390 BROILERS, ROASTERS, AND CAPONS 



The production of market poultry, especially of roasters, 

 could be made very profitable on a great majority of the general 

 farms which now carry only a small flock for home consumption, 

 the labor item being almost infinitesimal, except during the finish- 

 ing and marketing periods. Under these conditions the cost for 

 feed is slight and the extra labor required comes at the slack time 

 of the year. The general farm flock produces the great mass of 

 poultry and eggs. Let it do so to a still greater extent, and mul- 

 tiply the income of the farmer. 



Capons. There are great possibilities in the more extended 

 practice of capon production. The industry is in its infancy, and 



FIG. 180. A flock of capons five months old. 



each year sees a great increase in the number of capons produced. 

 The possibilities must be clearly understood. The poultryman 

 should become thoroughly acquainted with the operation before 

 attempting the practice commercially. The art of caponizing has 

 been understood and practised for many years, yet its possibilities 

 are just becoming understood and being developed. 



A capon is a male bird from which the reproductive organs 

 have been removed at an early age. Emasculation changes the 

 entire physical make-up of the cockerel, altering his shape and 

 the appearance of his plumage; he loses his masculine character- 

 istics and gains weight very rapidly (Fig. 180). 



Advantages of Caponizing. From the standpoint of produc- 

 tion of poultry meat of high flavor and quality, caponizing is very 

 desirable. Its advantages are : Larger and heavier fowls at killing 



