310 DISEASES OF DOMESTICATED BIRDS 
practice and care this is soon overcome. Any fowls which may be 
killed in this way are perfectly good to eat and are therefore not 
wasted. 
A great deal of practice is required to become expert enough to 
operate rapidly. Consequently it is quite common in localities where 
many capons are grown to hire experts to do the work. ‘These men 
are able to caponize a fowl every two to five minutes, and charge 
from 3 to 6 cents a fowl for the service. It is most humane for the 
beginner to make his first trials upon dead fowls. 
SLIPS 
Many times, particularly with beginners, while the operation seems 
to be entirely satisfactory, the bird will turn out to be what is known 
asa “slip.” A “slip” is neither cockerel nor capon, but is between 
the two, possessing the mischievous disposition and the appearance 
of an ordinary cockerel, but, as a rule, being unable to reproduce. 
This condition is due to the fact that a small piece of the testicle is 
left in the body. This piece often grows to a considerable size. As 
the “slips ” possess the same restless disposition as the cockerels, they 
grow and fatten little if any better, while they do not bring as good a 
price in the market as the capons. Consequently it is well to use 
every precaution in order to avoid “slips,” as they are unprofitable 
as compared with capons. With the greatest care, however, “slips” 
are more common than are deaths due to the operation. The per- 
centage varies all the way from 50 per cent with beginners down to 
2 or 3 per cent with experts. 
CARE OF FOWLS AFTER THE OPERATION 
Upon being released from the operating table the capons are 
usually put in a closed yard where they can find shelter, food, and 
water and can be kept quiet. No roosts are provided, as the less fly- 
ing and jumping they do the sooner will the wound heal. The 
capons seem to be very little inconvenienced by the operation, and 
water and soft feed mixed with sweet skim milk can be given imme- 
diately. Some feeders give this in unlimited quantity, while others 
feed more sparingly for a time. Some growers observe no precau- 
tions whatever, giving the birds their full liberty immediately after 
the operation and allowing them to have any sort of feed. 
For a week or 10 days the newly made capons should be carefully 
