16 week old Polish

[Ziphie]

Good morning, I have a question / concern about 2 of my polish pullets. I have 3 total, but all are different colors so other than that I have no comparison. The silver laced and golden laced seem to have longer saddle feathers than I am used to with my other girls, but these are my first polish chickens so I have no experience with them. Is that normal? They seem rather rounded, not pointy like you would see on other roosters. Other than that the hackles on the silver laced seen suspicious but that could just be how the white is mixed in. Other than that there is zero comb or wattle on either than I can see even when I pull back the feathers.

They made taking pictures rather difficult and the only way to get a picture of the faces was to hold them above my head, I have never had such camera shy birds before

 

[Little Chicken Girl]

They are definitely all pullets. Beautiful girls too! Polish chickens have longer saddles that most chickens, as I have experienced. For this reason, I often discern males vs females by looking at the horns (little twin-pointed comb just above the beak) or wattles (on non-bearded varieties). The horns become red and waxy when cockerels are still young (about 1-2 months of age). The pullets can take up to 6 months to show reddening horns. The cockerels also weigh more and are a bigger build than the pullets.

Here is a link to a thread on BYC that raises the issue of immature Polish gender identification. It might be of help (the outcome is on page 2). Hope this helps!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ish-at-12-weeks-mean-it-is-a-cockerel.700555/

 

[Ziphie]

Thank you, that's good to hear, I am still new to the polish breed and after noticing the longer feathers in the back they had me a little worried, I only have room or 2 roosters and don't think i could choose between any of them if i end up with any more.

 

[JedJackson]

I think the silver could be a cockerel, judging by the crest feathers, which look more pointy than they should to me. Definitely not 100% on that but I'm leaning cockerel. The gold looks like a pullet.

 

[drumstick diva]

agree with Jed. Females generally have a nice behaved rounded crest, while males will put out wild streamers like a rock star. Polish can be as difficult to sex as silkies.

 

[Ziphie]

The silver laced crest is a bit more tame compared to the golden laced actually. I think the thing that makes it look wild is the white outline on the feathers. We had a bit of a breeze yesterday when It took the pics so they look a bit more disheveled than usual. I only have until next week to report any cockerels and they are the only 2 that had me wondering. If it makes a difference I did get them from MPC and I think I remember seeing once they get their chicks from Myers? The picture they have of a hen looks a lot like mine, but the saddle feathers don't look as long as either of mine. I guess its still a waiting game. Keeping my fingers crossed Thank you everyone for the input

(Pic is from Myers)

 

[JedJackson]

The silver laced crest is a bit more tame compared to the golden laced actually. I think the thing that makes it look wild is the white outline on the feathers. We had a bit of a breeze yesterday when It took the pics so they look a bit more disheveled than usual. I only have until next week to report any cockerels and they are the only 2 that had me wondering. If it makes a difference I did get them from MPC and I think I remember seeing once they get their chicks from Myers? The picture they have of a hen looks a lot like mine, but the saddle feathers don't look as long as either of mine. I guess its still a waiting game. Keeping my fingers crossed Thank you everyone for the input

(Pic is from Myers)

It is the close-up picture that has me concerned because the new feathers up front seem more pointed than the crest feathers of pullets usually are. But otherwise it does look like a pullet-- small comb, no pointed feathers in the saddle and neck feathers. So it's a difficult call, but you would be the best judge since you are there to observe its behavior and manner and we aren't. So wait and see and watch the crest carefully. I hope it is a pullet!

 

[Ziphie]

Funny thing is the crests don't look all that wild in a calm day when they are doing their thing in the run, but i will definitely keep an eye on hers. The thing that had me most concerned was the saddle feathers, I didn't know some girls could have longer saddle feathers. Other than that they don't seem all that rooster-ish as far as their behavior , but if she is a boy maybe he/she's laying low since I have 2 cockerels already, one 41 weeks and one that's 24 weeks.

Either way, here's to waiting some more

 

[Ziphie]

Here is what I think is a better picture of the silver laced polish, not looking quite as wild as the pics where he/shes being held. Even though others can see what looks to be pointy crest feathers in the close up, I am just not seeing it. I see where it looks like someone may have been trying to pick at them.
I also have another pic of the golden laced crest, where I can see the gold colored feathers poking out which to me makes hers seem more wild than the silver laced

Chickens, why do they have to be so confusing. I wish they would hurry up and tell me for sure what they are