The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1915-07-15

Many farmers and poultry fanciers
have found 1t profitable to turn all
their surplus cockerels into capons by
altering or castrating them; others
think they can do better by selling
the eockerels As brcileFs a. long a.
prices hold up and caponize only later
hatched chicks.
The capon or castrated rooster bears
the same relation to q cockerel that .
steer does to q bull. barrow to q
boar. or a wether to q ram. Al with
other male animals 20 altered, the dis
position Of the capon differs materially
from that Of the cockerel. A result
Of the more peaceful disposition Of the
capon he continues to grow and his
body develops more uniformly and to
somewhat greater size than ID the case
with . cockerel of the same age.
Selection Of Breeds.
It does not pay to caponize small
fowls. Yellow legs and skin, as in
other classes of poultry. are most pop
ular. The Plymouth Rocks. Light
Brahmas. Cochins. Indian Games.
Langshans and Wyandottes are all
recommended by different producers
- are also various crosses Of these
The Brahmas and Cochins possess
good size. The Plymouth Rocks and
Wyandottes are somewhat smaller, but
sell readily and possess the advantage
of yellow skin and legs. The Lang
shan Is large and is easily operated
upon. The Indian Game is probably
most useful as cross upon some one
of the other breeds, thereby improving
the breast meat without materially re-
ducing the size Of the fowl.
Time to caponixs.
In 30 far as the effects of the opera
tion and the rapidly and ease OF heal
ing are concerned, the time of year
when the operation is performed is Of
little Importance. The age and size Of
the cockerel. however. are very impor-
tant AS soon as the cockereis weigh
two to three pounds. or when two to
four months old, they should be opera
ted upon. The lower age and weight
limits apply particularly to the Ameri-
can breeds, while the higher apply to
the Asiatics.
The fact that capons are In greatest
demand and bring the best prices from
the Christmas season until the end Of
March, and that It takes about ten
months to grow and finish them prop
erly. makes it important to hatch the
chicks in early spring SO that they will
be of proper size for caponizing in
June, July and August. These are by
far the most popular months for the
operation, though in some. cases it is
performed still later.
Operation Of caponizins.
Before beginning the operation two
conditions are absolutely essential. II
these are not favorable, do not at
tempt to operate. The first of these Is
that the intestines of the fowl should
be completely empty, 80 that they will
fall away and expose the testicle to
view. This can be accomplished by
shutting up the fowls and withholding
all food and water for twenty-four to
thirty-six hours before the operation.
Thirty-six hours is better than twenty
four. especially for a beginner. The
second condition is q good, strong
light SO that the organs of the fowl
may be clearly and easily distin-
guished. Direct sunlight is best for
this, and in consequence it is we'll to
operate out of doors on bright day.
Methods Of Holding the Fowl.
When ready to operate. catch the
bird and pass a moose Of strong string
about the legs. Do the same with both
wings close to the shoulder Joints. To
the other end of the strings are at
tached weights of sufficient size to
hold down and stretch out the bird
when placed upon the head Of a bar
rel or box of convenient height, which
10 to serve as operating table.
Having fastened the fowl, be sure
that all the instruments are at hand.
1t is also well, though not necessary,
to have ready some absorbent cotton
and dish of water to which has been
added few drops of carbolic acid.
Having once started. carry the opera
tion through as quickly as possible.
Moisten and remove the feathers from
a small area over the last two ribs
Just IN front of the thigh. With the
left hand slide the skin and flesh down
toward the thigh. Holding it thus,
make the incision between the last
two ribs, holding the edge of the knife
away from you as you stand back Of
the fowl. Lengthen the incision In
each direction until 1t is one to one
and q half inches long. Now insert
the spreader into the incision, thus
springing the ribs apart. The intes-
dnes will now be visible, covered by q