394 COMMERCIAL POULTRY RAISING 



sometimes very badly spoiled, which is apt to lead to diffi- 

 culties with the customer who has been unfortunate enough to 

 receive it. 



Egg-Bound. — Hens that delay their laying in this manner are 

 usually egg-bound, a condition brought about through injudicious 



{Courtesy U. S. Dep't Agriculture) 

 Fig. 257.— Inner shell membrane of fresh egg. Magnified 150 times. 



feeding, injury and by the drying up of the secretions in the 

 cloaca, where the egg rests before it is laid, thus failing to assist 

 in the passage of the egg. Over-fat hens and pullets producing 

 their first eggs are apt to be troubled in this manner. 



The most common symptoms are repeated trips to the nests, 

 accompanied by prolonged squatting and straining, and in ex- 



