Buff Polish Chickens

Day Old Buff Polish Baby Chicks

• Exhibition
• 150 Eggs Annually
• Enjoys Human Company, but can be "spastic" 
• Cockerel 5 lbs, Pullet 4 lbs
• APA Class Continental
• Conservancy Status: Watch.

If you are looking for a breed that will make you smile, and get plenty of attention for its looks, then the Polish Breed is for you!

Polish chickens were originally bred as egg layers, but are now mostly ornamentals. They do, however, lay 200 or more white eggs each year, making them practical to a degree. The shape of this breed’s skull causes the unusual crest of feathers. Some varieties have beards as well. The combination of a Buff Laced Polish chicken’s looks, attitude, and egg-laying ability has kept it a favorite for many years.

Its distinctive crest can limit vision, though, which can impact temperament. Due to the breed’s lower-than-average visibility, it is sometimes more vulnerable to birds of prey than other breeds. Another consequence of the crest is that the Polish are a little nervous so owners must be careful to not startle them. Also, its crest attracts mites and other pests, so extra caution should be taken to prevent infestation.

The name “Polish” might lead you to think that this breed originated in Poland, but that would be incorrect. The breed was developed and standardized in the Netherlands and Germany. No one is sure where it originated, though some think it may have been in Eastern Europe.  The reason that this breed is named Polish is that their crests look a bit like the headgear once worn by Polish soldiers.

Polish chickens were imported to the United States in the early 1800s and became widespread quickly. Bearded Buff Laced Polish chickens were accepted into the American Poultry Association’s Standard of Perfection in 1883, and the Non-Bearded Buff Laced was included in 1938.