Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-08-03
HERE IS ADVICE
FOR THE NOVICE
Diseases of Egg-ProduCing Or
gans Usually the Result of
Badly Managed Diet.
BY JOSEPH SHAKESPEARE.

Ailments of the producing organs
are found more frequently in pullets than
in older fowls, and the ailing birds are
more frequently met among the fowls Of
the novice poultry keepers than in the
fiocks of older and more experienced
breeders The reason for this is easily
found. The novice generally keeps his
fowls on a limited area of land and the
quantity of food given TO them is far
above rather than below, the quantity
requisite to maintain normal health and
development.
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 1t requires muscular
power to produce eggs, and when 1t is
lacking, fowls are liable to suffer when
vainly endeavorng TO deliver their first
contributions to the egg basket.
Egg binding is not so prevalent among
pullets as among the older birds, owing
to the disposition of the latter to pro-
duce internal fat and abnormally large
eggs still the ailment is occasionally
found among the younger fowls, and it is
more often than not traceable to imma-
turity and lack of muscular power.
Egg Cramp.
What is commonly known as egg Cramp
is frequently met among immature stock
that has been forced along with a view
to early egg production. In the case of
cramp or paralysis the affected birds lose
the use 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 suffer
with egg cramp, but the fully developed
birds are equally liable to contract the
ailment if the walls of the oviducts are
coated with fat, the result of erratic feed
ing.
All that can be done for a fowl suffer
ing with egg cramp is to keep her per
fecuy quiet, and to dose her with castor
oil, with the object of clearing her system.
The success of the treatment depends
upon its timely application when the bird
is first attacked If the bird is left TO re
cover as best she can nature may right
itself for a time only, and other and more
serious attacks may follow owing to fine
dilation of the nerves surrounding the
oviduct.
Egg Binding.
Wen developed and nationally fed pull
lets are seldom troubled with egg bind
ing 1t is the overfat hen or the immature
and over stimulated pulet that is liable
to suffer with this ailment When fowls
that apparently are in good laying con
dition become egg bound it is a sign Of
over activity on the part of the ovary,
due to an excess Of animal or other slim
ulating matter in the rations.
When a fowl becomes egg bound there
is evidence of much distress: she wan
ders to and from the nest and sings in
a plaintiff manner, or else she stays for
hours at a time on the nest and she
may be seen to rise occasionally and
strain herself in an endeavor TO be rid
of the cause OF her trouble. When bird
is known 10 be egg bound its vent should
be exposed TO the steam arising from the
mouth of a hot water jug, and the inner
walls of the egg passage should be r.ell
fabricated with sweet oil by aid Of the
foreinger The bird may then be left
to herself for few hours when, if the
egg is not delivered the steaming ana
oiling operat ton should be repeated