POLISH THREAD Talk about your Polish and post pics of your Polish

[shay20]

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Those are Tolbunts, aren't they. . .

Can't wait to get mine!!!

I was thinking the same thing. ( I WANT TOLBUNT!!!!)

 

[redrocketrooster]

Not too long ago I met a pen of Polish mutt chickens. I've never met a pure Polish.
What are these chickens like? Heres what I've heard and seen...

Not the brightest
A little flighty due to sight
Quirky
Will destroy eggs and destroy a broody hens eggs
Picks at other chickens a lot
Don't like to be held or pet

 

[shay20]

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well they are not flghty becouse of there crest they can not see where they are flying to.
They dont destroy there eggs, atleast non that i had and have never did.
they do not pick at others, they are the ones that get pick on.
and i have a few that loves me holding them.

Oh and if you raise them from chicks they will follow your feet around.

 

[Illia]

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At the destroying eggs part - Mine do! When they tidy up a nest, they kick and dig it up so much they really don't care about any other eggs already in it.

Otherwise, they really are not as flighty, unfriendly, or fragile as a lot of people say. My friendliest chicken that really doesn't care for anyone to pick it up, pet it, feed it, whatever - Is one of my White Crested Black hens.

The sight thing can be fixed in a variety of ways, and if you get your Polish from hatcheries - Chances are you don't need to fix it, as their crests are pretty small or lightly feathered.

The only problems most people have is if they mix their polish with other, larger chickens they get picked on a lot because of their small size, passive behavior, and odd crests. However, my WCB girls never get picked on. In fact, my best girl is the one to jump on other hens who get in her way when she's eating. My silver laced girl, however, gets pecked at a lot. I trimmed her crest because of this, and she does a lot better now. They don't peck her as much - Probably because her crest looks a little more "normal" to them.

 

[redrocketrooster]

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So I suppose collecting the eggs as quick as possible would be better.
No hatchery chickens for me, show quality only. Even though I probably won't show them I'd rather now I could...

I guess my main concern is that they won't want to be touched. I like touching them in one way or another.
Right now I have a pullet that doesn't like being pet, however if you make a warm nest out of your hands she is all for sitting there.

 

[Chickie'sMoma]

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-they are not always 'flighty', some are very calm but you do want to talk to them before walking up behind them since they may not see you. they CAN fly and some can see well!
-i would say they do have some quirky personalities! had one that if i opened her cage as a young pullet she would come charging right out and jump to my shoulder for attention.
-never had one destroy an egg but i only have one now, sold my laying pullet to Shay and found out she got one of my roos through someone else and he was always friendly to the girls when i had him.
-most often, polish are the ones getting picked on. they will pick on newbies but will eventually leave them alone when the rest of the flock accepts them in.
-my only bantam polish roo i still have-Chickie-LOVES to be held, cuddles, rides my shoulder like a parrot, and is my house roo because of it! he actually crows for me to come and play or pick him up! he does not like me out of his sight for very long. will follow me around the yard and 'talks' to me all the time when i'm with him. he hatched alone and got pampered like many of my birds, but was spoiled from the start since he was my first chick.

he did not get the greatest crest but he's my baby!

 

[Illia]

Well, really, it all goes down to the whole "raising from chockhood up" thing. They'll be perfect, friendly little dollish fluffy butts if you just spend enough time with them to get them attached to you, and from there on they will be as friendly or more friendly than my favorite polish girl, Rix. I can pick her up and she doesn't put up the tiniest argument, I can fiddle with her crest all I want and she just kinda looks at me like, "okay mommy. . ." and I can even have visitors or neighbors look at our chickens, and the only one they end up petting and saying hi to is her.

And now that I recall, she was the one I spent the most time handling as a chick. My family always told me not to handle her so much, as it would make her skittish. . . Well, she's just so tame she's actually quite stubborn at times!

This is her. Note that the front of her crest is clipped, so she can see better. Otherwise, when it rains (which it rains a LOT out here) or when the goats are around, she could be in some trouble. . . I'm tired of the goats and their need to eat Polish chicken tails.

Also - Her crest naturally is VERY full and quite beautiful, but the top of it as well is a little roughed up from our EE rooster.

Which, showing a pic of her brings me to question to the WCB Polish experts - Are her waddles too big? I think they are, but I'm not sure. My other WCBs have smaller ones. . .

 

[redrocketrooster]

Thanks for the feedback Illia & Chickie'sMoma!
I do plan on hatching them and rasing them myself, I get so much joy from raising animals!

Those babes will be so sick of me by the time they are ready to go to the coop.

Have you ever had any you raised turn very skittish or so?

Illia,
I think her waddles could be a tiny bit larger than average but as far as showing goes they aren't terrible.

 

[Illia]

Hmmm. . . Well, really, my other two WCBs were kinda skittish from months 3-9, but once I saved one of them after a two week disappearance into the forest, she has been an absolute doll!! (She must really be thankful

) And the other is starting to grow out of her silly phase with her laying cycle kicking in, but she does indeed not like to be picked up as much. But of course, I didn't handle her as much as my two most friendly WCBs, and the second one was skittish for a little white because I once accidentally squashed her head one day when she was young.

So that's another thing - They seem to have really good memories and recognition. Because I notice that one of my girls got skittish and unfriendly after that accident, then really friendly and clingy after I rescued her.

Good luck on the Polish! Don't get TOO addicted. . . I'm in the process of paying an arm and a leg for some Tolbunt eggs because, well, I'm too addicted to Tolbunts.

 

[shay20]

Chickie'sMoma :

Quote:
-they are not always 'flighty', some are very calm but you do want to talk to them before walking up behind them since they may not see you. they CAN fly and some can see well!
-i would say they do have some quirky personalities! had one that if i opened her cage as a young pullet she would come charging right out and jump to my shoulder for attention.
-never had one destroy an egg but i only have one now, sold my laying pullet to Shay and found out she got one of my roos through someone else and he was always friendly to the girls when i had him.
-most often, polish are the ones getting picked on. they will pick on newbies but will eventually leave them alone when the rest of the flock accepts them in.
-my only bantam polish roo i still have-Chickie-LOVES to be held, cuddles, rides my shoulder like a parrot, and is my house roo because of it! he actually crows for me to come and play or pick him up! he does not like me out of his sight for very long. will follow me around the yard and 'talks' to me all the time when i'm with him. he hatched alone and got pampered like many of my birds, but was spoiled from the start since he was my first chick.

he did not get the greatest crest but he's my baby!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/25630_debs_127.jpg

lol, i forgot about the whole thing walking up behind them, lol they are so funny, they jump. Mine dont really fly they just jump when get spooked, it is funny. lol​