tell me about crested polish please

[lorihadams]

I didn't really know where to post this. I am thinking of getting some crested polish chicks but have never had them before. Can some of you tell me about raising crested polish from chicks and what they need to be happy? I know they are on the small side but how much space do they need, do they get along with larger breeds well, what kind of temps can they withstand (I'm in Va), and how are they as far as temperament? I know this is a lot of questions but I just want to make sure before I get into them. thanks!

 

[tomato lady]

I am not an expert for sure, but I have two wonderful Polish. Sadly, they are both roosters. They are young, about 16 weeks. We still pick them up but I don't know if that will be possible when they mature since they are roos. They are about the size of my EE pullet who is the same age, except they have a slender build.

I have them in with a mixed flock of 29 other chickens about their age. The down side is that my other chickens sometimes pick at their head feathers until they make their heads bleed. I have been told here on BYC that sometimes they have to be seperated from a mixed flock. One poster even said that sometimes they had to be seperated from each other. I am not sure how often that happens, but I am opting to provide a larger space for them and if that doesn't work I will seperate them from my mixed flock.

I have read that they are not brooders and only rarely will they hatch their own eggs.

Because their head feathers block some vision, I always talk to them when I approach so as not to startle them.

I think my roos will be good flock protectors. They already sound an alert that quiets down all the pullets instantly.

I bought mine streight run and I would not do that again. Obviously I did not get the results I had hoped for -- 2 roos! I would not rule out getting some Polish pullets next year, providing I get space made so I can seperate them into their own flock.

 

[MNmommy]

I have one bantam golden laced polish and she is sweet as pie. She is 18 weeks now and loves to sit on my lap and be petted. She will fall asleep within minutes of being petted!!


she is just like any other chicken I have no special needs


I would LOVE more but at my limit where I live with other breeds

 

[Chicky Mama]

Hi, we have 4 GL,2 Buff & a WCBlack Polish cockrel. In my opinon the WCBlack is the friendliest one,he's a lil' flappy when holding him but calms down.He's always rite there at my feet when I go in the run too,very sweet. The others don't really care to be involved with us but they're all pretty and calm birds. They don't bother any of the other birds,I guess cuz they can't see as good from all those feathers.

 

[19hhbelgian]

I have 3 splash Bantu polish, 2 silver laced polish and we did have 2 wc black polish and a gold laced. I've loved every polish I've had. They are very silly birds, and are a little bit more flighty at first, but warm up quickly

you do need to be on the cautious side with them & predators because of their big hair. Mine have also been very hardy and they like to free range with everybody else.

 

[lorihadams]

Where have you all gotten your polish chickens from?

 

[noitulover]

i'm from VA too! in fact, we were out in Cartersville not too long ago! (we're in Powhatan!)

i had a crested polish for awhile, but unfortunately they are slightly more susceptible to the many predators we possess in VA... I always trimmed her crest back around the eyes so she could see a little better, but unfortunately, she was taken by a fox... (we believe it was a fox..)

They are very sweet, if not a bit skittish. This is due mainly, to their lack of eye sight and diminutive stature.

Good luck with everything and let me know if you need anything! We're right around the corner from you!

 

[Chicky Mama]

Ours are from McMurray Hatchery,we lost 2 on delivery. One was an extra but the other should've been a mate (maybe) for the WCB.
All have pretty nice color,nice personality and unfortunely the ones to get picked on.If they're just for a pet you can tweeze or cut their head feathers so they can see better,I probably should've done that to ours .When I went out this morning my 2 GL roosters had their tails picked to the point of bleeding and feathers gone and my WCB has a hole on the back of his head that's not as bad, done by Rhodie X's,poor birdies.I DON'T want any of them getting a taste for blood!!! The Polish are on the lower end of the pecking order as stated in the books or breed description.

 

[ThePolishPrincess]

I've had some experience with Polish but I am in no shape or form an expert.

They are very enjoyable birds, though, when you have the time to put into them.

I hear lots of different things but it's safe to say that no Polish is exactly the same. My first one, a hen that I had, came very close to ruling the roost, dominated both of our roosters, and was very high on the totum pole for most of her life. She was very personable and had lots of character. She recently passed away and I'm still missing her. Sometimes I think their crests make them fit in less with their own kind and they take to humans better.

I now have 3 growing Polish pullets in my yard, 2 of which are living with my adult flock. I have NEVER had a problem with crest pecking, but as said before, you'll come across many BYCers who have had this problem and it's hard to stop. You can do a search on the different crest pecking issues people have had. On that note, I can't give you much insight on that except: Stop a problem before it starts. Keep an eye out as they grow.

My Polish have been mixed in with numbers of around 20 birds. None of the non-cresteds seem to think twice about pecking their heads. They actually go for the hackle feathers if they want to them move.

There's alot of info that can be covered...Our first Polish was from Murray McMurray hatchery but we weren't totally happy with sevice. My 3 pullets are from Meyer hatchery which had decent quality but they forgot a chick in my order so I'm not totally thrilled.

Many have suggested that to raise Polish with less problems, they should be raised in either small numbers, or other breeds that are naturally submissive. This can be with Polish or other crested breeds. But I've heard that Cochins are pretty docile, too. I wouldn't push it with game breeds, though. (I already have that problem and my 3 pullets get bullied this way.)

My first hen was always very sickly. Sometimes she'd get sluggish and won't eat for no real reason and no matter what I do, she'd just continue being sick. A few hours later, she'd pick herself up again and act normally. I never knew why. But Polish, especially as chicks, are not the hardiest breed.

They don't do very well in winter weather, especially in snow. When they go to peck objects on the ground, the crest feathers will pick up dirt and ice and become icicles. Not fun. But my Polish was never bothered by it so I just kept an eye on her and she lived through 2 winters just fine.

Summers are okay. In humans, the head is the part that is supposed to be kept the coolest. I can't imagine why it would be too different in chickens, as well, so I wouldn't get Polish with black crests.

Spring can be almost as bad as winter, because of the rain. Minus the snow and ice, this is what the North East's bad rainy weather (as seen in the spring months, though this happened this summer) did just weeks ago.

That was a series of bad hair days.

But it didn't seem to hurt her.

My Polish have been pretty friendly and are one of my favorite breeds. Some of my favorite days on this earth so far have been spent with my chickens. Polish being the majority. If socialized young, they can be very rewarding.

 

[kristenm1975]

I have two Polish. Both seem to have turned out to be pullets, which is miraculous since I got them straight run. I've had lots of luck with that oddly.

One of my Polish is a buff-laced, and is pretty skittish. She's small and isn't seen a whole lot. She seems to prefer to hide out under the hen house.

The other is a white-crested black and she's the sweetest thing! Whenever I come outside, she's right up against the fence. If I go in to the pen, she's at my feet the whole time. I can reach right down and pick her up and she's initially startled but settles quickly.

Neither make a whole lot of noise at all. They are low on the pecking order, lowest actually, but don't actually get much pecking, thank goodness. I hear a squawk every once in a while when one of the bigger girls decides that a Polish is in the way, but other than that, it's pretty peaceful in my run and coop.

I got mine at the Monroe feed store on a whim. Happy choice.