THE POULTRY RUN.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 533, 15 January 1913, Page 2

THE POULTRY RUN.

KILMENTS 5F THE EGG ORGANS. During the egg-producing Seasoii fowls are liable to contract ailments Of the egg-producing organs, and more especially is this so in the case of pullets coming into lay, or old hens that have become weakened in constitution. Sometimes abr normal eggs are laid, at others softshelled ones are produced, whilst cases of egg-binding will occur. When abnormally large eggs are produced it is generally a sign of over-stimulation through excessive feeding, or feeding on forcing agents such as spices and other stimulants. The ovary produces two yolks at the same time, and these enter the oviduct where they join, and together become coated with albumen and lime substance. There is a great strain placed upon the ] fowl in the production of dotibleyolked eggs, and when any such are laid the bird should be put on Jow rations for a few * days, and

should have some tpsom sans added to its drinking wate?, whilst spices and other stimulating agents should be discarded, if these have plaved a part in the rations of the bird. • Soft-Shelled Eggs. Soft-shelled eggs frequently appear amongst fowls in full lay, and especially so if the birds are' deprived ,of shell-forming material. Eggs are often produced at too rapid a rate to be completely coated with lime substance. Soft-shelled eggs, if dropped from the Voost and broken, are liable to create the eggeating vice among the flock; the poultry-keeper should therefore see that the fowls have a good supply of shell-forming materials, such as crushed oyster shells, bone dust or old mortar rubble- Should a,fowl produce two eggs during the day, and one of them is shell-less, one may conclude 1 that the bird is overstimulated, and its dietary should be altered to one of less forcing nature. Spices used in niild seasons are liable to have an over-stimula-ting effect.upon the.ovary, and at the same time debilitate the oviduct, with the result that the. latter organ fails to perform its shellproducing If fowls were more rationally treated to a nourishing rather,than a stimulating dietary, and supplied with shell-forming soft-shelled eggs would not so often appear.,

Egg-rßinding.

Sometimes cases of egg-binding occur, and these are met with among young - pullets or very old hens. When pullets become eggbound, it is r owing to the egg-pas-sage not having become developed to allow the eggs to easily pass along them. In the case of old hens the birds, may be too weak to deliver the eggs. Fowls show signs } of egg-binding by squatting down, or frequently going to and from the nest, or by remain-, ing on the nest a considerable time. .When signs of egg-binding are seen,. the first thing to do is to take up the. bird and ascertain whether the cause of the mischief is intact or broken.-* If intact, it will, as-likely as not, be of abnormal size ,and can readily be felt lying close to the vent. The bird should be given a dose of warm castor oil,, and a feather liberally soaked in sweet oil should be inserted into the vent. The patient should then be placed in a. roomy' basket well littered with hay. If this treatment fails to assist the bird in delivering the egg within 12 hours, the vent should again be oiled and held over a jug containing, steaming hot water. This operation will generally effect a cure. Should the egg, on being examined, be found to be broken, the vent should be well oiled internally, and a. careful search should be made by the forefinger for a piece of the egg-shell. When found it should assist the operator by gentle effort to draw out the whole of the broken egg. The bird should • then have a dose of warm castor pil, and should be placed in a roomy pen by herse'lf and kept quiet. Cases of egg-binding are not difficult to cure' if the symptoms are quickly noted and the sufferer treated before her strength has become exhausted in her vain, endeavour to deliver the egg-