Storey's Illustrated Guide to Poultry Breeds by Carol Ekarius

Author:Carol Ekarius
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Chickens;Ducks;Geese;Turkeys;Emus;Guinea Fowl;Ostriches;Partridges;Peafowl;Pheasants;Quails;Swans
Publisher: Storey Publishing, LLC
Published: 2016-06-06T15:07:13+00:00

Place of Origin: Germany

Conservation Status: Study

Special Qualities: Small, highly ornamental bird with an extraordinarily long tail.

Ornamental Breeds

Polish

The Polish breed is known for its wild crest of head feathers.

The very first crested chickens I ever saw were Polish, bought by some friends of mine, and I laughed until I cried: Phyllis Diller-like, with their wild crest feathers and sprightly behavior, they were immediate comic entertainers. The Diller look may be topped off with beards and muffs, depending on the variety.

In spite of the name, the Polish breed isn’t from Poland. The breed as we know it today comes from Holland (where Polish birds show up in paintings dating back to the fifteenth century), but its beginnings are unclear. Some poultry historians speculate that the Polish indeed came from eastern Europe, while others think it made its way to Holland from birds originally found in Italy or Spain.

Polish chickens are usually fairly calm and friendly, but their crest and beard/muff feathers can interfere with their vision, so they are often spooked when they suddenly realize something is near. Hens don’t go broody. Polish hens were originally developed as a layer breed, and many strains and varieties are still excellent layers.

The Polish was first admitted to the APA in 1874.

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