POULTRY NOTES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 36, 25 January 1912, Page 3

POULTRY NOTES.

AILMENTS OF EGG ORGANS OF , THE DOMESTIC HEN. i (By Joseph Shakespeare, IVarloy, , England.) Ailments of the egg-producing organs are found more frequently in pullets than in older fowls, and the ailing birds arc more frequently mot among the birds of the novice poultry keepers than in the flocks of the older and more experienced breeders. The reason for this is easily found. The novice generally keeps !his t fowls on a limited area of land and the quantity of food given is*-far, above, rather than below, "the quantity requisite to maintain normal health, and development. , . ' t , The young pullets are fed with a too generous, hand, .and consequently their egg-producing organs are stimulated into action long before the muscular system is fully developed. It requires muscular power to produce °SS S > and when it is lacking fowls are liable to suffer when vainly endeavour-' mg to deliver their first contributions to the egg basket. Egg binding is not so prevalent among pullets as among tire older birds, owing - to the disposition of the latter to produce internal fat and abnormally large eggs v sti)l, the .gilment is occasionally foupd among ,the younger fowls and it is more offep .than, not traceable to immaturity and lack of muscular power. i i ' > i In a well developed and properly fed pullet the. oviduct or passage through which the egg passes on its way from the ovary to the vent, is sufficiently expanded to allow the passage of the first egg without its inner walls being ill-affected by much pressure, and when the' egg -reaches that part of the-oviduct from which it is expelled, there is sufficient muscular power available to ensure a safe and easy delivery. In the case of an immature pullet whose ovary , has been stimulated to activity by , injudicious feeding, the delivery of the first egg is always attended with , danger. , Egg Cramp. .

What is commonly known as egg cramp is frequently met with among immature stock that, lias been forced along with a view ( to early egg production. In the ( case of cramp or paralysis the affected'birds lose the uso of their legs and squat about the ground. There is no doubt that the ailment results from the, resistance of the walls of the undistended oviduct to the passage of the first egg produced. Not only , are .immature pullets liable to suffey yvitli. egg cramp, but xhe fully developed birds are equally liable to contract the ailment if the wfllls of thd oviduct are coated with fat, the result of erratic feeding. Anything that causes great pressure on the walls of the oviduct is liable to cause paralysis. So pullets should bo carefully fed with a view to perfect maturity before they are placed in the laying quarters. , What is required,- in,, .the...pullet \intended for egg production is a well developed, fnpne padded with, hard,,muscular : flesli. Such,, features • j can be,obtained, only by ratipnal feeding and exercise, and the bird possessing them will enter the ' laying quarters ’■ well fitted to pass through the initial laying stage with safety. All that can bo done for a fowl suffering with qgg..cramp is to keep her perfectly quiet, and .to dose her with castor oil with the object of clearing -iue.il oqq jo ssooons mqj, -uiaqsA's .toq ment depends upon its timely application when the bird is first attacked. If the bird is left to recover as best she can nature may right itself for a time only, and other and more serious attacks may follow owing to the debilitation of the nerves surrounding the oviduct. It is very doubtful whether fowls affected with the ailment are worth retaining where egg production is the main consideration, as birds calculated to render a profitable account of themselves as layers must steer clear of any ailment likely to debilitate the egg organs. The best remedy for egg cramp or paralysis lies' undoubtedly in its prevention, and, therefore, the young pullets should be so fed and exercised as to insure good growth. Once in possession of good physical development the birds will have no trouble in delivering their first egg. .■ ' , ‘ 1 Egg-binding,. -H, ,

. \We,llTdeveloped and pullets', are seldom troubled \vith eggbinding. It is the over-fat hen or the immature and over-stimulated pullet that is liable to suffer with this ailment. When fowls that are apparently in good laying condition become egg-bound it is a sign of overactivity on the part of the ovary, due to an excess of animal or other stimulating matter in the rations. The birds produce eggs so rapidly that their egg organs from over-work become debilitated, and their muscular system is weakened so much that they eventually cease to perform their functions, with the result that fully formed eggs remain in the oviduct. Sometimes the ovary develops yolks at so rapid a rate that two yolks enter the oviduct simidtaneously and become enclosed in one shell, thus forming an egg of abnormal size, an 1 one that is not easily deli u red. When a fowl becomes egg-bound there is evidence of much distress; si..A wanders to and from the rest anl sings in a plaintive m inner, or else ;!)-■ stays for hours at a t.me on the nest and sho nuVy be seen to risj occasionally and strain lunse'f in an endeavour to be rid cf tiie caiise of her trouble. When a lord is known to lie egg-bound its vent should be exposed to the steam arising from cue mouth of a hot water jug, am 1 the inner walls of the egg passage should bo well lubricated with sweet oil by aid of the forelinger. The

bird may then be left to herself for a few hours when, if the egg is not dor livered, the steaming and oiling operation should be repeated. By the above simple operation the majority of egg-binging cases can be successfully treated. When death results from egg-binding it is generally the result of impatience and rough handling on the part of the operator, who, ; as likely as not, is ignorant of the fact that nature with rest and a , little gentle assistance is capable of , effecting all that is needed. Prolapse, or Down Behind. Prolapse or “down behind,” as it is commonly termed, is a condition in which a portion of the intestines protrudes from the vent. It is a condition that affects very heavy layers, and is caused through straining. It is useless to endeavour to cure a subject of prolapse and at the same time secure a continuance of eggs. The treatment likely to effect a cure lies in well oiling the protruding intestine and gently re-inserting it. The patient should then be placed in a small pen well littered with soft straw, and should bo put on half rations with the object of checking egg production. During the confinement of the bird a few eggs may be laid and the weakened part may protrude again, when it will be necessary to perform again the aforementioned simple operations. When laying ceases the patient should be kept quiet and alone and fed sparingly for a couple of weeks before being turned into the laying quarters again. Sometimes prolapse follows the production of an abnormally large" egg, owing to the fact that the egg passage becomes so much extended as to be unable to settle properly into place again. As a rule timely assistance an unstimulating diet, and quietude will effect a cure. Deformed Eggs. A few words on the production of deformed eggs may throw some light on the subject. There are many reasons why fowls produce eggs of abnormal shape and form. It is commonly supposed that lack of shellforming material accounts for the production of shelless eggs, but in the majority of cases internal fat and not a deficiency of shell-making material, is the cause of the mischief. Fowls whoso oviducts are coated with fat cannot possibly shell their eggs. , The lime substance may be secreted in the walls of the oviduct, but it can havo no effect on the eggs so long as the pores from which it should .naturally exude ■ are choked with fatty deposits, the result of feeding oti oily'foods. ! The too free use of stimulating foods sometimes forces hens to produce two eggs in one day, one of which usually is shelless or encased in a very thin shell . The ovary is capable, through stimulation, of producing more eggs than the shell-forming machinery can doal with properly. The too free use of iron ionics added to the drinking water is liable to cause inflammation '■"of : the walls ol 1 the oviduct and so render that organ incapable l of- performing f its- natural functions. The bird suffering with inflammation of the oviduct is liable to be: treated for cramp, owing to its inability to use its legs properly. There are on record cases of pullets that laid shelless eggs through shock caused by sudden fright, and this should show the novice the necessity of quietude among nervous young fowls. Worms in the intestines will sometimes account for the production of shelless eggs. There is much abdominal straining on the part of a fowl 'suffering with intestinal worms and this straining is likely to hurry the egg along the oviduct and cause its delivery long before it is properly shelled.

> Before one can prescribe a remedy for the prevention of deformed eggs it ;s necessary to know the .cause that produces them. Fat fowls should be given an occasional dose of Epsom salts and less fat-forming foods should be fed, while fowls apparently in good condition that lay thin shelled eggs should have less stimulating food or more shell-forming material, as the case warrants. '

If the fowls are suffering with intestinal worms the worms will be detected in the droppings, and a dose of powdered eureka nut worked up into a pill by the addition of a little flour, should be given them. The bird that persists in laying shelless eggs should bo isolated for treatment before such eggs become broken and are tasted by the other fowls. Undoubtedly the production of shelless eggs is responsible for the egg eating vice, as they are liable to be dropped by the fowls when at roost, and to be broken and eaten. No time should be lost in getting at the cause of sholless egg production and effecting a cure before the fowls regard their own eggs as the richest of food.

N.Z. Utility Club’s Egg-Laying Competition. Pullets. A. R. Browne (18) ... ... 1181 Misses Bradley (22) ... ... 1179 lloretaunga Poultry Co. (30) ... 1107 W. Nixon (33) ' 1163 T. Kennedy (27) , ... ... 1164 \V. Nixon'(3o) 1115 Horotaunga Poultry Co. (29) ... 1113 A. Tisoh (20) 1125 A. R. Browne (20) ... ... 1100 Cl .H. Robinson (24) 1092 W. Halpin (29) 1092 Mrs J. Mills (30) ... ... 1089 Rangiuru Egg Ranch (33) ... 1087 Ducks. W. Knight (25) ... ... 1241 Heretaunga Poultry Co. (17) ... 1236 A. R. Browne (15) ... ... 1091 P. J. Keller (17) 1080