CAPONS AND CAPONIZINO. 
5 
TIME TO CAPONIZE. 
In so far as the effects of the operation and the rapidity and ease 
of healing are concerned, the time of year when the operation is per¬ 
formed is of little importance. The capons seem to recover and do 
well at any time. Certain other considerations, however, do influence 
the time. The age and size of the cockerel are very important. As 
soon as the cockerels weigh 1-1- to 2d pounds, or when 2 to 4 months 
old, they should be operated upon. The lower age and weight limits 
apply particularly to the American breeds, while the higher apply 
to the Asiatics. If smaller than this, their bodies do not give room 
enough to work handily. On the other hand, they should never 
be over G months old, as by this time the testicles have developed 
to a considerable extent, the spermatic arteries carry greater amounts 
of blood, and the danger of pricking these arteries and causing the 
fowl to bleed to death is greatly increased. The fact that capons 
are in greatest demand and bring the best prices from the Christmas 
season until the end of March, and that it takes about 10 months to 
grow and finish them properly, makes it important to hatch the 
chicks in early spring so that they will be of proper size for caponiz- 
ing in June, July, and August. These are by far the most popular 
months for the operation, though in some cases it is performed still 
later. 
CAPONIZING INSTRUMENTS. 
There are several sets of instruments for performing the operation. 
These differ principally in the type of instrument used in getting 
hold of and removing the testicle. One type is the cannula (fig. 1, a). 
This consists of a hollow tube, the lower end of which is compressed 
and closed except for two small holes through which to run the 
horse hair or wire comprising the other part of the instrument. 
This type requires two hands to operate. Another type is the twist¬ 
ing scoop (fig. 1, b). This is a spoon-like scoop slotted in the center 
and mounted upon a slender rod. It is designed to slip under the 
testicle, allowing the spermatic cord to pass through the slot. By 
twisting the cord is severed. This type has the advantage of requir¬ 
ing only one hand to operate, but is more liable to produce “ slips ” 
(see p. 11) than the cannula. A third style of instrument (fig. 1, i) is 
also in the form of a spoon or scoop, but instead of being in one piece 
has two jaws regulated by a slide. The testicle is caught in the 
scoop with the spermatic cord between the jaws, and by tightening 
the jaws and gently moving the instrument the cord is severed and 
the testicle removed. Still another type, not now in common use. is 
the spoon forceps. With this the testicle is simply grasped with the 
forceps and detached by a twisting movement. Here one hand can 
