Animal Castration 143 



CHAPTER XII. 



CAPONIZING. 



Definition — Caponizing is a term applied to castrating fowls. 

 In this country the operation is practiced almost exclusively on 

 male chickens (^'roosters"), and sometimes turkeys. Such fowls 

 when castrated are known as capons. The caj^on l3ears the same 

 relation to the "rooster" as the "steer" does to the bull, the "bar- 

 row" to the boar, etc. 



History— Ji is impossible to say just how long the operation 

 of caponizing has been performed. It seems quite certain, how- 

 ever, that the practice was familiar to the Chinese more than two 

 thousand years ago. Later it was practiced by the Greeks and 

 Romans and through medieval times, by the people of middle and 

 southern Europe, until in recent years it has been introduced into 

 America. At present capons are most imiversally known and ap- 

 preciated in France, although within the last few years the busi- 

 ness of producing them has advanced rapidly in this country. 

 Much of the larger part of the industry is confined to that portion 

 of the United States east of Philadelphia, though increasing num- 

 bers of capons are being raised in the North Central States. Dur- 

 ing the winter months "capon" is regularly quoted in the markets 

 of the larger eastern cities. Massachusetts and New Jersey are the 

 great centers for the growing of capons, while Boston, New York 

 and Philadelphia are the great markets. 



Objects and Indications — Caponizing changes a male chicken's 

 disposition to the extent that he no longer shows an inclination to 

 fight, becomes sluggish and quiet and more docile than formerly. 

 The true capon never crows. The comb and wattles cease growing. 

 His society is not sought by other chickens— either roosters or 

 hens— he becomes an outcast and on this account oftentimes takes 

 up with baby chicks even to the extent of becoming a mother to 

 them ; scratch and work for them by day and hover them by night. 

 On account of the more peaceful disposition of the capon his body 

 develops rapidly and he grows larger and takes on fat more readily 



