Polish brreds: when do they get "top hats"

[chickenstowaway]

Hi, I am looking for some help. I started my second flock of chickens in June, ordering from a different hatchery this time. Of the 12 pullets I ordered, 3 are definitely roos and the three silver laced polish don't look much different from my old silver laced wyandotte hen. Can anyone tell me when Polish generally get their crowning feathers? They are all 14 weeks old now. Thanks for your help.

 

[jossanne]

I bought 6 polish chicks from our feed store, who orders from Privett Hatchery. There were 3 buff-laced and 3 silver-laced. They were almost 4 weeks old when I got them, and they all had their crests growing in pretty well already. It turned out that there were 4 pullets, and their crests were all larger than the 2 cockerels at 4 weeks, but they were all obviously crested birds by 4 weeks old. They're 12 weeks now, and they've got pretty nice crests for hatchery birds.

This picture is the day I got them, 4 weeks old.

 

[tomstephens]

even at day old you should be able to notice a small tuft on their head.

 

[chickenstowaway]

Thank you for your replies and pics...I thought they should have them by 4 weeks...back to my old source for next year...or maybe one of the roos will help supply them!