WINTER AILMENTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 92, 9 July 1927, Page 26

WINTER AILMENTS

One of the most common complaints among the laying stock at this season is that known as leg weakness, or layers’ cramp. It frequently attacks young pullets just before laying, or

after they have produced a few eggs, and only on rare occasions do the older birds suffer. The majority of the cases that have come under my notice are those of pullets that have laid a small batch of eggs, and have been forced somewhat for egg production. Symptoms of Leg Weakness The symptoms of the complaint are fairly obvious. ' The ailing bird appears helpless, preferring to sit about on its haunches or to spend most of its time in the nest. The legs are unable to support the weight of the body, and, owing to the inability to get about, the bird is unable to secure food. Consequently it soon loses condition, and bullying from the male bird adds materially to its general discomfort. The cause of the trouble is generally a forcing diet unnatural to the fowl, which encourages egg production at the expense of stamina. In other words, the condition is weakened by the laying, and under the strain imposed the bird collapses. There is no doubt that the production of the first few eggs is a tax on the system of the pullets, and the rations for high productivity should be increased gradually as they get into full lay. The general treatment is simple, and usually effective if the trouble is taken in hand early. It is best to remove the ailing bird from the flock and place it in a warm exhibition pen. All soft mash of a forcing nature should be stopped, and grain given instead. The object of this is to check laying for a short period until the bird regains its strength. As a medicine, I have found half a teaspoonful of Parrish’s chemical food in half a wineglassful of water should be given daily, and a liberal quantity of fresh green food should be supplied during the period of confinement. The bird must be allowed to take exercise as soon as it is able to stand and use its legs. Sometimes leg weakness is the result of sleeping on a damp floor, and is a form of muscular rheumatism. In such cases the legs should be bathed in hot water, wiped dry, and embrocation applied. Blood Spots in Eggs A forcing diet is often responsible for the blood spots or streaks found in many new-laid eggs. I have seen them myself in a freshly-boiled breakfast egg, and quite a number with this defect have been forwarded for examination from time to time. Many people are under the impression that the spot is the embryo chick, and that the egg is stale, but this is not the case. The spot is really caused by a ruptured ligament during the process of laying, one or two drops of blood following the yolk as it leaves the ovary and before it receives its first membraneous covering. When boiled, the blood spots become a conspicuous portion of the egg, and leave a bad impression on the consumer. Such eggs may be laid by the same bird, and if this is so little can be done. Should they appear in large numbers, the rations must be altered to suit the conditions. Soft Shells Soft-shelled and shell-less eggs are often a -source of trouble, and their 'appearance denotes something wrong with stock or management. Apart from the fact that such eggs are not marketable, there is always the risk of the hens developing the egg-eating habit, which, when firmly established, is most difficult to cure. As a rule, the eggs are passed during the night and found on the dropping-board next morning, or they may be consumed by the fowls at daybreak. One frequently connects eggs of this class with insufficient quantities of shell material, but although this may be one of the chief causes it is not solely responsible for the condition. I have known certain hens produce unmarketable eggs with a liberal allowance of shell material before them. In some cases the trouble is due to an over-fat condition of the fowl, the superfluous fat preventing the egg organs from functioning properly, while in others it is a constitutional weakness. Good, hard shells are essential for marketing purposes, and the ability to produce them is a desirable point in the breeding stock. Sometimes eggs without any covering at all are found on the dropping-board, and these are of little value to the poultry-keeper. They may be consumed by the hens before the arrival of the attendant, thus encouraging the egg-eating habit. The cause may be too forcing a diet, or constitutional weakness —usually the latter. The birds concerned are of no use as eggproducers. EGGS OF ABNORMAL SIZE Now and again certain birds will produce abnormally large eggs, such as those with double yolks. Oldfashioned poultry-keepers still gloat over such performances, and think the achievement worthy of publicity. They do not realise that it is the result of mismanagement in feeding, and that the passing of such eggs has a tendency to injure seriously the egg organs of the fowls producing them. To pass an egg weighing about four ounces is no easy matter, and persistent production of such will assuredly lead to serious ovarian troubles. It may be difficult to trace the culprit, but when found the bird should be given a teaspoonful of Epsom salts, and removed to a pen, so that less soft mash can be supplied until the egg yield becomes normal. A SERIOUS OVARIAN TROUBLE

One of the worst forms of ovarian trouble is that known as prolapsus, or protrusion of the egg passage, frequently brought on through the passing of abnormal eggs. Heavy layers of large eggs are far more susceptible than the medium layer producing about four eggs a- week, weighing about two ounces each. Continuous production weakens the ligaments supporting the oviduct, and later one has to pay the penalty. Even if one succeeds in replacing the protruding organs there is always a tendency to repetition of the trouble. Unless immediate treatment is adopted there is little chance of effecting a cure. Unfortunately the prolapse may remain undiscovered for several hours, and in the meantime the organ is exposed to the dirt, and may even be attacked by other birds in the pens. If this happens, then the bird must be killed at once. As soon as the prolapse is noticed, the part should be washed with warm water and alum solution. This will cause the organs to contract, an essential point in the treatment. Then the part should be vaselined. and gently pushed back into position with the finger. It is essential that the organ

should be retained by the bird long enough for the muscles to contract and support the oviduct, and one can assist in this by placing the bird in a small exhibition hamper and propping up by the hindquarters with hay. A few hours’ quiet treatment will generally have the desired effect, but in the event of a recurrence the bird should be killed. In some instances the organ is pushed out with the next egg laid, clearly proving that there is a general weakness in the abdominal regions. It is advisable to withhold all soft mash for a few days, thereby preventing further egg production until the organs^have resumed their normal condition.