EGG BOUND 507 



There is no general method of treating the affected birds. 

 Each must have individual attention. In case the conditioji 

 is brought about through the overeating of dried grains it 

 may be overcome by injecting sweet oil uito the crop througli 

 the mouth and manipulating the material in the crop until 

 it can be softened and worked out through the mouth. 

 Usually it will save time to give the condition surgical 

 attention. The feathers should be plucked from oi;e side 

 of the neck near the crop until an area of suihcient size is 

 made to allow the making of an incision an inch and a half 

 in length. The skin should then be pulled around so that an 

 incision in the crop itself may be made on the side away 

 from the incision in the outer skin. This incision having 

 been made the contents of the crop should be removed, 

 particular care being taken to see that the lower opening of 

 the crop is entirely free. The interior of the crop should 

 then be washed out with warm water. The edges of the 

 incision in the crop should then be drawn together with 

 stitches of white silk or white cotton thread, each stitch made 

 separately and tied. The outside skin should be drawn 

 together in the same way, and the bird fed on milk for a 

 couple of days. This may be gradually changed to soft 

 feeds, and in a week or ten days the bird will be ready for 

 the regular ration. 



Egg Bound. — The condition referred to as "egg bound" 

 in poultry is quite analogous to cases of difficult parturition 

 in larger animals. It may arise from several causes, such 

 as the inflammation of the oviduct, a partial paralysis of the 

 oviduct or the production of an egg so large that it is 

 mechanically impossible for the bird to lay it. 



The trouble may be observed by the hens continuuig on 

 the nest without clucking, and straining in an effort to 

 exclude the egg. Sometimes this straining will take place 

 off the nest, the bird not infrequently appearing lame or in 

 pain. It is usually possible to insert the fingers, anointed 

 with carbolized vaseline, into the oviduct, and by manipul.-i- 

 tion with the other hand force the egg out. It is sometLmes 

 necessary, however, to insert a wire or awl, and carefully 

 break the shell of the egg, and remove it in parts. 



