Polish Thread!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Lobzi]

Is there a difference between Polish and crested birds? How can you tell which you have if there is?

 

[Violetsfeathers]

My Polish chick was four weeks old monday. And I still don't know what to name her. Any ideas?

 

[Helen in the Desert]

Is there a difference between Polish and crested birds? How can you tell which you have if there is?

Yes. Polish are a specific breed with specific traits, crest being only one of them. Body shape, feather type, tail placement, leg color, no feathers on legs and the exact color of each variety are just a few of those specific traits.

There are several breeds of crested birds, Polish being the most well known. Others include: Sultans, Houdan, Crevecoeur, Silkie, and a few others with partial crests like some of the Swedish Flower Hens.

Cresting is also a partial dominant gene, so first generation mixed breeds will have small crests and this can be passed down for many generations, tho they tend to get smaller and smaller as you go along .

Post a picture and we can help you identify your bird!

 

[Lobzi]

Thank you so much for helping me to understand this. I will have to take some pics. Now what is interesting is that just the reverse is happening in my flock. The cresting is enlarging through the generations. The first little one I had was Henny Penny. I thought he had something wrong so I posted pics asking if he had a tumor!

So this is Sister and she is baby from Woodstock





This is Woodstock, the mom, named after the bird on Charlie Brown because as a baby she had little feathers on her head standing up. I knew little about cresting at that time. I just knew Henny Penny didnt have a tumor.




This is Henny Penny who brought the crest genetics to my flock. You might see a little poof on his head. He is daddy to Woodstock.

My birds are not pure. I dont have a pic but one of my teenie boppers has a very prominent crest...more so than even Sister so the poof seems to be getting more exaggerated rather than as you said.

 

[LovinAK]

Quick question about my (possible) golden polish chick. This baby (top left by the waterer) was a freebie from my order of 21 chicks through McMurray Hatchery that we received 6 days ago. Everyone is doing great including this little polish but I am concerned about its activity level. While everyone else is running around the brooder, our little polish just sits under the heat lamp or sleeps most of the time. I see it eat and drink but then its back to sitting under the lamp. Is this normal behavior for a polish chick? I have the heat lamp registering 95 degrees directly below it where the little polish has taken up residency. The rest of the chicks are all heavy breeds so I don't expect them to hang out right under the lamp. This little chick is definitely a "loner" and not very social with the other birds. Any suggestions or help would be much appreciated. Again, it seems healthy...just tired?

 

[Jessica263]

I have an almost 3 week old white crested black polish chick. I got her a little over a week ago from my boyfriend's work (which happens to be selling chickens for the first time). She was originally kept with all the other chickens at the store, but when they noticed she was not active like the rest and her feathers were not growing in well, they separated her. Everyone though she was going to die very soon. Not long after being separated, I took her home in attempt to nurse her back to health. I took her to the vet and she tested negative for any deadly parasites so the veterinarian was unsure what is wrong. She said most chicken illnesses cannot be diagnosed until after the chicken is dead. She told me to continue giving her sav-a-chick water-additive electrolytes and probiotics. I have done hours of internet research on why she is lethargic, but I still have no clue. She eats, drinks, and poos like a normal chick so I think she will make it. Each day I notice more feather growth, which I consider a good sign. Does your polish stand but droop it's head? Mine does. She sometimes closes her eyes and sleeps that way. I saw a pin on Pintrest on chicken gender which shows a polish chicken demonstrating the same behavior, I'm thinking there is a possibility "she" may be a "he". The link is below.

http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2014/06/how-to-sex-chickens-male-or-female-hen.html

 

[HerbGir1972]

We're just showing our parentals and our Polish Blended babies

Our WCBlack Polish SCAR

Our CLean faced EE (AraucanaXRIR) GONZO

I think we have kept a boy and a girl
and if anyone has an opinion on gender please don't hold back

Male

Female

Was mainly keeping these two because they we're the only white ones out of the 7 eggs from our ee gal that hatched.
Curious to see what color egg comes from a hen. of this mixture. I'm going to try and pick 1 other one and just hope it's a girl too.

 

[Helen in the Desert]

LovinAK - As long as it is eating, drinking and pooping I wouldn't worry too much. Polish have vaulted skulls, and I think sometimes that makes them act a little different then "normal" chicks. Since it is a lighter breed than the others it just may have a harder time staying warm due to body mass.

Jessica263 - I am not sure we can help you. You might post your question in "Raising Baby Chicks" and "Emergencies / Diseases / Injuries and Cures". This is not specifically a polish thing. Sometimes chicks are just "born" weak, and that is the way it is. Hopefully your baby will be okay. Fingers crossed

 

[LovinAK]

Thank you so much. I've never had baby chicks before and since this little one's behavior is so different I couldn't help but wonder if it was ok. Thank you again

 

[Helen in the Desert]

Thank you so much for helping me to understand this. I will have to take some pics. Now what is interesting is that just the reverse is happening in my flock. The cresting is enlarging through the generations. The first little one I had was Henny Penny. I thought he had something wrong so I posted pics asking if he had a tumor!

So this is Sister and she is baby from Woodstock





This is Woodstock, the mom, named after the bird on Charlie Brown because as a baby she had little feathers on her head standing up. I knew little about cresting at that time. I just knew Henny Penny didnt have a tumor.




This is Henny Penny who brought the crest genetics to my flock. You might see a little poof on his head. He is daddy to Woodstock.

My birds are not pure. I dont have a pic but one of my teenie boppers has a very prominent crest...more so than even Sister so the poof seems to be getting more exaggerated rather than as you said.