392 BROILERS, ROASTERS, AND CAPONS 



of surplus cockerels unless they are caponized. The sooner the 

 general poultryman and farmer appreciate this fact, the sooner 

 will the quality of poultry meat be so improved that the income 

 and profit from its sale will bring an increasing revenue to the 

 producer. 



Market Requirements. — It may be said that there is no definite 

 capon season, for the demand is constant throughout the year, 

 and the supply does not begin to meet even a fractional part of 

 it. December to March is the season when most capons are 

 marketed, yet it is almost impossible to find any at general mar- 

 kets because they are immediately bought up at high prices. 

 The better an article is, the greater the demand for it at corre- 

 spondingly high prices, and ordinary chicken meat has no chance 

 compared with capon meat. This fact is being realized by the 

 more progressive poultrymen. The demand is continuous, the 

 price paid is the highest for any kind of meat, and there are no 

 commercial seasons to make it necessary to produce at that time 

 only. The best birds for capons are hatched in the early spring, 

 and the operation is performed during the early summer before 

 extremely hot weather sets in. The birds are then ready for market 

 during and after the holiday season, when there is always the 

 greatest demand for market poultry. 



Best Breeds for Caponizing. — Cockerels of any breed can be 

 made to increase greatly in weight by being caponized; but the 

 larger breeds permit of larger gains and are the most desirable. 

 For the production of capons on the farm, the Plymouth Rocks 

 are one of the best breeds. The pullets may be kept for eggs and 

 all the surplus cockerels caponized. If the production of capons 

 is a specialty, one of the heavier breeds, especially the Brahma, 

 will prove more satisfactory. The Light Brahma is undoubt- 

 edly the best capon breed. It is not an uncommon occurrence to 

 get a flock of such capons at eight to ten months of age to weigh 

 from twelve to fifteen pounds each. The light capons, such as 

 are produced from Plymouth Rocks, will probably always be in 

 greater demand, because they furnish more nearly the amount of 

 meat required by the average family, while the larger capon will 

 serve instead of a turkey for special occasions, such as holidays 

 and celebrations, or for hotel and restaurant demands. Crossing 

 is practised in the growing of capons, with varying results. One 

 method is to cross the Barred Plymouth Rocks and Light Brahmas 

 in order to get plumpness of breast, a little quicker maturity, and 



