BROILERS CAPONS AND ROASTERS 



217 



months. Then fat them. This can be done in two 

 weeks by shutting them in a small, dark coop and 

 feeding three times a day all they will eat of corn meal 

 and middlings mixed up with milk. 



FIG. 94 TWEEZERS, SPRING HOOK, WIRE HOOK 



The New York operating expert, I. C. H. Cook, 

 writes : "Some care should be exercised in performing 

 the operation lest the large artery following along the 

 backbone is ruptured, since that would cause the 

 immediate death of the chicken ; still there is no loss, 

 for he only provides us with a good broiler ! Then, too, 

 another thing to expect is from fifteen to twenty-five 

 per cent 'slips' — these are cockerels on which imper- 

 fect operations were performed, and as they mature 

 the comb grows, and to all appearances they are roost- 

 ers. Possibly the most important factor of all in a 



FIG. 95 SPOON FORCEPS 



successful operation is having the cockerel at the 

 proper age. I am better acquainted with the Plymouth 

 Rocks than any other breed, and with them about three 

 and one-half months seems to be the proper age. 



