The Lubbock avalanche. (Lubbock, Tex.) 1909-1922, 1922-08-08

i they Will have made place TOT
themselves on all markets In fact
more and more the markets are
calling for them.
Sine
There appears 20 be a general i'm
preston that capons grow TO being
twice as large rs unsexed males.
! This is not true because experience
and experimental data clearly shows
that they increase in size only about
at the rate Of one pound per six
pound bird. BY that we mean a
six pound cockerel will grow into
a Z pound capon and 10 or II
pound cockerel will grow into IL
pound capon. The increased size
not so much as the increased quail
ity of the meat is what makes cap
on growing profitable.
/ Markets
We might as well be frank here
/ and as stated before say that the
/ capon market in Texas has not been
! developed. All indications however
are that this will not much longer
| be true. People are learning about
/ the superiority Of capons very fast.
/ Some markets call for them. Il Is
also possible 10 develop a market.
In New Orleans we already have a
good market for capons
Breeds
The small breeds, like the leg
horns do not make as good capons
as the larger breeds. The surplus
cockerels, even in Leghorns however,
may be capOnized 20 advantage. We
have caponized hundreds of Leghorn
cockerels and sold them as choice
six and seven pounds capons. Al
ONE seasons Of the year the small
capon is in good demand. The Rock,
Reds, Wyandottes, Orplngtons, and
the Asiatic breeds. are all excellent
for caponizing.
Operation
The operation is easy and any
body may learn 10 do II success
/ fully. Most of the birds that die,
due 10 the operation, die on the
operating table by bleeding TO death.
] In this case they are perfectly good
and may be eaten. We always rec
ommend trying the operation first
on few dead cockerels, that have
just been killed.
Operate on a clear day, and in
the sunshine, because you need all
the light you can get Sunshine u
better than an artificial light.
Time TO Operate
The size Of the cockerel more
than the age will determine as L.
when 10 caponize. Development, al
So is important. We find il best
10 caponize when the comb and wat
ties have developed a trifle, but not
| too much They are more difficult
to caponize when they are too large
than when they are too small. Leg
/ horn cockerels at the age Of z "a
/ S weeks are about the right age
and Rock and Red cockerels at the
age Of II weeks are about the right
age, 10 be caponized.
Starve the birds from SO 20 AZ
I hours before the operation This
| gives the bird time to empty the
/ intestines, giving more room for the
/ operation Perform the operation
| as follows: Fasten the bird 10 a
table, barrel or bench on It's left
| side, with wings drawn together
/ over the back. Pass one Of the
| cords that accompany every SET Of
| instruments, round the base Of the
wings and drop weighted end over
the edge Of the table, barrel or
stand. Wrap the other cord twice
. around the legs. just above the knee
/ Joint, taking care that 10 Is drawn
back further than the lower one
drop the weight over the edge Of
/ the table opposite 10 the cord fas-
/ tening the wings. Have your in
struments well sharpened, clean and
within easy reach. Il is also well
/ although not necessary TO have
| handy, some absorbent cotton and
/ a dish Of water TO which has been
added a few drops Of carbolic acid.
! A few feathers should be plucked
| Just in front Of the thigh laying bare
a small space Just over the last rio.
Wet the feathers with cold water,
| just where the cut is 10 be made ;
this helps to stop the flow Of blood,
and also parts the feathers out II
the way so that the skin is exposed.
With the left hand, slide the flesh
down towards the thigh and make
/ the incision between the last two
/ ribs, holding the edge Of the knife
away from you as you stand back
| Of the fowl BE careful 70 get the
right leg muscle out Of the way be-
fore you make the incision; Il you
cut into this, lameness will result
You can easily distinguish this leg
muscle because II Is tougher and
redder than the surrounding flesh.
Make the incision from an inch
to one and a half inches long,
I quickly with one motion, not slow
~ and painfully. Take care TO fol-
low the direction Of the ribs and do
not cut them off. Next insert the
spreaders carefully in the incision,
taking care that each hook is against
rib. Spread the incision as far
apart as possible without tearing the
flesh. II the opening is not large
enough cut a little toward the back,
but be careful not to cut too far
and into the kidneys. With the
hook end Of the probe, tear away
the thin membrane that covers the
intestines. Tearing this membrane
will not hurt the bird In the least.
Us there Is no feeling in this thin
membrane. Tearing this membrane
as described will expose the parts