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Polish (chicken)
Encyclopedia
The Polish is a European breed
of chicken
known for its crest of feathers. The English language
name of these birds is a misnomer, as they do not originate in the country of Poland
. Instead, the oldest accounts of crested chickens comes from the Netherlands
. In addition to combs, their heads are adorned with large crests due to a cone (called a protuberance) on the top of their skull. The crests cover almost their entire heads. They are normally tame chickens, but can act out because the crests on their heads limits their vision. This limited vision can impact their temperament.
Polish chickens are bred primarily as a show bird, but were originally egg layers. Accordingly, Polish do not go broody and are noted for their white eggs. They may be bearded or non-bearded. Hens weigh around 4.5 pounds, and roosters 6 pounds.
in to which is now southern Russia
and Ukraine
in 12th and 13th century by Mongols
and other invading tribes under their rule.
They were then brought in to Poland
especially after Union of Lublin
in 1569 when Magnates rose to power, created enormous wealth and residences in eastern Poland now Ukraine. The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth was one of the largest and wealthiest unions in Europe during those times often dealing with Tatars
and trading goods brought by them from far east. Wealthy nobles traveled on vacations to Italy and send their sons to two best European universities at that time, in Bologna
and Padua
. Because of technical difficulties the travels took long and nobles traveled with all they needed and could even animals. In 1700 Magnates had their own small army made up of foreign mercenaries, upon return to their homeland after time served, mercenaries brought back with them what they amassed during their campaign. During that time market exchange was booming and was led by Dutch. Chickens were popular in villages and at manors of Polish nobles, also around 1600 they were distributed on mass scale further in to western Europe, Germany, Holland, England and Italy's Padua city, by Germans who lived and worked in Poland.
Breed standardization was mainly done in Holland also England and Germany, the name change took place in 1869 Germany, Dresden
at a convention of Poultry breeders to German, Paduaner after Italy's Padua
city (Polish Padewski or Padwy). During that time Poland was torn by civil unrest, had been partitioned out by war and was gone from the map. Polish breeders persisted in having the name changed back, although there are still breeds that are called Padewski or Padwy in Poland. Thanks to Dutchman Arie Boland and his pursuit of saving Polish they are now found in many colors, which he helped to preserve and popularize.
Granulate, shell grit, curd(Cottage cheese), Celery, grain sprouts
February - May (Brooding)
Grain, egg, curd, greens, fruits
August - December (quiet, calm down,jumpy)
Greens, fruits, vegetables, some granulate, seed mix, grit
Breed
A breed is a group of domestic animals or plants with a homogeneous appearance, behavior, and other characteristics that distinguish it from other animals or plants of the same species. Despite the centrality of the idea of "breeds" to animal husbandry, there is no scientifically accepted...
of chicken
Chicken
The chicken is a domesticated fowl, a subspecies of the Red Junglefowl. As one of the most common and widespread domestic animals, and with a population of more than 24 billion in 2003, there are more chickens in the world than any other species of bird...
known for its crest of feathers. The English language
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
name of these birds is a misnomer, as they do not originate in the country of Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
. Instead, the oldest accounts of crested chickens comes from the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. In addition to combs, their heads are adorned with large crests due to a cone (called a protuberance) on the top of their skull. The crests cover almost their entire heads. They are normally tame chickens, but can act out because the crests on their heads limits their vision. This limited vision can impact their temperament.
Polish chickens are bred primarily as a show bird, but were originally egg layers. Accordingly, Polish do not go broody and are noted for their white eggs. They may be bearded or non-bearded. Hens weigh around 4.5 pounds, and roosters 6 pounds.
History
Polish or Poland were brought from AsiaAsia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
in to which is now southern Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
and Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
in 12th and 13th century by Mongols
Mongols
Mongols ) are a Central-East Asian ethnic group that lives mainly in the countries of Mongolia, China, and Russia. In China, ethnic Mongols can be found mainly in the central north region of China such as Inner Mongolia...
and other invading tribes under their rule.
They were then brought in to Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
especially after Union of Lublin
Union of Lublin
The Union of Lublin replaced the personal union of the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania with a real union and an elective monarchy, since Sigismund II Augustus, the last of the Jagiellons, remained childless after three marriages. In addition, the autonomy of Royal Prussia was...
in 1569 when Magnates rose to power, created enormous wealth and residences in eastern Poland now Ukraine. The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth was one of the largest and wealthiest unions in Europe during those times often dealing with Tatars
Tatars
Tatars are a Turkic speaking ethnic group , numbering roughly 7 million.The majority of Tatars live in the Russian Federation, with a population of around 5.5 million, about 2 million of which in the republic of Tatarstan.Significant minority populations are found in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan,...
and trading goods brought by them from far east. Wealthy nobles traveled on vacations to Italy and send their sons to two best European universities at that time, in Bologna
Bologna
Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
and Padua
Padua
Padua is a city and comune in the Veneto, northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Padua and the economic and communications hub of the area. Padua's population is 212,500 . The city is sometimes included, with Venice and Treviso, in the Padua-Treviso-Venice Metropolitan Area, having...
. Because of technical difficulties the travels took long and nobles traveled with all they needed and could even animals. In 1700 Magnates had their own small army made up of foreign mercenaries, upon return to their homeland after time served, mercenaries brought back with them what they amassed during their campaign. During that time market exchange was booming and was led by Dutch. Chickens were popular in villages and at manors of Polish nobles, also around 1600 they were distributed on mass scale further in to western Europe, Germany, Holland, England and Italy's Padua city, by Germans who lived and worked in Poland.
Breed standardization was mainly done in Holland also England and Germany, the name change took place in 1869 Germany, Dresden
Dresden
Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area....
at a convention of Poultry breeders to German, Paduaner after Italy's Padua
Padua
Padua is a city and comune in the Veneto, northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Padua and the economic and communications hub of the area. Padua's population is 212,500 . The city is sometimes included, with Venice and Treviso, in the Padua-Treviso-Venice Metropolitan Area, having...
city (Polish Padewski or Padwy). During that time Poland was torn by civil unrest, had been partitioned out by war and was gone from the map. Polish breeders persisted in having the name changed back, although there are still breeds that are called Padewski or Padwy in Poland. Thanks to Dutchman Arie Boland and his pursuit of saving Polish they are now found in many colors, which he helped to preserve and popularize.
Approximate weight (metric)
| Rooster | 680g - 790 g |
| Hen | 510g - 680 g |
Bearded
- Golden: orange-brown with black lacing
- Silver: white with black lacing
- White: pure white
- Buff Laced: tan with off-white lacing
Non-bearded
- White Crested Black: black with a white crest
- White Crested Blue: gray with black lacing and a white crest
- Black Crested White: black and white crest
- Golden, Silver, White, and Buff Laced: similar to the corresponding bearded varieties
Feeding and Activity
January - September (Egg laying)Granulate, shell grit, curd(Cottage cheese), Celery, grain sprouts
February - May (Brooding)
Grain, egg, curd, greens, fruits
August - December (quiet, calm down,jumpy)
Greens, fruits, vegetables, some granulate, seed mix, grit
External links
- Polish at feathersite
- http://www.polishbreedersclub.com/polandsrespublica.htm at Official website of the Polish Breeders Club
- http://www.polandchickens.com website in the UK
- Poultryhub.org Fancy Chicken Breeds - Polish