114 
The Australasian Book of Poultry. 
ointment. Plain food and green vegetables, rombined with this treatment, will quickly improve the bird's 
condition. 
Egg Bound. — The symptoms of this are very noticeable, the hen often going to the nest and exhibiting 
signs of trying to expel the egg. At times this is caused by an unusually large egg. The best plan to ease 
the pas.sage of the egg is to pass a feather dipped in olive oil up the vent, working it gently round until it 
meets the egg. A tablespoonful of warm treacle given to the bird, and then a fomentation of the vent over a 
jug of hot water, oiling afterwards, will greatly assist matters. Care must be exercised so as not to break the 
egg, as this sometimes proves fatal. Some hens, however, go repeatedly to the nest without laying ; but this 
is no proof that they are egg bound. The finger placed up the passage will quickly prove whether the hen 
is egg bound or not. 
Egg-catiiig. — This vice is caused principally by thin-shelled eggs becoming broken in the nest. One 
bird takes a bite, and the rest are soon encouraged to take part in the feast, and finding that eggs are 
palatable, ihc craving becomes insatiable, \Yith the result that the habit once contracted is difficult to eradi- 
cate. Sometimes want of animal food leads to this disgusting habit, and if a hen or hens are inveterate 
egg-eaters, they should be killed, or in a short time the whole flock will follow in line. Nest boxes placed in 
semi-dark secluded spots, and the eggs gathered frequently, will assist in prevention, and an egg or two after 
having the contents expelled, and filled with the strongest mustard, mixed to a fair consistency, and placed in 
the run, will also be found fairly effective. This habit is often encouraged by carelessly throwing egg shells 
about the yard. These should be well broken up before the Fowls are allowed to get them ; but if the birds 
are allowed plenty of shell-forming material, such as lime or mortar, oyster shells, etc., the egg shells are 
better burnt. 
Egg Passage, Protntsioii of. — This is frequently caused by the exertions of the hen to expel an 
unusually large egg, especially in old hens that are debilitated. Constipation and over-feeding are also causes 
of the same complaint. The hen should be placed on a diet composed principally of rice for a few days. If 
the part shows no indication of receding, bathe with lukewarm water, gently anointing with linseed or sweet 
oil, pressing the protrusion back into the body. Give a pill composed of one grain each of tartar emetic and 
opium, and two grains of calomel daily to a Fowl of the larger breeds, one-half of the dose being sufficient 
for a Bantam, placing ten drops of aconite in the drinking water, and feeding on a plain and non-stimulating 
diet till recovered. 
Eggs ( Soft-shcUcd ). — These are generally due to stint of shell material. Prolific layers, and especially 
where stimulating food is given, are most prone to produce soft-shelled eggs. Fright will at times cause 
premature expulsion, and occasionally causes egg-rupture within. The treatment consists in attending to 
the following directions, ist. Shell-making material should be supplied. Lime-water will often answer the 
purpose, (iround oyster-shells or mortar, or even ashes and cinders, can be allowed with advantage, and. 
Stimulating food should be withheld, and the laying checked, if possible ; an aperient is also advisable, and a 
little sulphur and calomel (lo grains of the former to i of the latter) should be afterwards given as an 
alterative, and a little iron tonic added to the drinking water. 3rd. Fright, especially while on the nest, 
should be guarded against. The regular and systematic laying by hens of soft-shelled eggs is generally the 
result of a diseased condition. This will often be noticed in a hen that is overfat. Too free use of cayenne 
pepper or spices, or over-feeding on hempseed or buckwheat, owing to their over-heating tendencies, often 
inflame the ovary and oviduct, frequently causing ovarian disease, sometimes death, and in most cases 
soft-shelled eggs. A fowl suffering from worms may often lay soft or shell-less eggs, and too few hens with a 
strong, vigorous male bird, is occasionally the cause. 
Elephantiasis, or scaly legs, as it is generally called, is a whitish, scurfy growth on the shanks and feet, 
and is, no doubt, due to a microbe, in some instances growing in such quantities that the scales of the legs 
are forced up, and look very unsightly. This is very contagious, one bird frequently contaminating a whole 
flock ; .and even if removed from the house, the birds left will mostly contract this filthy disease unless the 
