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 Vv^here 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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