Polish Chicken: Care Guide, Varieties, Lifespan, and More
Do you want to add a friendly, cute, and quirky chicken to your flock? Polish Chickens are great poultry to add to your flock! This chicken has a hairstyle that is reminiscent of the 1970s thanks to its ornate feathers. She also has a friendly disposition and is a good layer of eggs.
Here’s everything you need to know about Polish Chicken if you are considering buying one.
Polish Chicken: Quick Facts
| Species Name: | Gallus Gallus Domesticus |
| Family: | Chicken |
| Care Level | Low-cost |
| Temperature: | N/A |
| Temperament: | N/A |
| Color Form: | Large chicken coop with an outside area |
| Lifespan: | 8+ years |
| Size: | Medium (4 – 6 pounds) |
| Diet: | Chicken pellets, vegetables |
| Minimum Coop Size: | 10 sq. ft. 10 sq. ft. |
| Coop Setup: | 10 sq. ft. 10 sq.ft. |
| Compatibility: | High-quality |
Polish Chicken Overview
The Polish Chicken, a colorful and lively chicken from Europe, is known for its vibrant colors. According to legend, in 1736, when the King fled from Poland after being defeated, his chickens were discovered amongst his luggage.
The oldest paintings of Polish chickens date back to the 15th Century. The American Poultry Association recognizes them today and they are mainly used for ornamental purposes, or as pets.
Polish Chickens are popular among enthusiasts because of their striking appearance, which includes pom-pom feathers on the head and beautiful plumage.
What is the price of Polish chickens?
Polish Chicken chicks are priced between $4 and $5 each. Future chicken parents must also consider the costs of upkeep associated with owning these birds.
You need to build a coop for your flock in order to protect them from predators such as foxes and dogs. The average cost of a chicken coop is $500. The cost of lining the bottom of the chicken coop will be around $15 a month. A healthy chicken diet costs about $15 a month. Calculate other costs such as repairs to the coop. Add up the costs and you get a monthly cost of around $70 per flock of five chickens.
Temperament & Typical Behavior
Polish Chickens are a breed that is a joy to have. This breed is suitable for children as a pet because it is usually calm and friendly. Polish chickens can sometimes be flighty or nervous. It is believed that their head feathers cause visual problems. If you want your chickens to know that you are there, you should gently talk to them or blow a soft whistle.
Polish Chickens can be bullied because of their temperamental mildness. Some chickens are unable to resist pulling their feathers out, which can cause baldness and injury.
Polish chickens are very curious. They may become stuck due to their curiosity and require help. This personality trait makes it better to keep Polish Chickens in an enclosed area rather than letting them free-range.
Appearance and Varieties
Polish chickens are a real eye-catcher. It’s difficult to confuse this breed with anything else because of their amazing colors and distinctive head plumage. The feathers on their heads can sometimes cover their eyes and face, obscuring their vision.
Polish chickens can also have beautiful feathers on the face and head.
The medium-sized bird is elegantly upright. The long body, wide shoulders, and straight back of this bird contribute to its pleasing appearance. Polish Chickens are distinguished by their red wattles, combs, and white earlobes. The four-toed feet of Polish Chickens are not feathered.
Polish chickens are available in many colors including black, brown, and white. They can also be gold-laced or silver-polished.
How to Care for a Polish Chicken
Habitat, Coop conditions & Setup
Polish chickens require a large enclosed space to play and run. Also, they need shelter on rainy or cold days and when they are laying their eggs.
Nesting boxes are important in a good chicken coop, as is a roofed nest where the chickens can sleep, protected from predators, bad weather, and other factors, and an area where they can explore and move. Use welded-wire fencing to keep predators away and the flock inside. As you design your chicken coops, allow 10 square feet per bird.
Nesting boxes are best placed on the roofed roost, where they will be easily accessible by all your birds. Line the bottom of the nesting box with bedding pellets, shavings or straw. Nesting boxes should be provided for every four hens. You should include perches and a relaxing place for your chickens on the roost. Your Polish Chickens will also enjoy a place to rest that is up and away. Per bird, allocate eight inches of perch space.
Consider a cord that you can run to the roost in order to power the lights. It will keep your chickens warm on colder days, and increase egg production.
Polish chickens get along with other pets?
Polish chickens are social animals and require companionship in order to thrive. It is impossible to own only one chicken.
Polish chickens are easy to bully and pick on because of their laid-back nature. The head feathers of Polish Chickens can be removed, leading to baldness or skin irritations. Every day, check your birds for signs of injury or bullying.
Naturally, chickens are prey animals. Keep an eye on your Polish Chickens if they are allowed to roam free, especially if there are dogs in the house. Your dog’s hunting instincts may cause problems if they are allowed to approach your flock. Polish Chickens are visually impaired and should never be left alone. Polish Chickens love to forage but are easily targeted by predators.
What to feed your Polish chicken
Polish Chickens should be fed high-quality proteins. Feed them 20% of protein during molting until the new feathers are in place. During the egg-laying period, feed them 16% of protein.
You can feed your flock beans, greens, fruits, and cereals that are not sweet.
Keep Your Polish Chicken Healthy
Winter is the time to pay special attention to the head feathers of your Polish chicken. Check the feathers regularly to ensure that lice and mites are not hiding in them. Trim the head feathers if necessary. Dry their crest immediately if it becomes wet.
Polish chickens also have a prominent ridge on their heads that does not immediately fuse together. A Polish chick may die if an adult chicken pecks its head.
Breeding
Polish chickens can lay as many as 200 eggs in a year. Although chickens are able to produce fertilized eggs all year round, they are most prolific in spring. Keep your rooster within the same enclosure as your hens. Check to see if there are any fertilized eggs after they have mated. The white spot will look like a tiny bullseye.
Store the fertilized eggs for a few weeks before putting them into an incubator.
Until they develop feathers, hatching chicks should be kept at temperatures above 65 degrees F.
Polish Chickens: Are They Good for You?
Polish chickens are great pets for novice and experienced owners. Polish chickens are beautiful, easy to handle, and have prolific egg layers.
The American Livestock Breed Conservancy has placed Polish Chickens on “watch” status. The American Livestock Breed Conservancy has placed Polish Chickens on “watch” status. This means their numbers are low, and they are closely monitored. Therefore, breeding is encouraged.
These chickens don’t make a lot of noise and are quiet. The chatter of these chickens is quite subdued.
Polish Chickens make a wonderful bird to breed and keep if you have the space, money, and time.