Polish Chickens are the most popular of the crested breeds. These beautiful birds are distinguished by an explosive topknot of feathers, usually in a contrasting color to their body color, which accents their plumage. Though these are not the only crested Chickens, they are the best known of all crested breeds. Polish Chickens may be calmer than other chickens because their crest restricts vision much in the way a hood might. It is important to allow them plenty of space to prevent them from picking out each other's topknots. Polish Chickens are active, however, and because of their beautiful appearance they can be fun to watch!
We carry these Polish varieties:
Bearded Golden Laced Polish
Bearded Silver Laced Polish
Bearded Buff Laced Polish
Non-Bearded White Crested Black Polish
Non-Bearded Blue Polish
Non-Bearded Splash Polish
We do not carry the: White Crested Khaki Polish, White Crested Chocolate Polish, White Crested Cuckoo Polish, White Crested Buff Polish, White Laced Red Polish, White Polish, Self Black Polish, Self Cuckoo Polish, Self Buff Polish, Tolbunt Polish, Partridge Polish, Crele Polish, Black Crested White Polish, Columbian Polish, Buff Columbian Polish, Black Tailed Red Polish,
Standard Weights: Cock-6 pounds; hen-4-1/2 pounds; cockerel -5 pounds; pullet-4 pounds.
Skin Color: White.
Characteristics: Polish are an unusual and beautiful breed. They have a crest (some also possess a beard and muffs), are small, tightly feathered birds, fairly active despite restricted vision due to their large "head gear." They need plenty of space to avoid damaging each other's crests by picking. Ice forming in their crests from drinking water can be a problem in cold weather. And sometimes their crests restrict vision and cause them to be easily frightened.
Production: non-sitting breed is a white egg layer.
Names: Known in England as the Poland. Crested Dutch Chicken Padua, Afro Chickens is what I like to call them. Royalty of Poultry
History: Polish is also one of the oldest crested breeds, being known as a pure breed as early as the sixteenth century. The Polish breed probably originated on the Continent, but nothing is truly known about its origins. Polish were brought from Asia in to which is now southern Russia by Mongols and other invading tribes under their rule. They were then brought in to Poland and kept in villages and by nobles and were distributed further in to western Europe by Germans who lived and worked in Poland, Germany, Holland, England and Italy's Padua city. Breed standardization was done in Holland, England and Germany and the name change took place in 1869 Germany, Dresden at a convention of Poultry breeders to Paduaner (Polish Padewski). During that time Poland had been partitioned out by war and was gone from the map. Polish breeders persisted in having the name changed back, although there are still breeds that are called Padewski. Thanks to Dutchman Arie Boland, Polish are found in many colors, which he helped to preserve.The Polish is a European breed of chicken known for its crest of feathers. The English language name of these birds is a misnomer, as they do not originate in the country of Poland. Instead, the oldest accounts of crested chickens comes from the Netherlands. Mentioned in literature as early as the sixteenth century, Polish Chickens are a very old breed. They were probably imported from Eastern Europe to England, where they became known as Poland Fowls. Continental Europeans often refer to these and to all crested breeds as Paduans or Padoues. The oldest reference found to date is the stone statue in the Vatican which bears a very close resemblance to a crested fowl. Another discovery was in a Roman archaeological dig in the south of England where a skull from a bird was discovered and was exactly the same as the skull on today's Poland breed. It therefore suggests that this breed did originate from this area and was imported into the U.K. by the Romans. This also suggests that the breed is possibly one of the oldest in existence today. These were brought to their wonderful point of development by European and English breeders as long ago as the mid 1800's.
Characteristics: The Polish most prominent feature is the crest of feathers on the head. Note the more "umbrella-like" crest on the males and the powder-puff shape on the hens. It also has the large nostrils typical of crested breeds and a small V-comb.In addition to combs, their heads are adorned with large crests due to a cone (called a protuberance) on the top of their skull. The crests cover almost their entire heads. All Polish Chickens have large nostrils and a topknot of feathers. The topknot emerges from a protuberance atop the chicken's skull. Juveniles usually do not develop adult coloration until they are sexually mature. The skull formation (knob) is visable from the time they hatch. The characteristic crest is usually completely developed by the time Polish Chickens are about four weeks old.
Polish Breeders Club of America
The objects of this organization shall be: A) To promote the breeding and improvement of Polish Fowl. B) To keep Polish Fowl up to the Standards set by the American Poultry Association and the American Bantam Association. C) To encourage the breeding of Polish Fowl through the various poultry clubs, shows, and among the younger generation.
