620 DOMESTIC ANIMALS, DAIRYING, ETC. 



don prices. The prime feathers sell from $100 to $200 per pound ; 

 it takes about 90 of these feathers to weigh a pound. 



Handling and Feeding Ostriches. The lands used for ostrich 

 farms in Arizona are worth from $40 to $125 per acre. The land 

 value depends largely on the location and water rights. The cost 

 of bringing the water used for irrigation to the land is an important 

 factor. 



Fencing. The usual way to fence an ostrich farm is to use a 

 woven wire for the outside fences about 5% feet high, with meshes 

 small enough to keep out wolves and dogs. 



Flesh and Eggs as Food. The value of the ostrich depends on 

 its production of feathers for ordinary purposes; the flesh, how- 

 ever, is said to be much relished by those who have eaten it. The 

 eggs are fine for making omelets ; one egg will make as much ome- 

 let as two and a half dozen hen eggs. One ostrich has been known 

 to produce over 300 pounds of egg food in a year. 



Value of Ostriches. The value of the ostrich has only begun 

 to be appreciated. American ostrich farmers seldom care to part 

 with their birds, as does the growers of other domestic animals. 

 Chicks six months old are often estimated to be worth $100 each. 

 Birds three years of age are worth from $300 to $350; while birds 

 four years old, the age at which they pair, are worth $800 or over 

 per pair. 



Profits of Ostrich Farming. The question, "Does ostrich farm- 

 ing pay?" is often asked. When an acre of alfalfa will furnish a 

 home for four birds, with food enough to maintain them, and when 

 an ostrich will yield annually one and one-half pounds of feathers 

 with an average value of $20 per pound, and from 36 to 90 eggs 

 averaging 3% pounds to the egg, it may be left for each reader to 

 decide for himself as to the profit of the industry. (Y. B. 1905.) 



CAPONS AND CAPONIZING. 



Much the larger part of this industry is confined to that por- 

 tion of the United States east of Philadelphia, though increasing 

 numbers of capons are being raised in the North Central States. 

 During 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 important markets. 



What Is a Capon ? A capon is an altered or castrated male 

 chicken, bearing the same relation to a cockerel that a steer does to 

 a bull, a barrow to a boar, or a wether to a ram. As with other male 

 animals so altered, the disposition of the capon differs materially 

 from that of the cockerel. He no longer shows any disposition to 

 fight, is much more quiet and sluggish, and is more docile and easy 

 to keep within bounds. The true capon never crows. Along with 

 this change in disposition there is a change in appearance. The 

 comb and wattles cease growing, which causes the head to appear 

 small. The hackle and saddle feathers develop beautifully. In- 

 deed, these feathers and the undeveloped comb and wattles serve to 



