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

[uzisuzuki]

[/IMG][/IMG][/IMG]lol had to show of a couple of my peeps that hatched on Monday! Had to get in on the poof action too I leave my girls poof s long too

Look at those crests! That is fantastic! And those chicks are so adorable I hope my mixes come out more like Polish than Sebright (if I can get any to hatch). Too cute!

 

[Sylvester017]

@polishmom1744 Wow! You've got great looking birds! Do you have any tips/suggestions for caring of the crests on the Polish? I'm just wondering if there's something I can do for my other 3 hens' crests to get them nice and big like the top hen in the pecking order has or if it's out of my control/help with how those feathers grow out.

My dad was trying to get me to trim them all back so the hens could see better, but I like how they look better with the crests all full and puffy. I'm not sure if this is good or bad for them? They don't have to worry about predators since their enclosure is made with ground and air predators in mind and I use verbal cues with them when I'm in there with them that seem to work really well so far. But I could understand how that might be limiting to them to have their crests in the way of seeing better. I guess maybe I'm still torn between trimming them all and letting them all grow out.

This was a bit rambly - sorry about that!

I never trimmed my Silkies' crests and they do fine. After all, I got them to enjoy them in their full fluffiness. If a crested bird wants to see behind or overhead they'll turn their head to see what's around. Trimming is not going to alter their skittish behavior. Chickens are skittish because they're chickens and has nothing to do with seeing or not seeing. When the Cooper's Hawk is in the yard my fluffy crested birds are the first to sound the barnyard alarm. The important thing is to have a lot of doghouses, shelters, canopies, benches, etc spread around the yard for the hens to hide/snooze under during the day. My girls' favourite place to hide/snooze is in the oversized doghouse under the popup canopy in the backyard. The Cooper's Hawk could be 5 feet away from them but won't go after them as long as they're tucked away in one of the shelters.

 

[Sylvester017]

So if my white crested black and white crested blue turn out to be a pair. What color babies would they have?

From all I've researched -- if your babies are siblings from the same exact parents it's not supposed to be good to breed them to each other -- something about genetically weakening the immunity from too close a breeding? Maybe someone will chime in with more specifics.

 

[AmyP716]

I'm really not sure if they are from the same parents. The lady I got them from had 150 chicks thats she said she picked up on a road trip from Ohio and Kentucky and then brought them back here to Michigan. So I guess I will never know if there related. Well im really hoping there both girls anyway. I have four roosters already. Lol

 

[Sylvester017]

I'm really not sure if they are from the same parents. The lady I got them from had 150 chicks thats she said she picked up on a road trip from Ohio and Kentucky and then brought them back here to Michigan. So I guess I will never know if there related. Well im really hoping there both girls anyway. I have four roosters already. Lol

Hope you get your girls! They will be lovely birds!

 

[polishmom1744]

great pics frzldnfabfarm! the new chicks look great...are any of your tolbunts laying?

 

[frzldnfabfarm]

Yeah my tolbunts and bcw are laying !! Can hardly wait for a batch of frizzled tolbunts! Going to do a test hatch of black crested whites first can hardly wait!

 

[polishmom1744]

From all I've researched -- if your babies are siblings from the same exact parents it's not supposed to be good to breed them to each other -- something about genetically weakening the immunity from too close a breeding? Maybe someone will chime in with more specifics.

You should never breed full brother to full sister. Half brothers and sisters can breed 1 Gen. but the next Gen. should be bred as far out as possible or there WILL be anomalies...You can breed Father to Daughter or Mother to Son but the same is true you MUST breed out the VERY next generation (the further the better) or you will mess up your bloodlines and have decrease immunity and fertility as well as increases in anomalies.

Inbreeding can be done to improve traits among a small population but is only beneficial if done carefully.

 

[polishmom1744]

I'm really not sure if they are from the same parents. The lady I got them from had 150 chicks thats she said she picked up on a road trip from Ohio and Kentucky and then brought them back here to Michigan. So I guess I will never know if there related. Well im really hoping there both girls anyway. I have four roosters already. Lol

Hope you get your girls! They will be lovely birds!

Me Too!!! I agree very pretty!

 

[polishmom1744]

@frzldnfabfarm

Here are the pics of crest size I told you I'd send...too many for phone!


Black laying age Pullet...11 months

Sweeney Todd... 11 month Black Cockerel

Black Laying age Pullet.....11 months

Blue Hen 2 yrs

Alfred Einstein ...11 month Black Cockerel

4 month old pullet out of Alfred x Blue Hen

Splash Hen....2 yrs old

4 month old Cockerel Sweeney x Splash Hen