FARM ANIMALS 311 



bring from two to six cents per pound more than 

 ordinary poultry. There is no extra expense from 

 feeding or caring for capons aside from the initial 

 expense of caponizing. At the same time as found 

 from wide experience in South Carolina and else- 

 where capons grow faster and reach a larger size 

 within a given time than cockerels. In a period of 

 eight months capons usually exceed cockerels by 

 about two to four pounds and in twelve months 

 from four to five pounds, especially where large 

 breeds are used. The average rooster at eight 

 months of age will perhaps weigh six pounds 

 whereas a capon will weigh about eight pounds and 

 the total price realized by farmers in South Caro- 

 lina is about forty-two cents for cockerels and 

 eighty-eight cents for capons. The profit from 

 capons is therefore relatively much higher than 

 that from roosters. 



In caponizing fowls the operation is often incom- 

 pletely performed on a considerable number of 

 fowls. Such birds are known as slips and bring a 

 price intermediate between that of ordinary poul- 

 try and the capons. The reason for this is that in 

 slips, and still more decidedly in capons, the 

 amount of breast meat is greater and 01 a better 

 quality. Moreover the structure and flavor of the 

 meat of capons is universally recognized as superior 

 to that of average fowls. In South Carolina and 

 other states a curious use has been found for capons 

 in addition to their value as meat. It appears that 

 capons will take care of young chickens as well as, 

 and in most cases, better than a hen. The hackle 

 feathers, wing and tail feathers in the capon are 

 larger than in the hen and they are, therefore, 

 capable of covering more chickens. In most 

 instances they seem to take kindly to this work 



