Advantages Of Caponizing

To begin, we find that Webster's Dictionary defines the word capon as a male chicken gelded or castrated to improve the meat for table use. Of course it will be understood that adult or fully developed specimens are seldom used as capons, for two reasons : First, like males of other animals neglected as to castration, the blood vessels and arteries are fully developed and to sever such veins as is necessary in the operation, would in many cases result in death by bleeding. Second, should the operation be successfully performed, there would be but little room for additional growth, and the meat would possess a strong or unwholesome taste and flavor. Therefore a specimen weighing not less than two pounds nor mere than three pounds is most desirable and best adapted. The smaller the specimen the less the loss of blood. Good, healthy cockerels should be selected. No droopy or indisposed birds should be used. Do not be afraid to caponize your pets, as It will make them even greater pets and give them more advantages and larger lives than if hustled off to market, confined there in sloppy coops, and deprived of feed except perhaps a green dough fed by careless feeders. For after being caponized they become greater eaters and are termed scavengers for poultry yards, eating such remnants as other chickens leave or do not like.

They are rendered much more agreeable by this operation and when a clean job is done they never crow any more, nor do their combs grow, or appear red or rosy ; but on the other hand their combs will apparently dry up and look pale, and the bird will appear sluggish and at no time .show any disposition to fight. They enjoy the company of very small chicks. If put in a dark corner until the chicks and a capon 'take up" together, he will brood from thirty to fifty chicks,' clucking, scratching, and otherwise caring for them with as much constancy as the old mother hen until the chicks are removed. In fact the advantages are in favor of the capon, as he never weans them so long as they will stay with him» while the hen often weans before the little ones are half feathered, and commences to lay another clutch of eggs, leaving them in many cases to actually suffer in cold weather for want of proper hover. The advantages of capons for brooders should be most highly appreciated by persons who are bad brood managers, or who have what is termed "bad luck" with artificial brooders. But it is more of the commercial value of the capon that we desire to call attention to in this article, and especially at this time when general interest in poultry and poultry products is advancing by leaps and bounds, so to speak, upon every side and in every direction.

Many uniformed persons treat lightly the claim that the poultry and eggs product is out-stripping any other commodity in our commercial doings. But we have only to reflect that producers are in such a rush to get on to the nearest market, and that the dealers and consumers are so persistent with their demands, that the additional profitable results are not obtained that could and would be realized by a more systematic feeding of the general line of poultry and by specializing as to capons, etc. For example from East Tennessee alone from two to four car loads of poultry are shipped and sold in Washington every week in the year, to say nothing of the number of cars in the remainder of the train load that go on to Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York — all from East Tennessee — and with all this seldom ever a shipment of even a dozen capons. At this, the spring season, there is not a capon on the Washington markets, and only a very few obtainable anywhere for other Eastern markets, while in Washington they are quoted at 25 to 35 cents per pound, and in Baltimore, Philadelphia, Boston, and New York, from 30 to 50 cents per pound. With all these facts before us, and in view of the general clamor about conserving misused opportunities, it is conclusive that the farmer of today is letting slip through his very hands a chance to increase an already established commercial factor, by not caponizing the many cull and unnecessary cockerels at the proper age. which as has been demonstrated, will result in an addition of at least one-third to the weight of the ordinary full grown male, besides producing the most wholesome and profitable fowl flesh or meat in existence. After the bird — caponized — is fully grown, a leaf of yellow fat forms about and around the carcass which, when roasted, imparts a most delicious flavor.

While the art of caponizing has been in vogue for several hundred years in China, Europe, and other foreign countries, it would seem that the American people have been too busy until within the last few years to devote the necessary time to the development of such enjoyable luxury. There are two points certain : First, capon is the very best and most palatable fowl meat. Second, nothing is too good for the American people; the only fact that seems perplexing is, why don't they raise it? Even though a farmer raise only a dozen or two dozen for home use, he would be amply repaid for the trouble and expense. The tools cost from $2.00 to $2.50, and can be procured of the Geo. P. Pilling Co., Philadelphia, Pa., who put up first-class goods and are reliable people to deal with. After one or two operations, the work becomes delightful, but even a greater delight awaits the operator when later on the large, juicy capon roast confronts him on his own table, when it is served to his guests and family. We urge every farmer and all poultry raisers for that matter, to try this new field of industry, and thus help themselves to another of the good things of life. As to the work and its proper execution, the people supplying the instruments will furnish free upon application their catalogue and book giving every detail of the work, by carefully observing, which even a boy cannot fail to do it successfully. — Thos. E. McLean, Knoxville, Tenn.

THE OPPORTUNITIES OF POULTRY MEN

In fact it would have been considered sinful. He never even dreamed of grit boxes and feed hoppers, the great labor savers of today, which make profit with great numbers so much more practicable. To him, your modern bone-cutter would have been unspeakable. And a trap nest — that would have been the last straw on his credulity.

BOWEL TROUBLE AMONG CHICKS