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

[Agarrard]

I would love some feedback from all of you Polish experts! I was told on another thread that my Polish Bantam "Big Bird" is a male. We are at 15 weeks now and there is not a speck of red or even pink around the beak. I read that bearded polish won't have wattles. That blew my mind. I was placing bets on female with no wattle development. I only have one so I have nothing to compare to. Thoughts? Also, if it is a "he" at what age should I see comb development? I've seen so many online that were much younger with male traits. My rooster grabs feathers at the back of its neck and tries to mount it. No chest bumping. Big Bird just tries to get away from him. I'm so confused!

 

[Chickensfan]

I'm not for sure but I've read you shouldn't do that because it makes them think you are another rooster. I read you want them to treat you like a human so they are non threatened. Something about them challenging you if the think your a rooster. I've been doing loads of research. We plan on adding a rooster only flock this year. Not sure how it will work out yet but so far all my research sais it's possible if done right. I'm a book worm so I'll be reading this subject to death lol

oh. ok.

 

[Agarrard]

Lol we do that too haha. I also watched a video saying you can make them laydown and then gently petting them helps. It also teaches them your alpha while at the same time teaching them to trust you. Roosters are really amazing. I'm learning so much. I've truly come to love them, maybe more then the hens lol..

The cat brought us Nugget the rooster one evening(sure beats dead lizards)...and so our crazy chicken story begins, lol. Nugget has been babied since day one with us and he has a blanket that is his. All I have to do is say night night Nugget at any point of the day and he will lay down on his blanket and go to sleep. This cuteness helps balance out the crazy crowning. I love the dang Rooster!

 

[Chickensfan]

The cat brought us Nugget the rooster one evening(sure beats dead lizards)...and so our crazy chicken story begins, lol. Nugget has been babied since day one with us and he has a blanket that is his. All I have to do is say night night Nugget at any point of the day and he will lay down on his blanket and go to sleep. This cuteness helps balance out the crazy crowning. I love the dang Rooster!

aww!

 

[Agarrard]

aww!

It's pretty amusing!

 

[jenniferlamar70]

@jenniferlamar70 thanks for the tips. We already had a bit of extra pecking, so increased the run size and made sure we had two feeders and drinkers that are all a decent distance away from each other.
To be honest, the slightly erratic behaviour of Oreo has the other hens a bit stumped at the moment. Maybe she'll be left alone long enough to settle.

If it seems to get to be to much you can put a crate in you run for a week or so with Oreo in there so they can get to know each other first. I've found this is the easiest way lol. I just added 20 5 week old chicks to my main flock. They have been in the introduction pen for about a week. All my full grown hens aren't even batting an eye lol. My 2 youngest were being a little on the aggressive side so they are now in isolation. I'm hoping a few days without the flock will cool their tempers..

I would love some feedback from all of you Polish experts! I was told on another thread that my Polish Bantam "Big Bird" is a male. We are at 15 weeks now and there is not a speck of red or even pink around the beak. I read that bearded polish won't have wattles. That blew my mind. I was placing bets on female with no wattle development. I only have one so I have nothing to compare to. Thoughts? Also, if it is a "he" at what age should I see comb development? I've seen so many online that were much younger with male traits. My rooster grabs feathers at the back of its neck and tries to mount it. No chest bumping. Big Bird just tries to get away from him. I'm so confused!

[/URL]

I don't have any bearded so I don't know much about this variation. Those saddle feathers look very rounded to me though. If it was a boy they would be long, skinny, and very shiny. Also so pointed they look sharp. I'm thinking you have a pullet..

The cat brought us Nugget the rooster one evening(sure beats dead lizards)...and so our crazy chicken story begins, lol. Nugget has been babied since day one with us and he has a blanket that is his. All I have to do is say night night Nugget at any point of the day and he will lay down on his blanket and go to sleep. This cuteness helps balance out the crazy crowning. I love the dang Rooster!

Omg that's the best story I've ever heard. I just love it. This is one of those stories you remember forever.. just adorable!!

 

[Chicken5555]

@Agarrard

Big Bird is so pretty.

I don't see any gold "rooster feathers" in the crest or back. Also, female buff laced Polish tend to be much lighter in color than the boys.
Here are a couple pictures of my male chick at 7-8 weeks old so you can see what I mean. He's also a bearded buff laced Polish.

 

[Agarrard]

@Agarrard Big Bird is so pretty. I don't see any gold "rooster feathers" in the crest or back. Also, female buff laced Polish tend to be much lighter in color than the boys. Here are a couple pictures of my male chick at 7-8 weeks old so you can see what I mean. He's also a bearded buff laced Polish.

Thank you for the pictures! That was so helpful! I was thinking Big Bird was pretty docile for a roo. I may have gotten lucky when I picked her out of the assorted bantam bin at the feed store. I now realize what a gamble the bantams are!

 

[jenniferlamar70]

Thank you for the pictures! That was so helpful! I was thinking Big Bird was pretty docile for a roo. I may have gotten lucky when I picked her out of the assorted bantam bin at the feed store. I now realize what a gamble the bantams are!

Wow she is bantam and you found her at a feed store. You don't know how lucky you are. I searched high and low for golden laced or any other color and they were almost impossible to find in the bantam size. You definitely scored!!

 

[Chickensfan]

hmm. one of my poland roos has a crest that is sweeping down on one side, and forcing his eye shut. i tried trimming it, but that didn't work. any ideas?