SECTION XVIII 



CASTRATION OF THE BIRD (CAPONIZING) 



There are great possibilities in the more extended practice 

 of capon production. The fact that there is a growing de- 

 mand, making their value as a meat product superior to that 

 of the cock or cockerel, and the fact that they bring a])out 

 thirty cents a pound while the uncastrated bird brings only 

 about fifteen cents, together with the fact that they become 

 very much larger, makes this phase of poultry husbandry a 

 productive and remunerative one. 



The male bird after the removal of his reproductive organs 

 loses his masculine appearance, becomes sluggish and gains 

 weight rapidly as a result of his inactivity. 



From the loss of that internal secretion manufactured in 

 the testes we note that there is the same difference which is 

 observed in other animals under the same treatment. The 

 development of the gelding as compared to the horse and of 

 the barrow^ as compared to the boar, are some concrete ex- 

 amples. 



The same improvement in meat is noted in the castrated or 

 caponized bird as in the steer over the meat of the bull or the 

 meat of the barrow compared with that of the boar, hence 

 capon raising is highly desirable and if properly managed is 

 a profitable undertaking. 



A capon of the Plymouth Rock, Wyandotte or Rhode Island 

 Red breed should weigh fully seven or eight pounds when 

 eight months of age. 



Light capons are produced from the Rocks, Wyandottes 

 and Reds while the heavy capons are produced from the 

 Brahmas and Cochins. 



The cockerel should be caponized when he weighs from one 

 to one and one-half pounds, which will probably be about the 

 eighth to the tenth week. 



If the birds are allowed to become too old before operation 

 the testes are found to l)e very large, the removal of which 

 may prove fatal to the bii-d. If the birds are hatched from 

 ]\rarch to IMay the operation could be performed in the months 

 of June to September and with proper feeding and care these 

 birds should then be ready to market from December to 

 INfarch. 



The equipment needed to perform this operation is a table 



