I was just wondering when I will be noticing the difference in the crests between my hens and roo Polish? They are almost 5 weeks and each crests look different on some. I need to get pics and let you guys see but I thought maybe I could find out without. I really don't need a lot of roos.
I wish I could be of more help. but mine wasn't even close to identifying by my ownself for almost 6 months. The kind people here looked her over and gave me an answer by her picture....I think a picture might be very helpful for you.
The females will have a rounded look and the males will flair out to the sides like a mowhawk. Once their crest are fully feathered out it is easy to tell. Here is Tulip a Buff Laced Polish. With her are some Crevecoeur hens in the photo also. In the second pic the male Roc is behind her. He is also a darker color than the hens. Sorry I could not get a better pic of him!! Here is a 2 week old pic of Tulip the hen I found.
My silver-laced polish are hatchery birds, and their crests were obviously different when I got them at 4wks. The males had no feathering in their crests, and the females had horns like Shrek. As they grew through the next few weeks, the females obviously had poofballs on their heads while the males' crests looked like mohawks.
ive been going through this same question and answer routine on my polish babies as well. Its very hard to tell on the crests, mine are about 2 months old, but what Im seeing VERY clearly now are red wattles. and from what I understand the boys get bright red wattles, and the girls stay the same color. Start watching for those, I bet you will see them soon.