226 Farm Poultry 



larly if they are so situated that fowls which 

 would otherwise bring low prices can be turned 

 to this use to a good advantage. The regular 

 quotations also indicate that a considerable num- 

 ber of poultrymen find capon rearing a fairly prof- 

 itable branch of the poultry business. Were 

 this not true, poultrymen would cease to rear 

 them and their presence in the markets of so 

 many cities would be unknown. 



It is not difficult to learn how to perform suc- 

 cessfully the operation of caponizing fowls of the 

 proper age, but some persons are naturally 

 more deft in finger manipulation than others and 

 are able to perform delicate operations neatly and 

 rapidly. In districts in which large numbers of 

 capons are reared, professionals are usually en- 

 gaged by capon rearers to perform operations on 

 large numbers of fowls at one time. They go 

 about the country doing the work more satisfac- 

 torily and more rapidly than the owners could do 

 it for themselves, and, as they have become so 

 expert, they are enabled to perform the operation 

 for a very small sum and still make good wages. 

 From two to four cents per head usually pays 

 for a skilful operator. Any one who is at all 

 deft may perform the work by merely following 

 the directions furnished by the manufacturers of 

 caponizing instruments. Comparatively few farm- 

 ers, however, will become expert if they operate 



