CHAPTER XVII. 

 MISCELLANEOUS DISEASES. 



1. Feather Eating. 



This is a habit of eating the feathers pulled from other 

 members of the flock or from the bird itself. 



Causes. — A great many reasons have been advanced as 

 to why a fowl acquires this habit, the most reasonable being 

 that feather eating results from a lack of animal food. There 

 is one thing certain, that where a properly mixed diet is sup- 

 plied with plenty of bone and chopped meat this habit is 

 very rarely if ever met with. 



Symptoms. — It is usually first suspected by noticing the 

 feathers being pulled or broken about the tail and hackle. 

 A close watch soon discloses the fact, as the feather eaters 

 may be seen pulling and eating the feathers. 



Treatment. — We believe the only remedy is a correction 

 of the diet and supplying a proper amount of animal food. 

 Some have advocated smearing the feathers with something 

 neuseous or bitter, but this is a poor remedy and if change 

 of diet with the addition of plenty of animal food does not 

 prove effectual, get rid of them as soon as possible. 



2. Egg Bound. 



Causes. — The two great causes for being egg bound are 

 (1) being too fat and (2) constipation. 



Symptoms. — There are frequent attempts to lay fol- 

 lowed by inactivity. The hen in a short time becomes almost 

 unable to move and if disturbed immediately tries to lay. 

 Upon close examination the egg may be felt. 



Treatment. — Treatment for this trouble requires care 

 and judgment. If constipation is suspected give an injec- 

 tion into the rectum of warm water containing a little soap. 

 Should this fail, remove any obstruction from the rectum 

 that caused the stoppage of the egg; inject into the egg 

 passage a little lubricant — raw linseed oil is good. The 

 lubricating of the egg passage when no obstruction exists 

 in the rectum is often all that is necessary. 



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