I have to talk POLISH!

[4Hgirl]

Shipped eggs from Dick Horstman One more is starting to hatch in the bator. I have waited to find these eggs for a very long time and finally found them!!! [/quote] We also have Horstman SL bantams we had him ship chicks instead of eggs though. All but one of them are the sweetest chicks we have ever had. They sleep on my daughters lap and jump in our hands when we reach into the brooder. The one that is more skittish is fhs one with the best crest. Enjoy! We sure are.

 

[4Hgirl]

The prettiest yet skittish one.

Three out of four chicks. The one is much darker, larger, and behaves different than the others. Could this be a gender difference? Hoping it doesn't mean it is the only female!

 

[4Hgirl]

First Polish that I've hatch- White Crested Black, 3 wks old Oh so cute! Good job. -Pam

 

[motherhen71185]

. One out so far and others have pipped!!

 

[Maligator]

The prettiest yet skittish one.


Three out of four chicks. The one is much darker, larger, and behaves different than the others. Could this be a gender difference? Hoping it doesn't mean it is the only female!

I would give them time. My mot skittish in the brooder of my first batch has actually turned into my friendliest chicken I have. She climbs up me like a monkey every time I am out there with them, either into my arms to be "caught" or onto my shoulders and head. She is a goofball, but as a baby I was certain she would remain skittish and flighty!

Most most recent batch has a little of both. I have very friendly and bold WCB's and a few skittish ones. They will hopefully come around! My friendly brooder babies are a bit more stand-offish now but I do have a pullet that is trying to be a monkey, too. They will sort themselves out! Just be with them, let them nibble stuff out of your hand, and don't try to pick them up. Let them become comfortable around you and know that you are fun, have yummies, and wont try to scare them by pushing the boundaries too soon. Now I can walk up to any of my pullets (my roosters are dorks and just run in circles) and pick them right up!

Hope you flighty bird calms down for you soon. Some just don't but if you can build trust they get better.

 

[Maligator]

Okay, so I forget if the discussion of Polish chickens being a fragile breed was spoken about in this thread, or the other Polish thread, so I am going to report here.

I randomly picked up another batch of Polish chicks (8) that are now about 3 weeks or so old. No losses. I was supposed to have had WCB and SL but it appears as though I have 1 WCW, 1 WCBlue, 1 SL, and 5 WCB's. I started them on medicated starter, only electrolytes in their waterer the first few days after pickup, and nutridrench their first feeding. I fed a wet down starter "mash" while they were inside. I had a runt I specifically picked just to see if it would make it rather than be left to whoever purchased it from the feed store. They are now on un-wet crumbles. They went outside after 1 week for play sessions, had access to chick grit, and are now living in a grow out section of the coop since 2 weeks old. They get a nightlight at night because we've been having unusually chilly evenings, and it is turned off during the day. They have been moved to non-medicated chick starter and I have Corid on hand, just in case. Last week they got a bunch of crickets with the rest of the crew when I stopped by the feed store. I have been sprinkling little bits of corn-free bird seed that I toss to the girls in the morning.

So far, they are doing great. My previous batch of BL and RCR are doing fabulous. No issues. The roosters, Captain and Tennille, are beginning to crow as of a few days ago and nobody is laying just yet. Still too young, but hopefully soon.

Anyway, pretty sure all of my stock is hatchery, except half of my silkies which I know are local breeder eggs. Other than making sure the babies in the grow out are safe, secure, and have a nightlight when it it a bit chilly, I don't do anything special. I just let them frolic and grow. Pretty soon they wont need a nightlight any more.

 

[BuckNBark Farm]

Thanks so much! You're are beauties!

 

[robj]

I've been hangin around the thread for a while readin up on these cool birds and checkin out all the cool pics. We feel in love with these goofy birds at a show back in December. We hatched out our fist chicks about 6 weeks ago and have had a blast with our new babies! We have Gold Laced and White Crested Black Polish and a couple Spitzhauben. Now the trick is figuring out the boy, girl thing. If anyone has some pointers on what characteristics to look for your help would be appreciated! I'd post pics but I'm having trouble get them to load to the thread.

Thank you
Robert

 

[Moonchild]

The prettiest yet skittish one.


Three out of four chicks. The one is much darker, larger, and behaves different than the others. Could this be a gender difference? Hoping it doesn't mean it is the only female!

OH how cute!!! I just love these little chickens!

 

[TarMac]

Hi I'm new to this breed and these are our first Polish (11 of them). They're Gold Laced Bantams and will be turning 3 weeks on Monday I think they are so cute and it's amazing how active they are compared to the other breeds of chicks I've had, these little polish have been running chick Nascar around their little pool lol. Can't wait to see them grown up