SHELL-LESS EGGS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7347, 27 January 1911, Page 2

SHELL-LESS EGGS

Fowls axe not always out of order when they lay shell-less eggs, as many think they are —that is, if they are supplied with everything necessary to form the shell and keep the egg organs in a healthy state. A fond often lays doubleyolked eggs; this weakens the organs, and often causes soft eggs to be laid afterwards. When fowls are over-fed and become very fat internally, they frequently produce soft eggs; also when they have been laying a long time without a rest their organs naturally get weak, especially if .they lay large eggs. Their oviduct, ox-egg-passage, is wonderfully constructed. It is attached to the ovary, where the eggs form first. They hang much the same as a bunch of grapes and can be seen by a microscope when not larger than the point of a pin. They are so constructed that the largest ones are at the bottom of the ovary, or, rather, they are encased in a skin, and as they grow they lower themselves into the top of the oviduct. After the egg is severed from the ovary it has to pass through the oviduct, or egg-passage, which is from 12xn to 19in long. We have found it Tin longer in some fowls than in others. It is while the egg is passing through this pipe or passage that it is shelled. The egg-pas-eage does not lie in one line, but is constructed much the same as the entrails of a fowl, and rather more of an S' or pothook shape. If an egg is examined in a fowl before it leaves the ovary there will he found some small blood veins upon it, and these leave the egg before it passes into the oviduct. Should a hen be startled or rery much frightened or overreach herself the little olood vessels become rrxptured. This is the cause of small dark spots being found in a new-laid egg; they are usually found in the large end of the egg, i.ot in the yolk, but at the lop of it.

just between the yolk and the white. Sometimes it is caused by the male bird being too heavy. When these spots are found in a. boiled egg people think they are not newly-laid, and that they may have been sat on. After a hen has been frightened it frequently happens that a shelMoss egg breaks in the egg passage. When this is the case the fowl may be standing very erect, with her tail down and her head up. The feathers are usually wet behind, while the other part of lier plumage looks very rough. If not attended to fowls often die when this occurs. They are usually found dead in tho nest, and the cause of death is frequently put down as egg-bound, when it is really tho akin of the soft egg left in the egg-passage; this Irritates the fowl, and causes her to strain, as .she cannot pass it. This causes a rupture of the egg organs, and often of the body, too, and is often tho cause of the laying ken being so large and down behind.

When any of these symptoms appear the hen should be caught and examined. The akin of tho egg can usually be found just inside the egg-passage; occasionally it. is already protruding. If so, it can be easily withdrawn by gently pulling it down When the hen endeavours to pass it. It must be' done very steadily; if not, it will break inside. AVhen it is broken inside it can bo withdrawn by tweezers; a small piece of linen rag should bo tied on tho end of the tweezers, and a little oil put on tho rag. AVhen this is dono it is not so likely to_ break tho skin or hurt tho fowl, if this precaution is not taken, inflammation follows.

This is partly caused by the hen straining horself. She should have n teaspoonful of salad oil and a little warm water given her; also a little soft food, but not much, so that she does not _ lay any more eggs until the oviduct js strong again. If so, it causes irritation, and tho fowl becomes very ill. Ground oystershells aro used for laying hens. They .supply the material for tho shell. Flint dust is also a fine thing for the laying hens, as this prevents their laying shellloss eggs when everything else fails, and especially in tho breeding season, as it makes the shell of eggs brittle. This is of great assistance to the young birds when hatching.