Breed Profile of Polish Chickens

[@winniecash1654]

I like flock-o-clock. 😊

[@TheKuntryKlucker]

Thanks! We like flock-o-clock here as well. The girls know when flock-o-clock is nearing as they begin to gather as the gate in anticipation.

[@rodneysoto9555]

Love this video… I have 4 Roos with my flock.

[@winniecash1654]

Do the non polish roos try to mate with the polish hens?

[@TheKuntryKlucker]

Hi, yes. The non-polish roosters will try to mate with the polish hens. However, the polish roosters that look after those hens will see to it that their attempts are unsuccessful. Roosters are very protective of their hens. Any rooster that tries to mate with another rooster’s hens will usually be met with an altercation. Most roosters would rather avoid this kind of confrontation.

[@meditatiigermana7568]

Actually it is known from where they come. First of all what you refer to as polish chickens and I can see in your video are 2 very different breeds. The Black ones with the white fluff on the head are a Dutch bread and are called Dutch crested. The other breed you have in your flock look a lot like Padovana and even though you can find in a lot of literature they are an Italian breed, it's not quite true. The first forms of this breed where in the whole middle Europe to find, but the Germans made the standard of what we know today as Padovana. All European crested chicken breeds we have today, have their origin in the Russian breed Pawlowskaja.

[@TheKuntryKlucker]

Thank you for the great info. I will do some research based on your leads and fill in my understanding of the Polish and breed histology. I did research some time ago and found a lot of misinformation and contradicting facts. Notwithstanding I decided to not consider it solid source material and did not include it in my video.

[@meditatiigermana7568]

@@TheKuntryKlucker I got this from the Italian, German and Dutch Padovana association pages. All 3 say the same thing. Early forms of Padovanas can be found even over 300 years ago. They show up even in some paintings in Vatican, but the first standard was set in Germany, at the end of the 1800's. They are very common in Europe. The golden and silver laced are the most common. The Dutch crested, so the ones with black bodys and white crest were standardized in the Netherlands. This breed is even easier to find in Europe. The black ones with white crest are the most wide spread, but they are also quite easy to find in blue with white crest, all white and bared with white crest. The other color types are harder to find. The Padovanas and the Dutch crested are seen as 2 different breeds in Europe. They are very similar in body confirmation, but there is still a slight difference. There is quite a difference in behavior though. The European Padovanas are exactly how you described them in your video. They are flighty, easily scared and can take off to the air. They are crazy good flyers tbh. The European Dutch crested can be easily scared too, but they are not flighty. When they panic, they tend to run away for a few meters and hide. They don't really try to fly, but if they have no feathers in front of their eyes, they can fly quite good also.

[@TheKuntryKlucker]

@@meditatiigermana7568 Thank you for taking the time to share this information on Polish histology. Last night, I researched the keywords you mentioned and ran across some European religious artwork from the Medieval period that depicted what can be considered Polish. Seeing how our feathered friends marched with us throughout history is amazing. The Silkie is also an ancient breed originating in Asia. "A chicken with fur-like feathers" is mentioned in the travel journal of Marco Polo as he traveled Asia. The Silkies came to the Western World via trade on the Silk Road. I am enjoying learning more about one of my favorite breeds, thank you again for making this information known, this is fascinating.

[@meditatiigermana7568]

@@TheKuntryKlucker Glad that I could give you new informations. It's always a pleasure to chat to a fellow chicken person :) The depictions from Medieval times where those Polish like chickens can be seen, is very interesting. It's also fascinating to see how far back the breed goes, in it's early form. The silky is one of the oldest breeds, if I'm not mistakening. I think it was mention by some other traveler, before Marco Polo I hope I'm not wrong on this one. And since you mentioned "A chicken with fur-like feathers", my sister asked me a year ago "Why do you have a white rabbit running and jumping around in the chicken yard?" I asked her what the heck she is talking about, because there are no rabbits in the yard. She said " There was a white fur ball zick zagging and jumping fast between the chickens"... I had to laugh and told her "That's Dizzy Sis, the Silky, you held her and did pet her many times already" : )))) That's a 7 years old silky hen and she is quirky like that... she sometimes hops around when she is full of joy

[@winniecash1654]

Your high octane roo can be called Mr Fahrenheit. Lol. All the roos are so handsome!

[@TheKuntryKlucker]

That is a great name!! Fits him perfectly, that will be his nickname for sure.

[@winniecash1654]

I have a mixed flock like you. The other hens like to checkout the polish hens tops and occasionally peck out a feather. I love my little "mop tops." They're adorable and head strong. They act like bosses, and don't realize their size, kind of like chihuahuas in the dog world. They're so darn cute!

[@TheKuntryKlucker]

Hi, yes, it is common for the other flock members in a mixed flock to check out the polish’s crest feathers. If it gets out of hand one of the roosters will usually come to the aid of the polish. I don’t witness much of that in my flock anymore now that they everyone is comfortable with each other.

[@winniecash1654]

@@TheKuntryKlucker I'm hoping once my hens mature that they'll chill. They're a year old and act like mean teenagers in a locker room.

[@R1M1r1m1]

Do the silkies next.

[@TheKuntryKlucker]

Absolutely, I will make the silkies the next video breed profile.

[@winniecash1654]

Also, if you're missing one look in the trees. Like you said they can actually get height when they fly. Mine are frequently in the trees.

[@TheKuntryKlucker]

You are correct. Contrary to popular opinion, chickens can “fly” well enough to roost in the trees. I have found a few of my polish in the trees on occasion, this usually happens when they are frightened by a predator, for the most part though, they roost in the coop. But every now and then they do revert back to their wild heritage and roost in trees.

[@razamiharaza4519]

Hello,You sell hens? If sold,I would order.

[@TheKuntryKlucker]

Hi, no, I don't sell any of my hens. I'm too attached to my flock to consider selling, sorry.