***Crevecoeur Thread***

[cluck-cluck]

They've got mohawks! How adorable! They look great to me, but I'd really like to hear what you think of them, as you've got way more experience! Are they looking good to you?

 

[poularde]

They are looking pretty good so far. I have five in my first group. Four are boys. i will keep the one girl and I like the look of one of the boys so far. Most of the boys are very Polish looking. They all have quite a bit of growing to do before I make my final decision.

 

[cluck-cluck]

Well, I think the legs look sturdier, thicker and the body wider than a polish, definitely smaller/thinner crest so far and I see really long looking toes there. Can't really tell with the beak, but he looks pretty good to me (she?) LOL.

I'm hoping they like it here, as we're quite dry, but the summers can be extremely hot. I guess this is the main reason the breed never took off in America I guess??

 

[cluck-cluck]

NB: Here are some pics of what we should NOT be striving for with the Crèvecoeur.

This is an Italian photo of a black Paduan, or Bearded Polish.

In the US and the UK we lump all the Polish / Polands together, but Europeans consider the White Crested Black Polish and its color variations (non bearded White Polish, White Crested Blue Polish) to be its own, distinct breed. It's called the Hollander, Hollandais, etc depending on which language you speak, because of its development in Holland. Regular bearded polish with their different shape (and history!) are known as Paduan (Italian), Paduaner (Germanic and Scandinavian languages) or Padoue (French).

Here are some Swiss pics of the black Paduaner:

And a Danish picture of a bantam Paduaner:

Pretty birds, but Black Bearded Polish, not Crèvecoeurs. It's hard to put your finger on it exactly, but they are quite different looking, although all the differences are subtle,

Best - exop

It really needs to be more defined, and frankly, some Polish look like Crevies!

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but is this so?:
Crevies have shorter legs than Polish (that last picture of a bantam polish looks to have short legs - a lot of them seem short actually)
Crevies have longer toes
Crevies have a flatter back, not so curved, but still a long neck
Crevie tails should be held a little higher (45 degrees vs more like 40) First Italian picture, tail held way too high!
Crevie beaks should be shorter and more curved
And of course, the crest should flow backward, yet in the hen, globular still, a bit smaller than polish and still tends to flow back

Not sure, should the beard and muff be larger on Crevies?

And of course Crevies should be much bigger and heavier than Polish, but that standard is seldom met.

 

[cluck-cluck]

I just got shipping notification from Ideal. Is it normal not to get a tracking number?

 

[poularde]

Not sure about the tracking number. I have never had birds shipped. With hatching eggs I always get a tracking number. Hope they arrive safe!

 

[cluck-cluck]

Me too! Thanks Poularde! I really hope they'll get along with my leghorns too!

 

[Heritage Hens]

My understanding is that they HAVE to have the white earlobes. I have never had Polish or seen one up close.
I am still skeptical about the "Crevecoeur" hatching eggs from Urch. Until they are fully developed and i can see the V comb, white earlobes and more swept back helmet, I am not going to use any of their offspring. The two cocks will have to go. One is completely dusted with white feathers over whole body and the other has white feathers around the neck. Way to dangerous to introduce to the line I have.

I think its more important to work with quality than quantity. Cluck-Cluck, if you just end up with a few, why not work with them to see how the offspring turn out and later you can introduce new blood to the strain that you are certain will Improve it, not contaminate it.

This is perhaps the bitter sweet challenge of preserving this breed. Spring is going to be quite interesting!

 

[NYREDS]

Crevecoeurs should have red lobes, not white.

 

[cluck-cluck]

I think she means the Polish have to have white earlobes