Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1915-08-10

Typical Capon, a Wyandette-Notice
Long HackIe Feathers, and
prepared by the United States Depart
ment Of Agriculture.)
Capons sell best during the winter
months, especially from Christmas to
the end Of March, and are regularly
quoted in large markets, usually at a
very substantial premium over roost.
ers. The high price paid for capons
is merited because of the excellent
quality Of their flesh. The cockerel
and capon make about an equal devel-
opment when they are both young, but
the capon soon outstrips the cockerel
In growth. The capon finishes off and
fattens more readily and economically.
Cockerels, after they are five months
old. usually bring II to 10 cents a
pound. If held longer than this, how
ever, they become STACEY" and are
classed as old roosters, and do not
bring more than to IL cents pound.
Capons in season, that is, during the
winter months, and especially about
AOAl0cJ LILLE, III lu5 10 " 20 CCuIS anu
often more per pound. In localities
where especially fine poultry is raised,
capons usually sell at somewhat bet
ter prices than ROSTERS, but the differ
ence is not great. In fact, in the Bos-
ton market many capons are picked
clean and sold as South shore roast
ers." The market for capons depends
largely on local conditions, but the
demand continues good notwithstand-
ing the fact that more are raised each
year.
AS capons are not usually marketed
before Christmas or the first of Janu-
airy, they have to be housed during the
late fall and early winter. Because of
their quiet disposition they stand
crowding quite well and have been
successfully housed with only two or
three square feet of floor space to a
fowl. 1t is better, however, to allow
four to five feet if possible.
During the last month or month and
half before marketing, the corn in
the ration should be gradually in
creased until the fowls are on a full
fattening ration. For the last two or
three weeks it is desirable to shut
them up and feed them in crates, for
every possible ounce at this stage adds
to the appearance and profit. Machine
examining is sometimes practiced the
last week with excellent results.
Killing and Dressing for Market.
The capons selected for killing
should be confined for "a hours with
out feed or water, to completely. empty
their crops. The usual method of kill
ing is known as the sticking method.
The fowl is hung up by the feet, the
head held in the left hand, and the
whole body stretched to full length.
The mouth is forced open and, by
means of sharp. -bladed knife
held in the right hand, the blood YES
sells at the back of the throat are sew
cred with a single sweep. The knife is
through the roof of the mouth to a
point just behind and between the
eyes. The brain is here reached, and
if properly stuck all feeling is then
lost.
Capons should always be dry picked,
as they look much better and as some
of the feathers should be left on. The
feathers of the neck and head, the
tail feathers, those a short way up the
back, the feathers of the last two
Joints np fhn VUiD0 and fhncn ne fhn
leg, about one-third of the way from
knee to hip joint, should be left on.
These feathers, together with the head
of the capon, serve to distinguish it
from other classes of poultry on the
market, and consequently should never
be removed. Capons. scalded and
picked bare bring very little, if any,
better prices than other poultry in the
same condition.
Most markets require capons to be
undrawn and the head and feet left
on. If drawing is required the vent
should be cut around and the intes-
tines pulled out until the gizzard is
reached, where it is broken off. Moth
ing else is removed.
Cooling and Packing.
After picking, the carcasses are hung
in cool place until the animal heat
has entirely left the body, when they
are packed in boxes of convenient size,
holding about dozen carcasses. Every
attention should be given to neatness
and attractiveness. as this helps the
sale and the price. If they are shipped
in warm weather they should be
packed in ice.
1t is extremely difficult to make any
general statement concerning the
profits yielded by capons. That they
do yield a profit in practically all cases
is undoubtedly true, but whether the
profit is sufficient to give up to them
the time and room they require is a
question which must be settled by
each mans experience and by local
conditions
Cattle Losses From Tapeworm cysts.
The prevalence of tapeworm cysts
In the muscles Of cattle depends upon