The Polish is one of the most popular chicken breeds in the world. And it is not surprising considering its peculiar appearance and personality traits, characteristics that we detail in this article on our site. Among all of them, the Polish hen stands out for its particular crest of feathers, which covers its head almost completely.
Many people wonder what the scientific name of the Polish fowl is, however, being a breed, its scientific name is that of the species, Gallus gallus domesticus. If you want to discover the origin of this type of hen, more features that define it, its feeding or care as a pet, keep reading to find out all the characteristics of the Polish hen
Origin of the Polish hen
Polish chickens do not come from Poland, but from the Netherlands, where they arose several centuries ago. So, this breed is not called the Polish hen by Poland, since it is even believed that they existed before the constitution of Poland as a country, it is suspected that it comes from the Dutch term “pol” which translates as “head”.
These chickens already existed in the 16th century and in 1830 they arrived in America for the first time. There they became the hen par excellence on farms and ranches across the continent. So popular were they that it was not long before an official standard for this breed of hen was established by the American Poultry Association, distinguishing three different varieties of Polish hens. Subsequently, three other varieties were added, making a total of six different ones.
Characteristics of the Polish hen
Polish hens are medium-sized. Hens weigh between 1.5 and 2 kilograms, while roosters weigh around 2.5 kilograms. They have small white ears, a quite reduced chin and a short beak.
Without a doubt, the most remarkable feature of Polish hens is their peculiar plumage, with a crest of feathers that covers their heads almost completely. This crest means that these hens usually have a very reduced field of vision. They have a small V-shaped comb, although this is usually camouflaged between their dense and abundant feathers. This plumage can present an Immense variety of colors, shades and patterns, which differentiate the different varieties. As a curious fact, it is believed that the color of the first copies of Polish hen was pure white.
Currently, the following Polish hen varieties are distinguished, classified according to their colours:
- crested white
- Blue Crested
- Silver cord
- Golden Cord
- Buff Cord
- Red Cord
- Black White
- Black Crested
Polish Hen Chicks
Polish hen chicks are really curious, since they present the characteristic crest of feathers from a young age, although their plumage changes as they grow.
Behavior and character of the Polish hen
The character of Polish hens highlights their great nervousness, as they are extremely restless and active, something that has been related to their short vision. Even so, Polish chickens are considered to be very easy to tame and treat, as they learn quickly and are not at all aggressive or stubborn.
These hens do not usually act as broody hens because they rarely hatch eggs. Of course, Polish hens tend to lay a large number of eggs, which are characterized by being white. However, it is important to highlight that the light and temperature conditions of the home should never be altered to ensure that the Polish hen increases the laying of eggs even more, in case of living with one or more specimens of this breed. Laying must occur naturally, without altering its environment. Learn how to recognize a fertile egg with this article.
Polish hen reproduction
Like all chickens, Polish chickens are oviparous animals, that is, fertilization is internal but the fetus develops inside an egg that must be incubated outside. Polish hens lay a large number of eggs in each clutch, although these eggs will only be fertile if the hen has been covered and thus fertilized by a rooster. It is estimated that a Polish hen can lay up to 150 eggs a year.
The eggs of these hens are completely white, of medium size, with an average weight of about 45 grams. These are not usually incubated by their mothers, having to resort to hens of other breeds that do act as brooders.
Now, how do Polish chickens reproduce? The truth is that the Polish chicken mating ritual is similar to that of other chicken breeds. In this way, the rooster performs a kind of dance around the hen chosen to reproduce and, when the right moment arrives, it jumps to stand on it and carry out copulation. If you want to know more about the reproductive cycle of chickens and all the details about it, we recommend this article on "The reproduction of chickens".
Polish hen care
As we have already mentioned, the Polish hen can live with humans without problems, as long as it has everything it needs to enjoy a good quality of life. Thus, if you have decided to adopt a Polish hen, we recommend that you consider all its needs to assess if you can really take care of it as it deserves.
These hens need special care regarding plumage maintenance Due to the distribution of their feathers and their density, These birds cannot groom themselves, so we have to monitor their cleanliness to avoid the proliferation of mites and bacteria. It is also common for the guardians of these hens to resort to collecting the plumage of their crest in bows or pigtails, thus avoiding that it prevents them from seeing correctly. In addition, in this way eye or ear infections are avoided, developed by the humidity conditions that the plumage on its head favors.
Polish hens are typical show birds, so if you want to keep them as such, as well as ornamental hens, it is recommended to maintain the plumage following the standard of the American Poultry Association [1] and/or other international entities.
For the Polish hen to be in the best conditions, we must prepare a suitable space for it This must be of sufficient size so that they can move freely, being advisable that it be the wider the better. It is essential that the temperature of its compartment is monitored, since it is a hen that is very sensitive to cold, falling ill when temperatures are too low. It is advised that you have access to places with grass and dirt, where you can find insects to feed on, as well as consume fresh grass.
Habitat and feeding of the Polish hen
The Polish hen inhabits regions of Europe such as those between the Netherlands, France, Poland and Italy. Currently, the breed is also found in the United States, although in these cases it usually lives on farms, not being free.
This chicken, feeds on vegetables, either herbs or vegetables, from which it obtains multiple vitamins, as well as carbohydrates, which come from cereals such as oats or wheat. She also needs protein in her diet, something she gets from eating insects and worms that she looks for by digging in the ground. Some interesting supplements are the minerals present in mollusk shells, which provide calcium and can be added to the diet through special preparations that we will find on the market.
Polish hen he alth
A Polish hen can suffer from certain pathologies that affect its general he alth. One of the most frequent and worrying is eye problems, normally caused by the plumage of its crest. To avoid this, it is recommended to collect their feathers in a ponytail or bun, leaving their eyes uncovered. In this way they remain ventilated, eliminating excess moisture in the area and avoiding diseases such as conjunctivitis.
Also because of their particular plumage, they can suffer hearing problems, such as otitis or the development of mites and bacteria in the ear tract. This can be solved in the same way as with the eyes, removing the feathers from their face, thus achieving better ventilation of the ear canal.
Because of the shape and density of their beautiful feathers, Polish chickens are very sensitive to cold. This means that they can become hypothermic, so you have to make sure that the enclosure or chicken coop in which they are kept always remains at an adequate temperature.
In addition to taking into account the advice mentioned, to prevent a Polish hen from contracting any of the common diseases in hens, it is essential to carry out adequate preventive medicine by making regular visits to the veterinarian.
