OCR Text |
Show 1 TURN SURPLUS COCKERELS INTO CAPONS Lm ii i i siii p. a mm Cannula In use. . " -. Jiff npr aP7taa'-'v Diagram showing where Incision should s xTiomaJ I ween last two ribs. Hethod of ssemtar towl; also spreader In plaoe. -Keadj to make the incision. Many farmers and poultry fanciers have found it profitable to turn all their surplus cockerels into capons by altering or castrating them; others think they can do better by selling the cockerels as broilers as long as prices hold up and caponize only later-batched later-batched chicks. The capon or castrated rooster bears the same relation to a cockerel that a steer does to a bull, a barrow to a boar, or a wether to a ram. As with other male animals so altered, the disposition dis-position of the capon differs materially from that of the cockerel. As a result of the more peaceful disposition of the capon he continues to grow and his body develops more uniformly and to a somewhat greater size than is the case with a cockerel of the same age. Time to Caponize. In so far as the effects of the opera--tion and the rapidity and ease of healing heal-ing are concerned, the time of year when the operation is performed is of little importance. The age and size of the cockerel, however, are very important. impor-tant. As soon as the cockerels weigh two to three pounds, or when two to four months old, they should be operated opera-ted upon. Operation of Caponizing. Before beginning the operation two conditions are absolutely essential. If these are not favorable, do not attempt at-tempt to operate. The first of these Is that the intestines .of the fowl should be completely empty, so that they will fall away and expose the testicle to view. This can be accomplished by i shutting up the fowls and withholding all food and water for twenty-four to thirty-six hours before the operation. Thirty-six hours is better than twenty-four, twenty-four, especially for a beginner. The second condition Is a good, strong light, so that the organs of the fowl may be clearly and easily distinguished. distin-guished. Direct sunlight is best for this, and in consequence It is well to operate out of doors on a bright day. Methods of Holding the Fowl. When ready to operate, catch the bird and pass a noose of strong string about the legs. Do the same with both wings close to the shoulder joints. To the other end of the strings are attached at-tached weights of sufficient size to hold down and stretch out the bird when placed upon the head of a barrel bar-rel or box of convenient height, which Is to serve as operating table. ' Having fastened the fowl, be sure that all the instruments are at hand. It is also well, though not necessarv. to have ready some absorbent cotton and a dish of water to which has been added a few drops of carbolic acid Having once started, carry the operation opera-tion through as quickly as possible. Moisten and remove the feathers from a small area over the last two ribs just In front of the thigh. With the left hand slide the skin and flesh down toward the thigh. Holding it thus, make the incision between the last two ribs, holding the edge of the knife away from you as you stand back of the fowl. Lengthen the incision in each direction until it is one to one and a half inches long. Now insert the spreader into the incision, thus springing the ribs apart. The intestines intes-tines will now be visible, covered by a thin membrane called the omentum. Tear apart this membrane with the hook, and the upper testicle, yellow or sometimes rather dark colored and about the Bize and shape of an ordinary ordi-nary bean, should be visible close up against the backbone. By pushing aside the intestines this can easily be seen, and the lower one also, in a similar position on the other side of the backbone. back-bone. Expert operators usually remove re-move testicles through one incision. Inexperienced operators will usually find it well to attempt the removal of the upper or nearer testicle only and to make a second incision on the opposite op-posite side of the body for the removal of the other testicle. If both testicles are to be removed through the same Incision, remove the lower first, as the bleeding from the upper might be sufficient to obscure the lower. Each testicle is enveloped in a thin membrane. This may be and probably is best removed with the testicle, though some operators tear it open and remove the testicle only. The delicate part of the operation is at hand, due to the close proximity of the spermatic artery, which runs back of the testicle and to which the testicle testi-cle Is in part attached. If this is ruptured rup-tured the fowl will bleed to death. The cannula, threaded with a coarse horsehair horse-hair or fine wire. Allow the hair or wire protruding from the end to form a small loop just large enough to slip over the testicle. Work this over the testicle, being careful to inclose the entire organ. Now tighten up on the free ends of the hair or wire, being careful not to touch any part of the artery. If the spermatic cord does not separate, saw lightly with the hair or wire. When the testicle is free, remove re-move it from thf body. If only the upper up-per testicle has been removed, turn the bird over and proceed in exactly he same manner upon the other side. After removing the testicle, if the bleeding Is at all profuse it is well to remove a portion of the blood by Introducing In-troducing small pieces of absorbent cotton into the body by means of the hook or nippers, allowing them to become be-come saturated and then removing them. Be sure to remove all blood clots, feathers or other foreign matter. After the testicles and all foreign matter mat-ter are removed, take out the spreaders, spread-ers, thus allowing the skin to slip back over the incision. |