Where does the name Polish chicken come from? In Europe they are Dutch

[crazy huhn]

I was wondering if anybody knows about the Polish chickens. In Europe they are called Dutch top heads and it sure makes sense if you look at paintings from old Dutch artists.........
Overseas it is a western European chicken breed, not eastern European. There are many "Polish" breeders in the Netherlands, but none in Poland......Funny.

Do you know of any breeders of Large fowl white crested Polish in the US who will sell hatching eggs in 2010?

 

[blackdotte]

In Europe they are officially known as Polands, in Australia & NZ they are officially known as Polish.
This is thought to be a corruption of Padua, a town/region of Italy where they are thought to have originated.
David

 

[Chris09]

Try this.. http://www.polishbreedersclub.com/polandsrespublica.htm ....


Chris

 

[Chris09]

You can also try Polands or polskie chicken...

Chris

 

[Vcomb]

To say when and where the Polish as we know it first came onto the scene is a little tricky. There are many lesser known breeds from several parts of Europe which could be seen as proto-Polish but they were maintained as barnyard fowl rather than ornaments. Even today there are breeds such as the Crevecouer and Houdan which developed more or less seperately yet share similar traits. In Europe bearded and nonbearded Polish are actually considered seperate breeds. Some believe that the nonbeardeds developed in and around the Netherlands (hence Dutch) while the beardeds may have come from Italy (Paduans). Royalty had some part to play in the development of the crested fowl as I've read sometimes they were gifted to visiting royals. An example of this can be found in a breed from Russia which looks essentially like a Sultan who has a smaller crest and has essentially changed in overal appearance, possibly as the result of adaptation and selective breeding for the colder climate. Now what's interesting to note is that unlike the Sultan this breed is found in a wide variety of colors, more like Polish. If I could even partially remember the name of the Russian breed I would post it. As for the name Polish, I also recall reading that the area from which the first specimens were documented was at one point ruled by Poland. (Perhaps some history majors could help me on that one?)

Here's just a few crested fowl found in Europe for comparison (check them out on feathersite): Alsteirers, Tasselled English and Irish Gamefowl, Appenzellars, Barbu de Watermaal, Brabaconne, Caumont, Old Polish Crested Hens (Polska Kura Dworska), Crevecouers, Houdans, Polverara, Kosova Longcrower.....just to name a few

as for breeders of white cresteds, what color of what crested were you looking for?

 

[polish101]

Hi,
I will be selling eggs in 2010! what colors are u looling for? In other countries polishs are differnt, with only a few colors looking the us counterparts.


jeremy

 

[Chris09]

Vcomb-
Was the Russian breed you were thinking of the Pavlovskaya?

Chris

 

[Vcomb]

Quote:
yep that's the one! Can't believe they were right there in the article you posted the link to. I sometimes forget where I find things and then its the question of where to start looking.

 

[eggsrcool]

I live in Europe, and I've always called them Polish, and I would always imagine they were from Poland.

 

[Chris09]

Quote:
yep that's the one! Can't believe they were right there in the article you posted the link to. I sometimes forget where I find things and then its the question of where to start looking.

I know the feeling..
The wife says I would forget where I put my head if it wasn't attached to my body...

Chris