Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-09-01
THE POULTRY YARD
THE WORK OF cAPoNizlNe.
BY ED WEBER

Since writing the article on capons
and caponizing in July for this paper
have received so many letters of IN
quiry from all sections of the state
! that / decided TO answer all OF them
! by trying 10 describe my method OF
operating l am more firmly convinced
| than ever that this is about the ON!
solution of the late cockerel problem
! that is vexing so many poui,rymen, Be
| fore going into the details OF the OPP
Grafton, want TO answer few OF the
| criticisms that | have received.
The first seems TO he the deprivation
| of food for thirty-six hours, If under
| taking the operation without this pre-
! liminary the operator will experience
/ considerable difficulty, as the intestines
are so full that it is hard 10 see or re-
move the organs of generation. An
other difficulty is that the blood vessels
are so full that a large percentage OF
birds will die during the operation. The
| third and most important is that il
seems to be harder on the chicken, and
they do not appear to do as well after
| the operation.
| The next criticism is that the opera
/ Ii3i IS u GSI anu L!LGssiiS1 Api' Np a.
believe that this point is well taken,
as we never hear it about the larger
animals. and in most cases the opera
/ ton is more severe, but it seems 10 oe
! justified by the results. Further, bird
| does not seem to suffer, as it seldom,
struggles, and II the operation is skill
| fully performed the new made capon
| is Immediately ready for its feed and
never misses a meal afterwards. Then
| too. the wound is usually entirely
| healed up within ten days, requiring
no after care except the occasional
putting with gas. If this occurs, it is
| only necessary TO catch the capon and
| let the gas out by pricking with a
needle.
What to Provide.
Now, ! am interested in the success
of the readers OF this paper who may
| undertake the operation, and there are
one or two points that ] want to re-
peat and insist upon. When preparing
the birds for the operation have them
shut up in a clean place and give them
all the clear water they want to drink
and do not undertake the operation I'M
til they have been deprived of food for
at least thirty-six hours When oper-
ating, have the instrument and every
thing about YOU as clean as possible,
and when removing the organs of gen
Grafton be very sure 10 remove every
particle of them, for if any is left It
will develop. and the result will be
what is known as a slip" and the bird
Will have every appearance OF a male
. bird. The instruments necessary Tor
the opera ton can be secured from any
surgical instrument house, or dealer in
poultry supplies. The price varies with
the different makes and with the quail
ity and kind of metal,
= description and the advantages and
disadvantages Of some Of the different
kinds may be OF interest All the manu-
facturers agree on few points. as fol-
lows: The strings with hooks attached
for tying and holding the bird TO the
operating table: the knife for making
the inrIsion thru the skin: the spread
ers, for spreading the ribs and holding
the wound apart during the operation.
Where the manufacturers vary is in
the instrument for removing the organs
| Of generation. In addition 10 the in
| sIruments you viii need a couple OF
| weights to attach TO the end OF the
strings A half brick makes a good
| one and is about the right size for
cockerei Weighing one and o-e half or
two pounds. TWO pans OF clean carho-
| lated cold water and some surgeons
absorbent cotton are also needed For
an operating table. the top of barrel
makes very good ane.
| Lox.r 80