100 PROGRESSIVE POULTRY CULTURE 



roasters (.both cockerels and! pullets) in the spring. 

 Light Brahmas and White Plymouth Rocks are favorite 

 fowls for use in carrying out this plan. It is more 

 difficult to obtain good eggs for incubating in the sum- 

 mer and hatching is more difficult than in the natural 

 nesting season of spring but these difficulties can be 

 managed, Hatching machines are used to brinig out 

 the chicks in large numbers and these are cared for in 

 brooder houses warmed by pipe-systems of hot water or 

 steam. These houses should have been cleaned out thor- 

 oughly and disinfected several months before autumn 

 use. They should, in fact, have been left empty and 

 open to the air and sunshine, unusued, through the sum- 

 mer months. Any good system of brooding that insures 

 complete control of the temperature and other conditions 

 surrounding the chicks will answer. After the brooding 

 period is over, the chickens are separated into flocks 

 according to sex and provided with colony houses hold- 

 ing each a flock of about thirty birds and providing 

 about two square feet of floor space per fowl. The cock- 

 erels should be caponized' or castrated. 



CAPONIZING. 



Caponizing is the removal of the generative organs 

 of the mate chicken, thereby destroying his power to 

 breed. 



The Capon. The cockerel so emasculated is termed 

 a capon.. He becomes very docile and slow of movement, 

 loses all inclination for fighting or quarreling with his 

 fellows and is contented to keep his own company. The 

 spurs keep growing but the comb and wattles diminish 

 rather than increase in size. They also lose their bright 

 red! color. The flesh of the capon remains tender. If 

 given sufficient time he grows to much larger size than 

 be would if not caponized. He fattens readily and pro- 

 duces a plump, juicy, sweet flavored, fine grained table 

 fowl. He commands a higher price in the market than 

 if not caiponized. Well matured capons often develop a 

 "beautiful glossiness of plumage, which added! to their 

 majestic mien! gives them a very attractive appearance. 



