Tia Pinney is a Teacher Naturalist and Adult Program Coordinator at Mass Audubon’s Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary in Lincoln, Massachusetts. She knows her birds, so I'm just going to let her tell you about Polish Chickens.
Crested Polish Chickens -- powered by ExpertVillage.com
Top Hat Chickens -- powered by ExpertVillage.com
We bought our Polish and Japanese Silky chicks at the same time, when they were already two weeks old.
Already you could see their crests at just a few weeks old. 
Very early on we could see a difference in the style of crest of the two Polish. We rightly assumed this little guy was going to be a roo, because his crest was much spikier. We knew his name should be: Sid Vicious.
While we could see that the other Polish was going to be a hen because she had the classic 'bouffant' hair-do.
We decided to name her the only name that fit: Phyllis Diller.
We knew for sure that Sid was a roo when he started to do what roosters do: Crow.
By maturity, a Polish cock weighs about 6 lbs and a hen weighs about 4 1/2 lbs. All Polish Chickens have tight feathering, white skin, and lay white eggs. A few recognized Polish colors include White Crested Black or Blue, Golden or Silver Laced, Bearded White, Bearded Golden, Bearded Silver, Bearded Buff Laced. All of the bearded varieties are also available in non-bearded, and the Polish breed also includes frizzled and bantam varieties.
Sid Vicious is a Golden-Laced Bearded Polish Rooster.
One question people always wonder about, is if Polish get picked on, by other chickens, because of their fancy top hats. I've seen the results from other chicken blogs, that keep Polish chickens, of serious and dangerous crest pecking. This is usually avoided if chickens are given plenty of space to avoid confrontations with other chickens in the flock. We've been very lucky and haven't had problems with any of our non-crested chickens attacking our Polish chickens at all, though. We even keep two roosters together, our Polish and our Japanese Silky, and everyone gets along really well.
Though Polish are not the only crested Chickens, they are perhaps the best known of all other crested breeds. They are really quite beautiful and very interesting.
Polish Chickens are very active and because of their beautiful appearance they can be fun to watch!
When folks come to visit they often want to see our Polish chickens and are always amused and entertained by their unique appearance and silly antics.
(I think Phyllis has lost something...)
I'm so glad we chose to have a couple of Polish chickens to be a part of Laughing Orca Ranch.
Ms. Phyllis says, "Ta Ta for now, dahlings!"
So what kind of chickens do you have?
And what are your favorite breeds of chickens?
29 comments :
I love that 'Pouffy' hairdo on Phyllis!!! But I also like that 'Punky' Sid Vicious. Hmmm, I like 'em both!!!
4 1-2 to 6 pounds--your chickens are bigger than my dog!
I think your Polish chickens are very appropriately named! Phyllis certainly looks like her namesake. How funny. I have no Polish chickens. No frou-frou chooks in my flock, they're all workin' gals. My favorite breed is the Plymouth Rocks. Talk about a hard worker! I plan to order a few more in the spring.
Perfert names! Do you have trouble with silkies loosing their feathers more that the standard molt time?
I used to have some Buff Orpingtons and Silkes. We decided to move into town, though, so I had to rehome them. We only have room for a couple of bantys now, so I have some "mutt" frizzle eggs in the incubator, due around 12/28!
I do love Polish, though! They are so unique and eye catching!
Sometimes I really wish we had chickens. I love seeing yours!
Your chickens are so beautiful. I love how Phyllis' feathers look like the centers have been painted.
Your chickens are so beautiful. I love how Phyllis' feathers look like the centers have been painted.
I love those polish pomadours! I have all Buff Orpington's. I now wish I would have went with a little more variety, just so I could see the differences in the breeds. Who knows, maybe in the spring? ;0)
great post...i learned another something new :)
the polish chicks are a hoot.
I have a Polish just like Phyllis who was a rescue from a tornado disaster in Iowa earlier this year. I have never seen her with the full topknot because the other birds do always pull them out. But I also have 2 black polish with white topknots and the other hens leave them alone. I think perhaps my buff laced girl provokes them. I think my favorite chickens are my light brahmas.
Hmmm. It's hard to pick one chicken over another. They are all so unique.
P is for Polish Arabian horse, like Lostine.
POOR Me, I don't have ANY chickens! These are some of my favourite photos of your feathered crew. Sid's baby photos got me chuckling and I do love Phylis. Great names, BTW. When I have a place where I can have my rooster and a couple of gorgeous girls for him, I'm going to call you first and get some advice. Can't wait!
I don't have any chickens or have a favorite kind (I'll spare you "the fried kind" of jokes), but that black and white one in the video was very eye catching. The chicks are cute, looks like they were having a bad hair day! lol. I love how you named them too. We used to board at a barn with some kind of strange chicken and they called him Rod Stewart because of his hair. lol
Plentiful blog of knowledge as we all like to see :) I was hoping you would blog about the Polish Chicken instead of poo :)
Another informative chicken post!
Sometimes I miss our chickens, like when I read your blog - the work never really bothered me that much. I always miss constantly have fresh eggs... :(
Do know what kind they were...they were black, red, brown, and another brown roster - average looking chickens ya know? Like you see in a child's book? Well mannered we kept them until they stopped laying eggs - then they became soup. We never replaced them...can't remember why? Will have to ask my mother sometime...
OH Sid was such a cutie as a small chick!! I love him, he is my favorite! It makdes me want one. I love Phyllis too!! Her blue legs are fabulous!!
We dont' have any chickens. I do want some someday. If I can ever get over my fear of their feet. Yikes!!
P is for Palomino!!
P is for Potato (my dad was a potato farmer)
I never thought I'd say that a chicken was pretty...but Sid Vicious is pretty! So is Ms. Phillis! Appropriately named too.
We're down to 5...Barred Rock and Sexlink...they too are just workin' girls for us. Love those fresh eggs!
Phyllis is charming! We never had Polish chickens, but now I want some:
Once again I have learned something new by just visiting. I have always wondered about the different breeds of chickens whenever we went to the State Fair. I never really considered this beyond that.
Jewel.
Just love that 'Phyllis Diller ' chick! If there ever was a perfect name for an animal, that's it.
When Pie & I finally get our acreage I want to have a few hens (yummy... fresh eggs!).
Not sure what kind(s) yet but I'm leaning towards finding some kind of heritage breed.
p = PERFECTION :)
I'm not proud - I'll say it. The only kind of chickens we have are fried.
Great pictures.
Dan
I do like the Polish, they look so cool. It will be fun to get some funky breeds. We need to build a bigger coop in Preparation for all the chickens we want to get!
PERFECT POST for the letter "P!"
PHEW...I didn't think that I would ever be able to get on my computer today!
I had class from 9:00-4:30; picked up the kids; made dinner; went to Katie's Christams program at school, and then stopped off at a friends for a birthday party.
No chickens here, but as a kid we had several! :)
I love your pretty polish chicks. The doo on the last one is amazing
Dan cracked me up! Funny man.
Sadly, we have no chickens. I think yours are beautiful. YOu're so right--that chicken looks just like Phyllis Diller.
POSH Polish Chickens are very fun see. I wish I had some.
You KNOW I love your names for your chickens. I think I'm going to have to get some more Polish chicks next Spring. I love looking at them. I think my favorite chickens are either my Ameraucanas or my Barnvelders.
oww they are so cute. Oh I like cute chicken. My father has cock too, they're Bangkok cock actually. And now, the hen has 10 chickens haha. they're so cute too.
Well, nice to visit and read your article. I'm Evy. maybe I can make friendship here. Thanks :)
Your Polish Crested chickens are beautiful. My favorite breed is Buff Orpinton. I love the golden color and the gentle disposition and the light brown eggs.
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