WC Black and Blue Polish
(under construction)
(old hen at work)
Year old WC Black Polish Hen
(under construction)
(old hen at work)
Year old WC Black Polish Hen
Funny, comical, bobble head birds. Slightly flighty on the ground, may be due to their vision being obstructed by their crests. But gentle to handle, and I have only had one agressive bird since I started breeding them. Early interaction with chicks creates a nice pet bird. The blue color appears to have a lower hatch rate, and occasional problem with bent toes. Darker blue rooster crossed with black hens has produced darker blue second and third generation stock.
White Crested Blue chicks left and center. White Crested Black chick on the right.
Blue chicks are silver/grey and cream color when hatched. Black chicks are black and cream. Legs and beaks are yellow when hatched. Black's legs turn a dark grey to almost black at maturity. The Blue's legs and beaks turn a greenish grey then medium grey in adulthood.
A few white feathers in their first feathering is normal. They will be lost at first molt. All chicks are hatched with a mushroom looking top hat. This photo is day old and they haven't fluffed completely at this point, to make the distinct hat shape visible.
Sexing Polish chicks seems to be cause for debate. But at about 5 weeks the cere (flesh at the top of the beak where beak mets feathers) will take on a very visible redness to it. The chicks with this red color have all become males in the stock that I have raised.
A few white feathers in their first feathering is normal. They will be lost at first molt. All chicks are hatched with a mushroom looking top hat. This photo is day old and they haven't fluffed completely at this point, to make the distinct hat shape visible.
Sexing Polish chicks seems to be cause for debate. But at about 5 weeks the cere (flesh at the top of the beak where beak mets feathers) will take on a very visible redness to it. The chicks with this red color have all become males in the stock that I have raised.
. Pullet at 6 weeks, note light pink at top of beak and light pink wattles
Her cockeral clutch mate. Some think the comb is a dead give away of his gender, but some hens will also have combs and all of my chicks have small nubs where it looks like a spur might develop. The cere is much redder and so is the wattle area. It is almost an angry looking red at this point.
Her cockeral clutch mate. Some think the comb is a dead give away of his gender, but some hens will also have combs and all of my chicks have small nubs where it looks like a spur might develop. The cere is much redder and so is the wattle area. It is almost an angry looking red at this point.
There is no difference in the shape of the feathers on the head until about 10 weeks when the males will start to have long pin feather sprout out through their well rounded chrysathmum shaped heads.
