Cause.—Deficiency of shell material; or it is possible that fright sometimes causes premature expulsion of the eggs before the shell is formed.
Treatment.—Feed ground bone, oyster shells. They contain egg shell producing material. Perhaps the best results are obtained when mixed with wheat bran. Also feed vegetables such as cabbage, potatoes and carrots.
FEATHER PULLING.
(Feather Eating)
Cause.—Irritation of the skin due to lice, mites, or to lack of exercise and improper food.
Treatment.—Feed meat, ground bones and vegetables. Place the food where the fowls are compelled to scratch and work to obtain it. Dust the fowls with Powdered Aloes.
If due to lice, treat the same as recommended under the heading of Lice.
GAPES.
(Verminous Trachea Bronchitis)
Cause.—A red, parasitic worm, the male measuring about one-fifth of an inch and the female one-half an inch in length. Fowls become infected by eating worms containing this parasite or its eggs, and by coming in contact with other birds suffering from the disease.
Symptoms.—The most noticeable symptom is frequent gaping; the Gapeworms attach themselves by their mouths to the walls of the windpipe where they suck the blood which nourishes them; they cause irritation and inflammation of the windpipe, bronchial tubes and lungs; breathing is difficult and the bird loses strength rapidly; windpipe eventually becomes totally obstructed and the bird dies from suffocation and exhaustion. Young, weak chickens are more susceptible to this disease than strong ones.