Polish chick question.

[Dakota8472]

Okay So i may or may not have ordered polish chickens since i found female availability..... When i move them out to the coop in a month or two, uhh

1 do these blind things roost? and if so do they like low roosts high roosts? I need to start planning my roosts out before they end up out there. since the current chickens have got their spots now.

2 How long should i keep them out of gen pop? I hear they have a weird problem with soft skulls when they are younger? Dont want larger chickens pecking their brains out.

3 As for free ranging I understand they will have higher chances of not seeing things coming to eat them, but do they get lost??? like legit cant find their way home?


The second i get them from usps I will post pics.....


ty Kota

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Polish get around quite well. Mine would roost up high and were good at free ranging until they were taken. You can help them out by trimming crests, otherwise they may be more flighty and reactive. You do need to keep an eye on the other breeds as some can't help but peck at the crests which can be deadly at any age. I've successfully kept them in a mixed breed flock. The key is plenty of room. Crowding or not enough exercise can make birds more prone to peck at other birds.

 

[Dakota8472]

Polish get around quite well. Mine would roost up high and were good at free ranging until they were taken. You can help them out by trimming crests, otherwise they may be more flighty and reactive. You do need to keep an eye on the other breeds as some can't help but peck at the crests which can be deadly at any age. I've successfully kept them in a mixed breed flock. The key is plenty of room. Crowding or not enough exercise can make birds more prone to peck at other birds.

ty so much. unless one of them looks like a good show chicken i'm pretty sure ima trim their crests so campers don't startle them and get attacked when they are free ranging. everyone tries to pick up my other ones and the polish wouldn't see them coming if i don't trim.

TY Again. Im going to try to integrate them in a mixed flock, ill keep in mind about the pecking at the crest for that time.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

It helps to have multiple polish. I personally never had a problem, but my birds are also free range so my birds could always get away from each other. I enjoyed them while I had them. They are funny birds.

 

[Dakota8472]

I free range my birds. But im concerned about the winter. I dont think ill let them free range then. I may need to extend my run so they have more room, I just feel predators would love my chickens to much in the winter.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Here predators drop to zero in the winter. Too far between us and the woods. Birds stay in more too. Mine don't like walking on snow.

 

[Dakota8472]

The majority of my birds are booted currently. I don't think they hoof it into the snow. But our property borders a large undeveloped parcel next to the interstate. Must be over 100 empty acres bordering us. Maybe I'll try to let them out on days with less snowfall. But ima have to stay on top of tracks and disturbed snow this winter.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

The majority of my birds are booted currently. I don't think they hoof it into the snow. But our property borders a large undeveloped parcel next to the interstate. Must be over 100 empty acres bordering us. Maybe I'll try to let them out on days with less snowfall. But ima have to stay on top of tracks and disturbed snow this winter.

That's a good thing about snow. You can see if there are visitors.

 

[Dakota8472]

Okay. I know I've been waiting for this post. Here they are. 9/10 survived transit. And they are deafening.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Polish are the most adorable chicks. I love when they are still egg shaped. You got a cute batch there.