Yes! Look at these chickens. Think about what comes to mind after seeing it; might they be rock stars with natural hats?
When I take them, my first impression is like royal ladies and gentlemen at a ball. They are fluffy like chickens and have incredible personalities, with good looks and a distinctive walking pom-pom shape, complete with beaks.
You are thinking which chicken breed is? Yes, They are Polish Chickens.
Their distinctive ‘top hat’ makes them one of the most ornamental breeds. This is the main reason many chicken keepers fall and wish to have!
Many chicken keepers call them the comedian of the flock, and they like them because these beautiful chickens get their name in the list of Ornamental birds!
They are so popular for their unique appearance, gentle nature, friendly temperaments, and especially, they are likely to show in the exhibition.
I bet that you must fall when you first meet these ‘The Candy Bars’.
Still confused about what is special about these birds?
Let’s go deep to discuss what they actually are!
What Are Polish Chickens?
Origins and History:
Here’s something that always surprises people – Polish chickens have absolutely nothing to do with Poland! I’ve been raising these quirky birds for years, and this is probably the first question everyone asks.
The most likely theories say they originated in Central and Eastern Europe and have spread to the Netherlands. The Spaniards coined the name back in the 1700s because they looked exactly like the fancy helmets Polish soldiers wore into battle.
What’s really interesting is how ancient these crested beauties actually are.
Chickens with similar crests showed up in Asia and Italy centuries ago, probably brought over by traders and even Asian Mongols during medieval times.
You can actually spot these distinctive birds in old paintings from the 15th century, and they keep popping up in Dutch artwork from the sixteenth through the eighteenth centuries.
Now, the Dutch breeders – they’re the real heroes of this story. During the 16th and 17th centuries, they took these birds and turned them into something spectacular, keeping focus on their ornamental beauty instead of thinking about their egg production.
They developed varieties like the Tophat and Padua types that still make my heart skip a beat.
When they made it to the United States in the 1800s, they hit it instantly!
The American Poultry Association was so impressed that they officially recognized them in 1874 in their Standard of Perfection.
More varieties kept getting added in 1883, 1938, and 1963. Sure, the White Leghorn might have dominated egg production, but Polish birds became the stars of exhibition shows and ornamental poultry keeping.
Here’s my favorite part of their history – there’s this incredible legend about King Stanislaw Leszczyński bringing his beloved Crested chickens to King Louis XV’s court in 1736.
France appreciates and documents a history that stretches all the way back to Ulisse Adrovandi’s Ornithologiae, published in Bologna in 1599. From Holland to America, these birds have been stealing hearts for centuries.
Physical Appearance:
These birds are just ridiculous – that large feathered topknot makes them look like they stuck their finger in an electrical socket!
The males rock a pointed forward-sweeping crest, while females have a rounded, fuller crest. Their tiny V-shaped comb stays hidden under all that fluff, and those reddish-brown eyes peek through their limited vision from crest feathers.
They’ve got clean, featherless legs in slate blue or horn-colored, white earlobes, and come in stunning varieties like silver laced Polish chicken, golden laced Polish chicken, white Polish chicken, and even rare Polish chicken colors like tolbunt.
Size variations (standard vs. bantam Polish chickens):
This breed comes in two different sizes, one is standard and the other is bantam type.
Standard-sized roosters weigh about 6lb, and hens are 4.5 to 5lb. Their body is medium, but it looks large due to their crust.
Their height is about 13-15 inches, depending on their care.
Polish Chicken Varieties and Colors
We get an idea of different varieties of Polish Chickens here!
Silver Laced Polish chickens have white feathers with black edging.
Golden Laced Polish chickens show off golden feathers with black lacing.
Silver Polish chickens are solid silvery-white beauties.
Golden Polish chickens sport pure golden plumage.
Tolbunt Polish chickens are the rare showstoppers with their unique mottled black and white pattern that’s absolutely stunning.
Special Types
Polish Frizzle chickens are the wild cards with their curly, backward-curving feathers that make them look permanently windblown.
Polish Crested Bantam chickens are the adorable mini versions, weighing just 1-2 pounds compared to standard birds.
Standard vs. Bantam size differences are dramatic – standards tip the scales at 4-8 pounds versus bantams’ tiny 1-3 pound frames, but both pack the same spectacular crested personality!
How many eggs do Polish chickens lay?
This ornamental chicken breed was not primarily considered for egg laying, but they lay 120-200 eggs per year, which is below the average of egg layers.
They are not added to the list of the most egg-laying breeds like Leghorn (280+ eggs per year).
They lay small to medium-sized eggs, which is again below average. Many keepers of these beauties claim they can lay 200 eggs per year, but exceptions. It happens with proper care and a proper diet.
Yes, you can reach this number, but it’s not necessary to count!
When they are 5-6 months old, they usually start laying eggs. It varies hen to hen, some of them start laying in their starting days of maturity, some of them lay in the 6 months of birth.
Enjoying eggs from this breed? Right!
You need to add at least 3-4 hens to your flock, so you can enjoy and meet your weekly needs. Because they lay 3-4 eggs per week.
If you need more eggs from this breed, you must add more chickens.
Your concern is to produce a lot of eggs! Then hope from another breed.
Confuse! To choose the right type of breed. Here, you can choose easily based on your needs.
Egg Quality and Appearance
What color eggs do Polish chickens lay?
Sometimes, they lay slightly off-white and cream coloured eggs, but mainly they lay white colour eggs.
What is the quality of Polish chicken eggs?
Their egg colour ranges from off-white to white, and their egg quality is believed to be good because of their low laying rates.
Their shells are stronger and smoother. No discussion on thick or thin shells.
Eggs are standard in taste and quality, comparable to other breeds.
Comparison to other breeds’ egg production
Identifying Male vs Female Polish Chickens
How to Sex Polish Chickens?
Polish chickens can be tricky when sexing them, hen and rooster, but it is easy. Not too difficult!
It can be a little bit tricky due to their wattles and feathering.
The most reliable way to sex them on day-old chicks is by vent sexing. That’s why it is quite tricky, and it is done in hatcheries. It demands some experience!
Roosters’ crest feathers are most wildly, spiky, and messy, and often stick in different directions.
Hens’ crest most likely pom-pom and roundy, poofy, and tidy. It looks like a helmet shape.
In roosters, wettles and combs are larger, but in hens smaller, and by seeing their pales wattles.
In roosters, grow pointy hackle feathers (neck), saddle feathers (back), and sickle tail feathers, while in females, it’s most likely to be of a rounded shape.
Rooster Characteristics
Are Polish chicken roosters aggressive?
They are very conscious of protecting their girls, so they will be aggressive. Usually, they don’t fight first; they just protect their hens.
Among the breeds like Rhode Island Reds, Orpingtons, or Gamefowl, he is less aggressive and alert.
Do Polish chicken mix well easily?
This docile nature breeds a love to live in their own company and community. They are likely to make their own society; they are not against mixing with other breeds.
They are docile and less conscious of defending themselves. So, the best practice is to make their different co-ops.
More than that, they can live easily with other quiet breeds like Silkies. If it needs to add in flock, then it must add some quiet breeds.
Are Polish Chickens Broody?
They are not typically broody, but some hens may be!
The main reason for low broodiness behaviour is that hens rarely sit on eggs or try to hatch them.
If they go broody, it is uncommon, but sometimes individual hens go broody.
As they do not sit for incubating eggs, they do not commit to sitting for 21 days. It’s by nature!
I know you need chicks from Polish chickens!
Yeah! It’s possible. You can add an incubator to hatch eggs. If not, then you need to rely on other broody breeds like a Silkie, Orpington, or Cochin, which are excellent mothers.
Are Polish Chickens Noisy?
They are generally considered a quiet chicken breed and ornamental birds.
Hens are calm-natured, but some are clucky during egg-laying. It happens to alert around.
Roosters are noisy and no noisier than other breeds. He makes their voice not louder than other breeds; they are not well-suited for noise-restricted areas.
So, be careful about roosters.
Can Polish Chickens Fly?
Who doesn’t like chicken that flies like butterflies? Yeah! Polish chickens can fly.
They are low-weight breeds and move over trees with small branches. They can flap from perches, but not sustain flight.
Cooping for Polish Chickens
What are the Housing Requirements of Polish Chickens?
They need at least 3–4 sq. ft. per bird inside the coop and at least 8–10 sq. ft. per bird for running outside the coop.
What if they can’t see food?
You know what can affect their food and water? Their crust may limit sight, so they can miss out on food and water.
These chickens’ crust may be dirty, wet, and give shelter to mites if the coop is overcrowded. Avoid adding chickens more than required.
If the problem is still now, trim or tie their crust so they can eat and drink easily.
What is the perfect coop design?
You think about design, and look for the best practices for the type of coop you have?
I tell no more but some tips to prevent and make it safe from any injury, such as making it 18-24 inches high.
Ensure that it is dry and has a well-ventilated space. Also, keeping the chicken’s crust dry and clean must help you prevent unwanted diseases.
Making feeders and waterers in the easy range helps to grow faster. The simpler, the more they eat, the more they grow as well. Easy access helps more than other care.
How to protect them from predators?
Protection from predators is more essential than medical treatment.
They saw hawks, dogs, or foxes quickly, so make sure the coop is covered with netting wire to protect them.
I know you think somewhere that if we put them with more alert breeds, like Leghorn, Austrolorp, it is a good practice. When I keep this breed, this thought comes to mind. I made it and tested, and by my experience, you can do it.
This practice will help you most of the time to prevent being attacked by other predators.
Health and Wellness
Are Polish chickens prone to illness?
Are Polish Chickens Prone to Illness?
Let’s be honest – that gorgeous bouffant crest that makes Polish chickens so stunning does come with some health implications. Beauty can be pain, especially when those fabulous feathers create unique challenges you won’t find with regular chickens.
Baby chicks are incredibly vulnerable, especially during their first six weeks, because their bony heads don’t fuse properly right away, just like newborn babies. They need extra time in the brooder and protection from pecks from other birds.
The characteristic feathered crests and beards are magnets for mites and parasites. Regular inspections and treatment become essential – I check mine weekly!
A gentle trim can help them see better and avoid eye irritation, but forget about showing your birds if you trim because judges won’t accept it.
My solution? Get your Polish chicken a cute scrunchie to keep those feathers out of their eyes – it works like magic!
How long do Polish chickens live?
The average chicken from this breed lives for 5-7 years. By ensuring extra care, their lifespan will be 8-10 years. In my coop, many of the chickens live 7,8,9 years. We make an effort for their health and make sure to prevent illness and predators.
Are Polish Chickens Suitable for Beginners?
No doubt, they are beautiful and keeping them is fun, but they might not be the right option for the new keepers.
No matter, they are friendly in nature, and due to their appearance, they can be kept as pets. Here’s a big reminder for keepers who are just starting.
The biggest problem is their crust, which can block their vision and become the biggest target of a predator. A new chicken keeper doesn’t know how to prevent them.
The next problem is that they are not a reliable egg-laying breed. Obviously, they look pretty, but they do not meet your expectations.
Also, they need extra care to keep their crust cleaned and trimmed.
Special requirements of Polish Chickens
These ornamental birds need proper care, like their feathers must be trimmed, so they can see better, their feathers must be clean, if dirty, then they require immediate cleaning, otherwise they risk being attacked by predators.
People who keep them for the first time have minimal resources out there, like they think we can do in a low-maintenance environment.
Before starting to keep this breed, keep in mind all the things. If you don’t meet, then you have other hardy breeds, like Rhode Island Red and Plymouth Rock.
Polish Chickens Name Ideas
Polish chicken is a breed that has a lot of names to tell.
But I like the most to call them are ‘Disco’, ‘Dandelion’, ‘Pickles’.
You can choose your choice.
- Puffball
- Dandelion
- Disco
- Noodle
- Cupcake
- Tinsel
- Pickles
- Stardust
- Muffinhead
- Breezy
