Black crested White Polish

[I Like Turkeys]

Going to do an update. I still have 11 polish, but Monday I had two sustain wing injuries, somehow. On one, it was the underside of the wing, so I let it stay with the flock, but the other had a visible wound that the other chicks were pecking at, so I removed it. The wound has dried out now, but the chick also has a limp on one foot, and can’t keep up with the other polish so it is still being kept separate. I’m not sure what’s wrong with it’s leg.

For the other 10, I moved them into a cage inside the shed of their “final coop“ tonight. I’ve had my bantam cochin/Bc mix flock in there for a week or so, to test it out, and it seems fine. The bantams are still in there, but I’m moving them out in the morning and letting the polish get access to the whole coop.

Here are more photos. I have 4 who are decent looking, having bigger crests than the others and okay coloring. I tried to get solo photos of them, but these birds are slightly uncooperative.

I think this blue crested white above is a pullet. I like her, she‘s adorable and is a shoulder chicken.

I think this black-crested white above is a cockerel, but I could always be wrong.

This one I also believe to be a male.

 

[I Like Turkeys]

I moved the polish out of their cage like I said I would this morning, but I didn’t have time to exactly “finish” their run. A little while ago I put a tarp over the top, and laid down some bedding. They seemed to enjoy their run. I many need to do a bit more work on it to feel it’s properly safe though.
I also noticed one chick was walking with what looked like wry tail. Probably going to mark it later as one to get rid of.
I feel like the angle makes it weird, but the chick was facing directly away from the camera, so it’s tail should point towards the camera too, but it was angled to the side.

Here are more photos. I’m done updating for a little while, I don’t want to overdo it.

 

[I Like Turkeys]

I still have all 11 polish. The birds are 11.5 weeks old, and for the first time ever, I managed to get solo photos of each one. I’m so proud of myself. As for the birds, their cooperation(poor, but I still got photos) was rewarded with bug treats.
No hackle or saddle feathers forming yet, even on the biggest males. Hoping for that to happen soon because I want to be certain of their sexes before I get rid of some birds.
Here are photos, numbered to sort each separate bird.

#1, Male-

#2-

#3, has wry tail so I’ll be getting rid of it regardless-

#4-

#5, Male-

#6, female blue crested white. I hope to keep her. In the photo she looks super small, which I admit she is the smallest of the bunch, and I was a bit worried for her around the 2 week old age, but she’s not that much smaller than the rest, and doesn’t seem weak in any way. She‘s also the sweetest bird in the coop so I’m attached to her.-

#7-

#8-

#9, Pullet. I love her color, but it isn’t great for a black crested white. Alongside #6, she’s one of the sweetest birds in this group.-

#10, male? I’ve watched this bird crow. It is the one who was injured and separated temporarily. It’s a little more raggedy looking, partially because a chunk of it‘s wing- where the injury occurred- fell off.

#11. Potentially blue crested white, I suspected 2 were at a young age, but this one darkened up a lot whereas #6 remained light.

I am off again. I will update this again in a few weeks, hopefully when I can say what my cockerel to pullet ratio is.

 

[I Like Turkeys]

I said I wouldn’t update for a bit but here I am. This isn’t only about my birds…
Today I got bored, and did a bit of researching on the variety again. This led to me getting sucked down a rabbit hole of the Black Crested White polish and their history in the Netherlands.

Started by reverse searching one of the above 3 images on google, and found a very interesting document, which I will paste below because it was originally in Dutch. Link will also be provided:

https://edepot.wur.nl/176849

White-black crested Dutch crested fowl

When the Nederlandsche Hoender Club was founded in 1900, the Hollandse Kuifhoenders were one of the breeds that were placed on the list, under the name Hollandse Witkuif. Remarkable is the restriction in the naming to animals with a white crest. The white-black crests did not appear in the story. This despite the fact that this color variety appeared in our country in the Middle Ages, according to an unverifiable story.

and Albert Cuyp. Darwin reported in the second half of the nineteenth century that the white-black crested, which he referred to as a subspecies of the crested fowl, had become extinct.

Dutch breeders see the disappearance of a breed or color variety as a challenge to breed it back. One of them was the late Dr. I. Vriesendorp. Through certain combinations and by breeding for discoloration of the body and pigment increase in the crest, he succeeded in breeding white-black crests after a few generations.

bantam

Since 2003, the white and black crested bantams have also been recognised. These were bred by Luuk Hans in Bennekom. At the moment both large and dwarf white-black cresteds are probably present in our country and also in Germany. You just have to realize that it is not a simple color variety.

Who dares to take up the challenge and wants to start with the white-black crests? Given its history and color pattern, the variety is worth the challenge. Those who start with it and achieve success have a unique chicken in their coop.

Further information

Further information can be obtained from the secretary of the Dutch Crested and Bearded Fowl Club:

D.W. Diepenbroek, Zelhemseweg 29, 7051 ZB Varseveld, tel. 0315-241007, e-mail: [email protected]. =

The story about the white-black crests is very nice, but is it true? ‘Around the year 1475 there lived in Kennemerland a hermit named Peter Jaspersz, who kept a large number of white fowl with black crests. These animals laid many large tasty eggs, were hardy to our climate and, which was of great importance in those days, produced a tasty and tender roast. According to the

stories these animals were bought by a Spanish nobleman and taken to Spain. From there they would have returned to the Netherlands under the name Sint Jacobshoen. The animals are said to have been given as a gift to the Dutch nobility.’ Very special: from hermit chicken to chicken of the nobility.

The white-black crest can already be found in seventeenth-century paintings by Jan Steen
————-
Once I read through that, I searched up the names of the people mentioned:
Dr. I. Vriesendorp
Luuk Hans

Couldn't find anything on Dr. I. Vriesendorp’s work, but Luuk Hans was the secretary of the Dutch Poland Club.
http://www.kuifhoenderclub.nl/site/
It’s a very nice website. The Dutch Breedsrs club got black crested white accepted in Bantam and largefowl size. It‘s specifically stated on their history page, at the very least, that Luuk Hans was the creator of bcw bantams.

It’s interesting. I enjoy seeing their history/status in other countries. It’s a shame how poorly the color is doing in the US, especially in comparison to other places.

Also- another picture I found online.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I said I wouldn’t update for a bit but here I am. This isn’t only about my birds…
Today I got bored, and did a bit of researching on the variety again. This led to me getting sucked down a rabbit hole of the Black Crested White polish and their history in the Netherlands.View attachment 3502052View attachment 3502053View attachment 3502054
Started by reverse searching one of the above 3 images on google, and found a very interesting document, which I will paste below because it was originally in Dutch. Link will also be provided:

https://edepot.wur.nl/176849

White-black crested Dutch crested fowl

When the Nederlandsche Hoender Club was founded in 1900, the Hollandse Kuifhoenders were one of the breeds that were placed on the list, under the name Hollandse Witkuif. Remarkable is the restriction in the naming to animals with a white crest. The white-black crests did not appear in the story. This despite the fact that this color variety appeared in our country in the Middle Ages, according to an unverifiable story.

and Albert Cuyp. Darwin reported in the second half of the nineteenth century that the white-black crested, which he referred to as a subspecies of the crested fowl, had become extinct.

Dutch breeders see the disappearance of a breed or color variety as a challenge to breed it back. One of them was the late Dr. I. Vriesendorp. Through certain combinations and by breeding for discoloration of the body and pigment increase in the crest, he succeeded in breeding white-black crests after a few generations.

bantam

Since 2003, the white and black crested bantams have also been recognised. These were bred by Luuk Hans in Bennekom. At the moment both large and dwarf white-black cresteds are probably present in our country and also in Germany. You just have to realize that it is not a simple color variety.

Who dares to take up the challenge and wants to start with the white-black crests? Given its history and color pattern, the variety is worth the challenge. Those who start with it and achieve success have a unique chicken in their coop.

Further information

Further information can be obtained from the secretary of the Dutch Crested and Bearded Fowl Club:

D.W. Diepenbroek, Zelhemseweg 29, 7051 ZB Varseveld, tel. 0315-241007, e-mail: [email protected]. =

The story about the white-black crests is very nice, but is it true? ‘Around the year 1475 there lived in Kennemerland a hermit named Peter Jaspersz, who kept a large number of white fowl with black crests. These animals laid many large tasty eggs, were hardy to our climate and, which was of great importance in those days, produced a tasty and tender roast. According to the

stories these animals were bought by a Spanish nobleman and taken to Spain. From there they would have returned to the Netherlands under the name Sint Jacobshoen. The animals are said to have been given as a gift to the Dutch nobility.’ Very special: from hermit chicken to chicken of the nobility.

The white-black crest can already be found in seventeenth-century paintings by Jan Steen
————-
Once I read through that, I searched up the names of the people mentioned:
Dr. I. Vriesendorp
Luuk Hans

Couldn't find anything on Dr. I. Vriesendorp’s work, but Luuk Hans was the secretary of the Dutch Poland Club.
http://www.kuifhoenderclub.nl/site/
It’s a very nice website. The Dutch Breedsrs club got black crested white accepted in Bantam and largefowl size. It‘s specifically stated on their history page, at the very least, that Luuk Hans was the creator of bcw bantams.

It’s interesting. I enjoy seeing their history/status in other countries. It’s a shame how poorly the color is doing in the US, especially in comparison to other places.

Also- another picture I found online.View attachment 3502055

Very interesting, thank you

 

[I Like Turkeys]

Very interesting, thank you

I’m relieved you at least find it interesting. I’ve been obsessively looking up or researching this breed at odd times of day, so I’ve got way too many images,links, or quotes talking about them. Might as well share a few.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I’m relieved you at least find it interesting. I’ve been obsessively looking up or researching this breed at odd times of day, so I’ve got way too many images,links, or quotes talking about them. Might as well share a few.

I adore the old drawn standard images for birds. They are always just si beautiful

 

[I Like Turkeys]

I adore the old drawn standard images for birds. They are always just si beautiful

They really are beautiful. It delights me whenever I find one of the BcW, because they’re so interesting to look at, but beside that I agree that all of the old drawn images are beautiful.

 

[NagemTX]

Following. The color is very interesting!

 

[I Like Turkeys]

Following. The color is very interesting!

its good to have you. I agree, this color has just grabbed my interest from the first day I heard of it.
I don't have much else to share right now, so unless I decide to share an article/website that talks about the variety, it'll be a bit of a while until I can do an update on my own flock.