POULTRY INDUSTRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19280, 19 March 1926, Page 16

POULTRY INDUSTRY.

EGG-LAYING TROUBLES. SOME CAUSES AND EFFECTS. IMPORTANCE OF LIME. BY G.H. It is not surprising in the case of a bird which has been so highly specialised for egg-production as the domestic fowl, that there should at times arise trouble in connection with the formation and deposition of eggs. Such troubles are, as a rule, intimately connected with feeding, and the poultry-keeper must constantly . be on his guard" against the risks attendant on specialised feeding; there is always a danger, in the eagerness to produce a constant supply of eggs, of omitting some portion of the diet which keeps the organs in a healthy condition and prevents irregularities. Tho most prevalent egg trouble is the production of eggs without shells. This is not only a loss in itself, but is apt to lead to further trouble, especially the formation of the egg-eating habit. These soft-shelled eggs are liable to be dropped anywhere. They are often found on the dropping boards, having been passed while the birds are roosting: while they may bo laid in tho open, where they are apt to be eaten by the birds, and so induce a habit which may not stop short here.

Soft-shelled eggs, or, as they are sometimes called, "wind eggs." may be caused merely by a too liberal use of albuminous foods, the eggs being formed so rapidly that they must be got rid of before they have time to become shelled. When the diet is not excessively proteid, however, deficiency of lime is more often the cause. Some soils naturally contain enough lime to supply all that is required by the birds, but in others there fe practically none, and in such cases moie especially when the birds are kept in confined" runs. lime must be provided. Intensively kept birds must, ot course, have a supply. Nothing better can be given than ground shell, preferably oyster, though crushed chalk or limestone, or even old mortar, will serve the purpose. _ A special box should be provided, in which a supply is always kept, and the birds will nob fail to take all they need. If, in spite of an ample lime supply, softshelled eggs become general, the albuminous part of the food ration must be diminished and ample green food supplied. Abnormally-Shaped Eggs. Double-yolked eggs are sometimes caused by the same superabundance of proteid food, but in this case, there being no lack of lime, two eggs are pushed into one shell. In most cases, however, special birds have this habit, ar»d will be found to lay double-yolked eggs at moie or less regular intervals. Abnormallyshaped eggs are due to some malformation of the ovarian organs, and it win generally be found that when a bird lays an egg 01 abnormal shape, or with ridges and bars upon it, all its eggs are of the same character. Such eggs are, of course, quite marketable, and when no difficulty arises in laying them, the matter is of little consequence; but it sometimes happens in these cases, as well as those jn which double-yolked eggs are a habit, that the organs are strained or injured, and more serious troubles are set up. The difficulty of laying such eggs may cause an extrusion of the organs, which, even if put right by the poultry-keeper, is liable to occur again, perhaps more readily. , , Worse still is the danger ot eggs breaking inside the body. They may be passed safely, but in some eases remain and cause congestion, which leads to extraordinary results. An and apparently incurable form of this is the formation of large albuminous masses, which the bird is unable to get rid of, the organs being rendered useless. If this trouble is suspected, it may, in the early stages, yield to a few days of low diet .and cleansing medicine, such as frequent doses of olive oil, if this does not put matters right, it is better to kill the bird. Occasionally birds will produce small, useless eggs. When these occnr at the beginning or end of a batch, they may be disregarded, but if a hen lays these .regularly she shotild be disposed of as useless.

* 3 due in most cases to one of the causes of abnormal esrgs, though occasionally it takes place when a bird is trndulv fat. It is recognised by mopiness. in conjunction with frequent visits to the nest. The bird also walks in a peculiar manner, the head being held high, while the tail almost drags on the ground. The best treatment for this complaint is to pour olive oil into the vent, or insert a well-oiled feather carefully in order to lubricate the passage. If this does not prove effective, the vent may be held over a jug of steaming water to cause relaxation of the parts. Any attemptto remove the egg forcibly is likely to end m disaster. The Egg Eating Habit. Egg-eating is an annoying and sometimes puzzling trouble, because it is frequently suspected, while the actual offender cannot be detected. If the hen which is guilty of,this practice is discovered in the act, ifc is policy to kill her immediately, as the number of eggs she is likely to "consume may be more than her keep is worth. If, however, the offender is not known, it- may be possible to cure her, or at any rate discourage her, by emptying an egg of its contents and filling with * mustard."" This should be left in the nest until it has been broken and eaten, and may prevent the culprit from eating eggs again. A preventative adopted in some yards is to have all the nest-boxes of the safety type. These are made to slip backwards to a slot at the rear, wide enough to permit an egg to pass through. Falling on a sloping platform covered with "felt to prevent, breakage, the egg rolls in the opposite direction beneath the nest, and is thus out of sight as soon as laid. If the culprit is known a cure can often be effected by putting her in a coop and throwing in several china eggs. The hen will peck at them until she becomes disgusted and then give it up. Badly-flavoured eggs are fortunately not very common. They are due to some substance the bird lias eaten. Meat meal in excess, bad meat of any kind, or onions will all transmit.their flavour to eggs, and care should be exercised in the use of all strong-flavoured food?. Tn small quantities' they are often beneficial and entirely innocuous, but on no account should the proportions exceed those which experience has shown to be advantageous. Fowls in Orchards. Orchard conditions are ideal for fowls. Shade is necessary, and the orchard provides the very kind of shade, that is desired, while the ground is not all shaded, giving the sun an opportunity to dry the surface. Cultivation being necessary to maintain the proper mulch in the orchard, keeps the land fresh, and guards against disease, so common to poultry as a result of confinement on land without cultivation. And as poultry require animal food in some form, this expense is not so great for birds running in an orchard. ! Orchards attract many kinds of insects in abundance, and the orchardist is obliged to use effective means for their extermination. Poultry raising is a good orchard " sprav." Poultry will forage about and get many insects so destructive to the orchards. Then poultry droppings are a splendid fertiliser, and orchard land requires a fertiliser as well as farm land Imlocii the combination of fruit and poultry is as good for either the general twiner or the man who s-eVdes in the suburbs, and has an orchard attached to Ins bouse.