Who has Successfully Mixed Crested Polish with Heavy Layers?

[sixpantsmaloney]

Our Crested Polish chicks are getting their heads pecked to bleeding and puss. Of the 3 other birds in the coop, 1 is an Americauna and 2 are Golden Buffs.

We've never actually seen any pecking going on or heard the tell-tale "yelp" of a chicken being pecked. But it's pretty obvious it's not just shedding.

I've searched the Internet and these forums. Apparently some books advise to not mix ornamental birds with "farm" birds.

Others here say they've mixed types (especially Bantams) without much issue. But no one has specifically mentioned mixing Polish.

They have lots of room, they're warm, all environmental variables seem to be okay. So it seems, given our tiny flock, we can't keep the Polish?

Thanks for your insights,
Brian

 

[mikescanlon]

i have a friend that was given one polish as a packing peanut with his 25 RIR, and the polish is doing well still to this day.


try trimming your polish chicks crowns down so they dont look different? some of the chicks i have had over time have been extremely racist, and wanted to destroy any different looking chick that i would have in there.

 

[Andora]

Only my white crested Polish have this problem. They get their poor crests pecked until they have a friar tuck thing going on. It looks so painful! The key is to get the chicken somewhere to heal up--the sight of blood attracts more pecking. Usually once my chickens are healed, they don't get pecked again for a while, then the cycle will randomly start over.

Also, I've realized that the pecking happens at night when they are locked in the coop. Sometimes I observe them and figure out who is the one doing the pecking, and I rearrange them each night so that the head pecker is no where near the white crested Polish birds.

I've never had a problem with my black crested Crevecoeuers or my Spitzhaubens being pecked. It's only the white crested birds! I don't know why.

 

[sonew123]

I hatched out 3 crested polish with BO's, light brahmas, EE's, bantams, silkies, a few other breeds and 1 crested magpie duck-25 all together. They brooded together for 8 weeks-then I seperated them by breed into large cages-every morning I take them all out to free range for 4-12 hours ( depends on if its a weekend) all get along great. The roos do chest bump and some get in scuffles from time to time but no blood has ever been shed. Knock on wood-about 8 I go down to do lock down and they are all in their cages-they put themselves to bed. except the silkies-they wait for me to pick them up to go to bed-The polish are great and hearty-huge crests growing-they are all on 16% food and treats-lots of lawn greens and bugs. some scratch everyday-nothing else

 

[popcornpuppy]

I have a white crested polish and she only gets "picked on" by my rhode island red roo. He's actually not picking on her, he's mounting her to mate. He has picked out some of the feathers on her crest and on her back, but only as a result of mating. Otherwise, they get along fine.

 

[luvarabhorses]

Try spraying or brushing on some Nu-Skin on the crested chicks head. It tastes bad and it will kill bacteria, and allow the heads to heal.
I've got Polish in with a variety of chickens and they all get along really well. You just need to get through the chick stage.

 

[chickenwhisperer123]

I have all of this springs chicks (Polish, Silkies, EE's, Wyandottes, Cochins, Campines) in with my laying flock (ALL heavy breeds) and havent had any problems with picking.

 

[sixpantsmaloney]

Okay. Lots of good ideas and information. It's nice to know all is not lost. My wife is quite fond of our funky polish hens.

Thanks!
Brian

 

[LaSombra]

I'd love some polish and am thinking to get a couple of them next spring. Good to know what can be done. Thanks for posting