I know they're Polish, but what kind?

[Sphinx]

I adopted these two little polish chicks from the feed store today. They were being picked on by the other, larger chicks. They'd separated them, but they're still recovering. The feed store thought they were close to 10 weeks old, but they seem smaller than my 9 week old chicks. I know they're large fowl, not bantam. Maybe the trauma has made them grow slower?


Anyway, I was wondering if you could tell me what KIND of polish they are (obviously they'll be pet quality, not show), and your best guess on gender.

 

[Arkansas81]

they look exactly like mine. mine are golden polish, but i have one with white/black feathers on his head. i hope he is a he...they look to be the same age as mine, which are about 2mnths. i just love watching them grow, mine are not show just pets...love this breed.

 

[Sphinx]

I know that people have talked about sexing polish based on their topknots, but unfortunately, these guys' topknots are at least halfway plucked out.

 

[Arkansas81]

well now seeing some of the other ppl comments im thinking the one that i was thinking was a male is a female. but the others look just like yours. their hair looks like a mohawk, bad hair cut! apparently if their crest sticks out all over the place, head and body more likely to be male. if the feathers (head,body) is more uniformed and soft, flat more likely female.

so now im thinking i have one female and 5 boys. the boys head crest is just now coming in like yours and their bodies are slim and tiny, the female is much bigger, heavier body and more developed. so now i don't know what to do with all the roos, i was hoping for the result to be the other way around! one roo and 5 females...just my luck-more roos then hens.

 

[Sphinx]

I'm soooooo not an expert with polish, but I'm thinking the shape of crest shouldn't really be a factor with these guys, just because they have been picked so much. Here's another pic from the back that gives you a better idea of the damage these poor little things endured at the beaks of the meanies. With it being a store, they were left overnight. An employee actually took them home to nurse them back to health, which I think it pretty awesome.

 

[Arkansas81]

yes that is what merely happened to mine. i have some bigger chicks by just a few weeks, i tried to introduce them and the ee's to the others but didnt go well. i had to seperate them again i hope i can be able to do another intro when they are a bit bigger. i am NO expert either, but that is exactly what mine look like (mohawks) and what i've been reading that sticking out feathers or uniformed feathers are one of the biggest indicators: looking at the crest, body, tail feathers. if they are smooth, uniform and rounded head, body, tail then pullets, if they stick up all over and are more pointed then roos. i now have two with a nice uniformed poof and 3 that have mohawks.

but also been told that they are very hard to sex like silkies, so i guess time will tell? mine should be laying-crowing around sept. yours look like around the age of mine. i think the lady that took them home needs to be hugged and told what a wonderful thing she did! my lil ones are so sweet, they all run up to me and want to be held and petted. they aren't really all that loud, i just love watching all of my chickens!

i truly love the country living, and all of my critters...i hope that you enjoy urs as much as i enjoy mine.

 

[Sphinx]

I thought I'd update with a new face picture of one of the polish. I'm not sure if it has a beard, or if this is just feathers coming back after being plucked.



Approximately 11-12 weeks old.