98 



POULTRY PRODUCTION 



in other animals. It renders them more tractable in disposi- 

 tion, their flesh remains soft in texture, they are easier 

 keepers, and make more economical gains. Where it is not 

 desirable to market the surplus cockerels as broilers, caponiz- 

 ing admits of rearing the males with the pullets without 

 danger of injury to the latter, and the constant annoyance 

 which greatly retards their development. 



The cleanly castrated male may be recognized by his 

 failure to grow a comb, his rarely, if ever, crowing, combined 

 with the fact that the hackle, saddle, and tail feathers grow 

 unusually long and silky. 



The right size for caponizing. (Courtesy of Mr. George Beuoy.) 



Making Capons.^ — " Caponizing is a simple operation. Any 

 careful person can soon learn to do it successfully. The 

 fact that a bird's testicles are hidden away inside the body 

 has caused most people to suppose that the operation of 

 removing them is at once difficult and dangerous. While 

 the percentage of loss is somewhat larger than results from 

 the castration of the larger animals, it need not run much, 

 if any, above 5 per cent, for the beginner. One of the reasons 

 why the number is as large as it is, may be that the bird 



' Lippinoott, Kansas Circular No. 27. 



