Polish Pullet or young Rooster???

[PolaOla]

Hi.. I recently aquired 3 beautiful polish hens. I was told that they are all female.
That 2 were laying and one is "coming into pullet"

All my hens are free range.. and by that I mean.. totally free range.. they have 5 acres of freedom and return to their nesting boxes to lay and roost in their coop on the hill every dusk of their own volition.

I'm wanting some advice on my beautiful scaredy cat easily spooked 'hen' Ela.

I know my other 2 are definitely female.. having proved themselves by laying eggs.

Attached are some pics of Ela... I'm trying to ascertain if she is an Ela or an Eli LOL... her hair seems very spiky and over the last month has become longer and not the soft affro my other two have.

Either way Ela/Eli is a keeper because we love her/him dearly.. but having never had a rooster I want to prep myself for the new dynamic.. if Ela turns out to be one

I thoroughly appreciate any help with this...

regards

Anna

 

[sourland]

Hello, Anna, welcome to BYC. Looks like a pullet to me.

 

[JedJackson]

Yes, that looks like a pullet that's very close to laying.

I have to warn you about free ranging them, though, because Polish are highly prone to predation. The crest seriously limits their range of vision and they are easily picked off by dogs, coyotes and hawks plus a whole slew of other critters. And white is the color most visible to predators which is why they aren't recommended for free ranging.

 

[summerb123]

it is a pullet

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hi, welcome to BYC!

I agree with the others, pullet.

I free range my Silkies... while it's true they may be easy prey, it's a risk I take. No losses YET. If the loss become to great I may reconsider though.

My biggest issue with free range is nests hidden deep inside thorny blackberry bushes.

White is a beautiful color! Can definitely see how much more visible it is in most landscapes.

 

[Crazy for Chickens!]

Yes, that looks like a pullet that's very close to laying.

I have to warn you about free ranging them, though, because Polish are highly prone to predation. The crest seriously limits their range of vision and they are easily picked off by dogs, coyotes and hawks plus a whole slew of other critters. And white is the color most visible to predators which is why they aren't recommended for free ranging.

X2
Make sure you don't have any young roosters around them either... We completely free range as well, and I lost two polish to have Being chased off, then, not being able to see to come home.

 

[PolaOla]

Yes, that looks like a pullet that's very close to laying.

I have to warn you about free ranging them, though, because Polish are highly prone to predation. The crest seriously limits their range of vision and they are easily picked off by dogs, coyotes and hawks plus a whole slew of other critters. And white is the color most visible to predators which is why they aren't recommended for free ranging.

Thanks! in NZ we do have small falcons.. we don't have wild dogs, coyotes etc and I live in an Native Kiwi zone so people are not even allowed cats around here.. where I got them they also free ranged. We close their coop and pen up at night. But my main concern is the falcons during the day.. we do have a lot of bush though and the hens spend most of their day in and around the trees.. I was told a rooster is ideal to look out for the flock.. but I need to find out more about roosters.

 

[PolaOla]

X2
Make sure you don't have any young roosters around them either... We completely free range as well, and I lost two polish to have Being chased off, then, not being able to see to come home.

Thanks! I will bear this in mind. I think they are so beautiful and I'd hate them to get lost!

This one is the only one I'm suspicious of even being a roo.. and by the looks of it she's a wee pullet getting ready to lay. They don't really wander off (unlike the campine and the wellsummers.. who go everywhere..) I've noticed my polish hens like to stick close to us by the house and they seem to be friendly with my rhode island red and one of the Araucana. All the hens do come when I call them for treats.

 

[PolaOla]

Hi, welcome to BYC!

I agree with the others, pullet.

I free range my Silkies... while it's true they may be easy prey, it's a risk I take. No losses YET. If the loss become to great I may reconsider though.

My biggest issue with free range is nests hidden deep inside thorny blackberry bushes.

White is a beautiful color! Can definitely see how much more visible it is in most landscapes.

We have'nt lost any hens to predators.. I live in a Native NZ Kiwi zone (Kiwis are flightless birds) and so there are heavy protections.. people are not even allowed cats. Theres no wild dogs (things like foxes, wolves coyotes etc).. the biggest predator threat are possums.. which are more interested in the roses and fruit trees.

I too would reconsider the free ranging of them if we lost one.. but in 3 years we havent and most of the flock came from a free range situation earlier.

I feel the bonus of them being free range is that a varied flock causes no problems because theyre not confined..

LIke I do have a nasty wee orpington that causes drama when shes broody but they all just run away from her nonsense! hahah

And yeah... our brown shaver likes to hide her eggs in various bushes.. thats the biggest flaw of them being free range so far.. the hidden clutches!!

 

[PolaOla]

it is a pullet

THANK YOU! <3