Chicken Breed Focus - Polish

[BrindleFinch]

Hello all - I'm sorry to just pop in but I have a quick Polish question.

I've seen things claiming that polish can be sexed at hatch by their crest shape ; oblong for roos, round for hens. Is this true or a wives' tale? Before I start crying over the gender ratio of my new chicks based on that, haha.

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

Hello all - I'm sorry to just pop in but I have a quick Polish question.

I've seen things claiming that polish can be sexed at hatch by their crest shape ; oblong for roos, round for hens. Is this true or a wives' tale? Before I start crying over the gender ratio of my new chicks based on that, haha.

It can sometimes be an indicator but not at all a 100% method I’m afraid. I’ve had more than a few catch me out doing it like that!

 

[10AcreChick]

I have seven Polish. We got 9, 6 silver laced and 3 gold laced, from the hatchery and they had to be straight run. We lost two of the silver laced, but luckily ended up with just 1 rooster and 6 hens! The rooster is of course way smaller than my other roos, so he is quite timid and will be able to stay with us as long as he doesn't cause trouble. We couldn't really tell if they were hens or roos until their crests grew out totally, but it's obvious now. I have to cut the hens' crests into mohawks so they can see to get up on the roosts and to keep them from being taken by predators, since they are free ranging. We love them!

I especially love how they flop their heads down on the ground and you think they are dead!

 

[lovingmyhens]

I have seven Polish. We got 9, 6 silver laced and 3 gold laced, from the hatchery and they had to be straight run. We lost two of the silver laced, but luckily ended up with just 1 rooster and 6 hens! The rooster is of course way smaller than my other roos, so he is quite timid and will be able to stay with us as long as he doesn't cause trouble. We couldn't really tell if they were hens or roos until their crests grew out totally, but it's obvious now. I have to cut the hens' crests into mohawks so they can see to get up on the roosts and to keep them from being taken by predators, since they are free ranging. We love them!
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I especially love how they flop their heads down on the ground and you think they are dead!

I noticed that and thought there was something wrong with her! The she just popped up as if that were normal!

 

[AusHen]

I love polish but they have been extremely hard for me to find. I have a 12 week old bearded cuckoo named Eve and today adopted this beauty named Cher from a shelter an hour away

 

[Lark60]

Hello everyone! I am new to this site and I have 5 Polish chicks that are 11 weeks old.
· What made you decide to get this breed?
I loved the pictures of the chickens and my local feed store had 5 day old chicks for sale. I couldn’t resist.
. Do you own them for fun?Breeding? Some other purpose?
Fun and eggs. I wanted medium size eggs.
. What are your favorite characteristics about this breed?
I love their personality and poofy crests. I have 2 White Crested Polish (1 roo and 1 hen). I also have 3 Golden Laced Polish. 2 are roosters and the 3rd is still a mystery at present.

448698F9-35AF-4E10-B52E-4B3138340524

• Lark60
• Jun 24, 2019

Golden laced polish chick @5 weeks

Post some pics of your birds; male/female, chicks, eggs, etc![/QUOTE]

 

[AusHen]

I absolutely love this breed so I purchased a trio of bantam WCB a few months ago. they are about 6 months old now. very cuddly and so far Sunny the cockerel is being well behaved.

 

[Queenchicken]

Hi everyone
I raise, breed and love polish Chickens and Roosters.
I have a variety of different colors but my main focus is own Golden lace and black with white crest.

I initially became interested because of their unique beauty. But soon I realized not only are they great backyard entertainers but they also lay well.

Now I breed them and sell fertile eggs, chicks, pullets and roosters!

I don’t find them to be as docile as other birds and I truly believe that is because of their inability to see well due to their crest. Even as small chicks they are very jumpy and don’t like being handled often.

I love them for their personality, gorgeous looks and feathers!
Their eggs can vary between medium/ large white eggs.

If you’re in NEW JERSEY and looking for polish breeders contact me.

The Polish or Poland breed is best known for its elaborate crest of feathers that nearly cover the entirety of the head. This crest limits their vision and as a result can affect their temperament. Thus, though normally tame, they may be timid and easily frightened.

The oldest accounts of this breed come from The Netherlands, but their exact origins are unknown. One theory suggests that their ancestors were brought by Asian Mongols to Eastern Europe during medieval times, and thus, could have originated in Poland. It is also believed that immigrants brought the breed's predecessors from Spain or Italy in the late 16th century. The Polish was standardised in the Netherlands and declared a thoroughbred in the 16th century already. The American Poultry Association states that the breed was introduced to the USA between 1830 and 1840. The breed was, during a certain period of time, much favoured by American farmers and chicken fanciers.

Polish chickens are bred primarily for ornamental purposes and exhibition, but were originally productive egg layers. Polish hens rarely go broody and are noted for their white eggs.

The American Poultry Association accepted three Polish varieties into the American Poultry Association’s Standard of Perfection in 1874; additional varieties were accepted in 1883, 1938 and 1963. There are bearded, non-bearded and frizzle varieties of this breed.

Details:

Purpose: Ornamental; Exhibition
Egg Production: 200 eggs annually
Recognised Colours/Varieties: Bearded and Non-Bearded White, Bearded Buff Laced, Bearded and Non-Bearded Golden, Non-Bearded Black/White crested, Non-Bearded Buff Laced and Non-Bearded Silver


Pic by @dreamwallaby


Pic by @geojane42


Pic by @Yorkshire Coop


Pic by @CarriBrown

BYC Breed Reviews:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/products/polish

BYC Breed Discussions:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/355316/polish-thread/0_30
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/585953/i-have-to-talk-polish/0_30
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/395888/tolbunt-polish/0_30


Do you own Polish? Are you a Polish breeder? If so, please reply to this thread with the your thoughts and experiences, including:

· What made you decide to get this breed?
· Do you own them for fun? Breeding? Some other purpose?
· What are your favorite characteristics about this breed?
· Post some pics of your birds; male/female, chicks, eggs, etc!

We have a bunch of other awesome breed-focus threads for you to enjoy. You can see all of them here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/chicken-breed-focus-project.975504/

 

[electrycmonk]

I have seven Polish. We got 9, 6 silver laced and 3 gold laced, from the hatchery and they had to be straight run. We lost two of the silver laced, but luckily ended up with just 1 rooster and 6 hens! The rooster is of course way smaller than my other roos, so he is quite timid and will be able to stay with us as long as he doesn't cause trouble. We couldn't really tell if they were hens or roos until their crests grew out totally, but it's obvious now. I have to cut the hens' crests into mohawks so they can see to get up on the roosts and to keep them from being taken by predators, since they are free ranging. We love them!
View attachment 1533409
View attachment 1533412
I especially love how they flop their heads down on the ground and you think they are dead!

I'd like to ask do you have any pictures showing how much of the feather you cut back and how it looks as you trim them back for the girls to be able to see better.
We have 2 Roo's & I'd like to give them both better paripheral view.

 

[BYC Project Manager]

This week our featured breed is the beautiful Polish.
Do you own Polish? Are you a Polish breeder? If so, please reply to this thread with the your thoughts and experiences, including:

· What made you decide to get this breed?
· Do you own them for fun? Breeding? Some other purpose?
· What are your favorite characteristics about this breed?
· Post some pics of your birds; male/female, chicks, eggs, etc!

We have a bunch of other awesome breed-focus threads for you to enjoy. You can see all of them here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/chicken-breed-focus-project.975504/

PS: Dont forget to enter our 2021 BYC Calendar Contest and get the chance to show off your Polish chickens here!