ROASTERS 387 



In roaster growing it is absolutely necessary that the producer 

 know the requirements, and the difference between a bird in prime 

 condition for roasting and one which is not, for they vary greatly 

 according to breed characteristics and management. 



Market Types of Roaster. The market classifies all dressed 

 poultry according to use and size, quoting price variation for two 

 types of roasting chickens. The most common and by far in 

 most demand is the small roaster, so designated on account of its 

 light weight. Such roasters usually weigh from four to six pounds, 

 and are in demand for private families who wish fresh poultry for 

 one meal only. The other type of roaster is known as the large or 



FIG. 178. Market types of roasting chickens. A, Large roaster, six pounds; B, small 



roaster, four pounds. 



heavy variety, birds weighing from six to sometimes twelve pounds 

 each. The demand for such birds is limited except at the holiday 

 season, at which time they are often used in place of turkey 

 (Fig. 178). 



Roaster Seasons and Prices. There is a good market for a 

 prime roaster at any season of the year, but the problem of the 

 specialist is how to bring his birds to maturity at the time of 

 natural shortage and correspondingly higher prices. This period 

 is from the first of December to the middle of February. It is 

 this season in practically all roaster-growing sections that the 

 largest shipments are made. The fall of the year is the natural 

 roaster period. The prices then are, slightly lower, due to the 

 large supply of birds from general and mixed farms shipped to 

 market at about this time. 



Another profitable shipping period is late November and 



