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 
Fia. 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 June to the middle of August. It is this season 
in practically all roaster-growing sections that the largest ship- 
ments 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 
