I have raised a lot of chickens in the last 15 years. A lot. Most of you know that my favorite chicken in the whole world is Happy. She is a Barred Rock and she is wonderful. A very close second, though, is Roxanne. Roxanne is a beautiful Buff Laced Polish who is hilarious! I now have four Polish Chickens and they are all incredible! Before you fall for their hilarious head feathers, here are a few facts you will want to know. I added them to my flock purely for their personality and beautiful plumage.
Polish chickens are of one breed, however, they come in multiple different colors. I have a Buff Laced, Silver Laced, Golden Laced and a White Crested Blue Polish. They are all a little goofy and a whole lot of fun! Because of the poof of feathers on their head, they are easily startled and, sadly, an easy target for predators. Sometimes, they can be found near the bottom of the pecking order, but I haven’t seen that as much in my coop. They hold their own pretty well in my flock of 38.
Polish chickens are mainly show birds and are recognized by The American Poultry Association. They lay an average of 180-200 eggs per year and are white in color. You can expect your first eggs to come around 20 weeks or more. Polish Chickens are gentle and great with kids. They are also actually pretty good flyers!
I’ve had to put my Polish girls back inside their run more than once. The hens average about 4-5 lbs. and the roosters generally weigh around 6 lbs. They have four toes and no feathers on their legs or feet. They’re supposed to be pretty quiet, but that’s not the case with mine! Haha! It usually sounds like a jungle in my coop when they make noise. Because of their feathers, they can be a target for other chickens to peck at. So, they may not mix well if you have more aggressive breeds like Wyandottes. Polish chickens are rarely broody and are hearty enough for our Minnesota winters.
If you think their head feathers prevent them from seeing well, you can trim them. This gives them a bit more confidence and the ability to protect themselves a bit more.
Out of all my chickens, they are the most amusing and entertaining! If you’re in the chicken business strictly for eggs and meat, they really aren’t the best choice, probably. However, if you’re in it for the fun, beautiful yard decorations, and birds' personalities, these are your chickens!
So, if you’re inside dreaming about which breeds you want to add to your flock this year, try the Polish chickens. They bring so much joy and excitement to your flock and you won’t regret it!
Until next time
–The Wing Lady & Roxanne the Chicken
