POULTRY NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2202, 14 May 1896, Page 8

POULTRY NOTES.

CROWING HENB. The assumption of male characteristics by creatures of the other sex is now so greatly in evidence that I was not surprised at receiving a letter asking for information on the subject of crowing hens. The correspondent wished to know of what crowing wai a sign. She arrived at the conclusion that such an epicene animal was of little use for profitable purposes, and wished to kuow whether the proverbial saying that " A crowing hea brings ill luck to the house " was generally ourreut. The orowing of a hen is in almost all cases lignifloant of disease of (he ovaries, which is necefsarily compauied by sterility. Ik is sometimes, but not always, followed by the assumption of the plumage of the male. This appeara more prevalent in pheasants than iv common fowls. The barrenness of crowing hens is well known, and has given riae, doubtless, to the'pt ovecbial saying quoted by my correspondent, as well aa to swoial others Oue of those I h&v* heard iv the west of Enghod is, A whistling wife and a crowing hen Are good for neither God nor men. In Devonshire they say that her head should be chopped off. This, I presume, applir-s only to tbe feathered biped, who, even th* n, being old, would be of little me bat for the stock pot. — W. B Tegkmeibb, in the Field.

Lahgb Hen's Egg.— Oan you tell ma what is the record weight Tor a hen's egg ? Oue of my Plymouth Rocks supplied me to-day with an egg measuring 6fia round the thickest parfc, 2|io long, and which weighs exactly 4oz—J E, J. [D übled-jolked eggs exceeding the weight of 4. z have been recorded many times The heaviest egg «c can reinambor wan one ?ent to v* by Mr H. G. Sugden, a-nd de-crib *d in tho Field of May 9, 1835, with meaiurements. It weighed 7oz, and wrs laid by a pullet of Coehiu and Houdan parentage. Mr Sugden said that he had two similar egga laid by the same pallet; and opeuing one of them he found that it had another perfect egg innide — Ed ] — Field.