CAPONS 393 



a decided yellowness of skin and legs. It is doubtful, however, 

 if this procedure is profitable in the long run. A bird with hand- 

 some plumage is more attractive as a capon, for in dressing much 

 of the plumage is left on; hence the partridge-colored birds are 

 used to a considerable extent. 



Proper Age for Caponizing. Cockerels can be caponized at 

 any age, but it is not advisable to perform the operation after the 

 birds are six months old, for by that time the natural function of 

 the organs becomes so firmly established that their removal is apt 

 to be disastrous. Neither is it wise to caponize a bird when too 

 young, for the organs are not sufficiently developed to be easily 

 removed, being very soft and easily torn. In determining the 

 proper time to caponize, size should be the guide rather than age, 

 the best time being when the birds weigh from one to one and one- 

 half pounds, or after they are two months old. June, July, Au- 

 gust, and September are the best months for the operation, because 

 the spring-hatched chicks then reach the right size; birds capon- 

 ized at this time will be ready for market during the months of 

 December, January, February, and March, the season of the 

 greatest demand and best prices. High prices at this time are 

 partly due to a falling off in the supply of cockerels, which are so 

 abundant in the fall and early winter; the capons fill in the gap 

 caused by this reduced supply of cockerels on the one hand, and 

 the natural supply of spring broilers on the other. This is not 

 necessarily the capon season; it is only so termed from the fact 

 that few, if any, are produced at any other season. 



Instruments and Equipment Necessary. Before performing 

 the operation, one should either see it done by an expert or prac- 

 tise on dead birds until familiar with the location and appearance 

 of the organs to be removed and the place for the incision and the 

 manner of making it, after which perfection in the operation is 

 simply a matter of practice. The student of caponizing should 

 first secure a reliable set of instruments and become familiar with 

 the name and purpose of each. There are many sets on the mar- 

 ket which are far from perfect in design, but the ones here illus- 

 trated are in most respects similar to those used by professional 

 caponizers. Instruments should be chosen for their rigidity and 

 durability, as well as efficiency and design. The best sets are 

 made double, that is, each end of an instrument is designed 

 for some particular purpose. The set 'illustrated (Fig. 181) com- 

 prises four instruments, as follows: Spoon and hook, forceps and 



