market this stock
early.
The desired weights vary In different
sections of the country and according to
season, ranging from slightly over one
pound to two pounds each, live weight.
Each producer will naturally keep In
touch with the local situation and act ac-
cordingly.
1, iotI. y..J
FOR few weeks before dressing During
this time the birds should be kept quiet
and comfortable, not permitted To take
much exercise. Naturally, the ration
should contain considerable corn and
animal food. and the mash mixture may
BE fed In moist condition. as In TINS form
Il seems to induce moro rapid growth. II
skim milk is available this may probably
We Fed literally To the fattenlng stock.
since II increases weight and gives "hn-
ish" which cannot be obtained In any
other way.
In certain sections where poultry buy
ere are well established the broilers can
usually be sold alive to good advantage
This Immediately relieves the producer
OF the labor OF dressing the blrds-no
slight task--and Of the risk of loss IN
shipping during hot weather.
II dressing Is necessary the stocF
should be dry-plcked, thoroughly cooled
graded and carefully packed, Where th'
haul to market Is short there viii bt
little danger OF spelling II the birds are
thoroughly cooled before shipment. 9th
erwise shipments should be made In re
frigerator cars or else Ice packed.
Il seems almost unnecessary to add tina
the birds should be starved for at leas
twelve hours before dressing In orde
that the crops may be free from food
The latter would sour and discolor TN
Skin, to the great detr!ment OF qualit!
and price
routes, and poult-ymen who are using TIL
direct to the consumer method or dispos
ing OF their products make their broile
sales add very materially TO the usual.
low income OF midsummer. For TIL
home trade II pays to dress the stock II
n special way, thereby increasing con
sumption and stffening prices. Tn
writer has used the following plan to goo
advantage:
After the birds are picked prepar
them for the fire. This is simple tas
when one has had little practice. bu
II IL always dreaded by the housewife
Run a keen. heavy bladed knife dow
each side Of the backbone. severing tn
ribs Clearly. DO not cut too deep, as tn
intestines should not be touched. Carr
the incision across the front OF the bird
below the neck and across the rear. LII
out the backbone. thus removing at on
sans. Sever the head from the neck an
cut off the rear end Of the backbone
Trim out the heart, cut the gall blade
from the liver and empty the gizzart
The backbone and giblets are then read
for use.
Next open the bird and run the knit
along the centre of the breast bone. Brea
this and the keel bone may be pulled on
The carcass will then lie as fiat as
slice OF beefsteak and after the fee
have been removed Is ready to place o
the broiling iron.
Broiler chicks thus dressed should b
packed fiat In pairs. accompanied by I'll
edible portions which were removed
dressing. A pair nicely wrapped In wake
paper and placed In suitable box make
package which one may deliver wilt
full assurance that II will give satisfa'
ton and bring further orders
Poultrymen who are located With
shipping distance OF the great summ6
resorts or the popular health resorts ca
usually dispose OF broilers TO good a,
vantage during the entire summer seaso
Stock of this kind Is consumed In tr,
nendous quantities. and the better hote
frequently pay very satisfactory pric,
for high grade stun, even after gener
quotations reach the low level OF mic
DIwLt h