Maine

[Clover Run]

Here they are! My little Black Polish Flock. Getting settled in. All opinions appreciated on quality if able to tell anything by these pics. They are around 8 months old.

 

[buckabucka]

Don't get me wrong, I've got plenty of roosters here, just my plan went to pot.

Oh well. Sometimes the farm life gives me a headache, and sometimes a smile. Today was both. Here's my smile - Banty raising her ducklings.

That is adorable!

Clover run, I don't really know anything about Polish, but they look like fun. I wouldn't want to run into your Polish in the early dawn, because I'd think it was a skunk!

 

[MustardTiger]

Don't get me wrong, I've got plenty of roosters here, just my plan went to pot.

Oh well. Sometimes the farm life gives me a headache, and sometimes a smile. Today was both. Here's my smile - Banty raising her ducklings.

This is adorable! I think we will be adding some ducks next year. We are planning to build a tile drain down to a low lying ditch and create a nice pond.

Solved the lice issue for now with some permetherin dust. I hate to use it but I hate crawlies even more. I went to TS in Windham. Their stock was really low and no one could answer any of my questions :/ I am sticking with my small local farm supply store next time.

 

[GoodwinMaine]

Don't get me wrong, I've got plenty of roosters here, just my plan went to pot.

Oh well. Sometimes the farm life gives me a headache, and sometimes a smile. Today was both. Here's my smile - Banty raising her ducklings.

So cute

 

[superchemicalgirl]

I'll give you my $0.02 on the polish:

In my very limited experience polled chickens don't see very well so they are likely to get picked off by predators. They also tend to get picked on by the rest of the flock and integration will need to be slow and supervised (and definitely integrate more than one chicken at a time). Most people keep them separated because of this. However, I do free range my flock, which has polled chickens in it (not polish, but silkies and showgirls & I used to have a polish roo). Until yesterday I had a big rooster that would protect the girls and sound warnings if there were predators around. One of the polled girls tends to get picked on by the turkeys a bit for her head fluff, but I keep an eye on it and no one is hurt, yet, probably because they have plenty of room to run around and get away. My flock also tends to eat the beards and muffs off my EE's so I suspect this is just more of that behavior. They get plenty of protein and have plenty of roosting spots, it's just bad manners.

 

[Clover Run]

I'll give you my $0.02 on the polish:

In my very limited experience polled chickens don't see very well so they are likely to get picked off by predators. They also tend to get picked on by the rest of the flock and integration will need to be slow and supervised (and definitely integrate more than one chicken at a time). Most people keep them separated because of this. However, I do free range my flock, which has polled chickens in it (not polish, but silkies and showgirls & I used to have a polish roo). Until yesterday I had a big rooster that would protect the girls and sound warnings if there were predators around. One of the polled girls tends to get picked on by the turkeys a bit for her head fluff, but I keep an eye on it and no one is hurt, yet, probably because they have plenty of room to run around and get away. My flock also tends to eat the beards and muffs off my EE's so I suspect this is just more of that behavior. They get plenty of protein and have plenty of roosting spots, it's just bad manners.

Those were some of my concerns as well and I did mention the lack of sight to her. Thanks!

 

[ducklucky]

Are those Dominique girls? If so, you are very lucky. They are the most affectionate, best mothers ever. Ours sat on 12 assorted eggs and hatched every one, and loved them all equally. It was so funny to see her with her brood of all different breeds. They are the best! Sorry you are on duty, but they'll be there when you get back, and you'll love them even more. Best of luck to you, stay safe.

 

[ducklucky]

OMG, they are so comical looking, almost unreal like they have a costume! Have fun with them, and good luck integrating them. Sorry don't have tips for you, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't, but we'll keep our feathers crossed that you have a positive outcome!

 

[joanie_maine]

Does anyone know if Black Polish can be integrated into a regular free ranging flock? I have mine in there own coop and run. I had a lady come to buy a couple other pullets this evening and she asked about the Black Polish. I told her I wasn't sure how they would do. She was interested in getting a few chicks when I have some to add to her laying flock for fun. Any ideas?

I have mine in a pen by themselves. They are easy prey and don't see well.

 

[ducklucky]

That is way cute. She obviously has the motherly instinct. It will be funny how she does as the ducklings grow at such an enormous rate. She'll probably kick them out within a week or two, but they look pretty hardy and a good time of year for them to feather out. It is so funny when a hen gets set on being broody, sometimes you just can't break them and have to let them do their thing. This is nice though, as the ducklings will probably be accepted into the flock. Good luck, and congrats! P.S. Do you ever think she wonders what the heck happened and how she ended up with what she has? Oh, to get into a chicken's mind...