How well did your polish do in a mixed flock

[Roo5]

i wanted one of these for the longest but we never got one.Were currently going to be starting chickens again and this time instead of just going with the “basic” everyday chickens (although they were just as great)I figured we’d throw in some eye candy.The closet soft/ornamental breed I owned were Cochin bantams and a mixed breed bantam and maybe one Easter egger mix, and the bantams managed to make their wya through without ever being bullied and handled themselves , and I never dealt with an issue with my second flock, first chickens were a fail, but I think the way I raised my second flock up it managed to mesh them altogether well.I had 20 plus with different ages, varieties and breeds, this time I’m only gonna have 12.
I’m trying several different breeds,the only chickens I will own that I’ve owned in the past that are on my list to get are Buffs,New Hampshire’s, and Easter eggers.I will be getting breeds I’ve never owned before and that will consist of jersey giants,Brahma,welsummer,and of course polish.Mainly worried for the polish just because it is a mixed flock and New Hampshire’s are a pretty aggressive/pushy bird.I just would like to know how well everyone else’s polish did in a mixed flock.Also,I would like to know about the Fluff that sits on the top of the head, will they cause an issue while being bred?

 

[Norcal527]

Mine do just fine but there were a couple times I'd find some of the top feathers missing. I love the Polish they were my friendliest birds and I just got a few more for the new flock I'm starting.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Mine were bloodied and picked bare on their heads. It was horrific.
They weren't even in the main flock! They were brooded with a couple black sex links. The sex links pulled feathers off my pretty Polish three times. I segregated them from the sex links. I sold the sex links to one home and the Polish to another.

 

[Roo5]

Bsl are very aggressive,I won’t be wining any sexlinks this time tho.

Mine were bloodied and picked bare on their heads. It was horrific.
They weren't even in the main flock! They were brooded with a couple black sex links. The sex links pulled feathers off my pretty Polish three times. I segregated them from the sex links. I sold the sex links to one home and the Polish to another.

 

[Spartan22]

I think it depends on the birds(breeds, gene lines) my 3 BSLs are my friendliest and docile birds along with the Australorps and BCM, EEs, Barred Rocks, Sapphire Gems, and RIR in comparison to Silver Lace Wyandotte that tend to be bullies.

 

[What_the_Cluck]

My Polish hen is kept seperate from my other chickens because she terrorizes them. Even the roo! They are all bantams, though, so he's a tiny roo. She has a very alpha personality, so if she was with other big chickens she would give as good as she got LOL I got bantams for her companions as I had read that Polish often get picked on, apparently I didn't have to worry. I think it depends on the chicken if they're gonna get picked on or not. It's funny seeing my tiny terror of a roo scream and run away when he sees her.

 

[shessowitte]

i wanted one of these for the longest but we never got one.Were currently going to be starting chickens again and this time instead of just going with the “basic” everyday chickens (although they were just as great)I figured we’d throw in some eye candy.The closet soft/ornamental breed I owned were Cochin bantams and a mixed breed bantam and maybe one Easter egger mix, and the bantams managed to make their wya through without ever being bullied and handled themselves , and I never dealt with an issue with my second flock, first chickens were a fail, but I think the way I raised my second flock up it managed to mesh them altogether well.I had 20 plus with different ages, varieties and breeds, this time I’m only gonna have 12.
I’m trying several different breeds,the only chickens I will own that I’ve owned in the past that are on my list to get are Buffs,New Hampshire’s, and Easter eggers.I will be getting breeds I’ve never owned before and that will consist of jersey giants,Brahma,welsummer,and of course polish.Mainly worried for the polish just because it is a mixed flock and New Hampshire’s are a pretty aggressive/pushy bird.I just would like to know how well everyone else’s polish did in a mixed flock.Also,I would like to know about the Fluff that sits on the top of the head, will they cause an issue while being bred?

I have a diverse mix of 36 chickens, 5 of which are Polish. For the first 9 months all was well....no pecking, feather pulling whatsoever. Then winter set in along with boredom and cramped snow-free spaces and I began to see bloody and bare rumps on all the Polish, including the rooster. I now have (except for the roo) four bald butt Polish hens with a tail feather or two each. It seems to have slowed since Spring has sprung, but it feels like this might just be the new normal. Because they are small and docile naturally, they tend to be at the bottom of the pecking order. I’ve decided they will stay with us until they die of old age, but no plans for any more. The eggs are tiny, they’re not very cold hardy, but sooooo sweet and cuddly. I’m glad I have experienced them but have no plans to get more.

 

[M Claire]

My polish, who is bantam and a frizzle to boot, does really well in our mixed flock of Marans, bantam cochins, sussex, etc. She never gets picked on and doesn't pick on others either, but we seem to only have laid back gals altogether.
However, she is a chatty cathy, especially when she needs something to occupy her, which can be a challenge if your neighbors are close.
I second the sweet and cuddly, our little girl is SUCH a love. And an awesome spider hunters, which wins many points with my kiddos.

 

[ButtonquailGirl14]

I amcurious

I am curious to learn about your invention.

it is called the "Crest Keeper" it is basically a hair-net for Chickens... It has worked so well so far! I use a super breathable, see- through material.. so far it has worked without a hitch! Well... Exept for one time the rooster pulled it off, but that is the only instance I've had, and she has been wearing it for months! Her crest went from bloody every day, to white and fluffy again!

 

[Spartan22]

My 2 one year old White Crested Black polish blend pretty good with the rest of my flock ages 7 months old to 4 yrs old but they have plenty of room. My polish were aloof and flighty in comparison to the rest of my chickens but they’re my odd ones since they can’t see much due to the crest which is pretty common with Crested birds.