Polish Cap

The Polish (Also called the Poland) 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 are a very special and unique breed of chicken with their huge bouffant crest of feathers and v-shaped comb. They are tame but their behavior can be a bit wacky since their crest limits their vision. When in a flock with more aggressive breeds, Polish will tend to be on the low end of the pecking order. Egg laying is varied in this breed - some lay well and some very poorly. In short, Polish are sweet, beautiful exhibition birds.

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 510 g - 680 g , and roosters 680 g - 790 g.

Origin / History

Class: Continental (Northern Mediterranean)

Type: Large Fowl & Bantam

Size: Small (4-5 lbs)
Rarity: Common

Purpose: Ornamental

Recognized Varieties: Bearded: Black Crested White, White Crested Black. Bearded & non-bearded: Golden,  

Silver, White, Buff Laced

Egg Facts

Egg Laying: Fair (2/wk)

Egg Color: WhiteEgg Size: Tiny (bantam)

Fancy Features

Comb Type: V-Shape Comb
Crested: Yes
Feathered Legs: No
Number of Toes: 4

Suitability to Backyard life

Hardy In Winter: No
Bears Confinement: Bears confinement well
Especially Docile: Yes
Setter/Broody: No
Personality: Friendly, quiet