452 



THE BOOK OF POULTRY. 



Polish fowls may be regarded generally as 

 non-sitters, but exceptions are rather more 

 numerous than with some other non-incubating 

 breeds. They are good layers of 

 Qualities large white eggs ; but the bulk of 

 and these are usually laid between 



Management. February and the moult, and they 

 are not as a rule good winter 

 layers, though they have proved so if given 

 proper diet, with adequate care and shelter. 

 The flesh is tender and juicy. Most strains 

 must be pronounced delicate, and specially sus- 

 ceptible to colds if allowed out in the wet with 

 the crests in natural condition, as these retain 

 the moisture. Some breeders however report 

 differently in this respect, and by treatment of 

 the crests this difficulty may be overcome. There 

 is however, owing no doubt to the scarcity of 

 breeders, some undoubted weakness of consti- 

 tution, in addition to this, leading to a special 

 frequency of crooked backs and wry tails, which 

 are more common in Polish than in any other 

 breeds. The chickens are very apt to droop at 

 a month to six weeks old, while fledging, and at 

 such times require special support and a little 

 coddling, which is more effective than meat or 

 stimulants, though these are useful in modera- 

 tion, especially a little chopped cheese and 

 sunflower-seed. On the whole, Polish are best 

 suited for limited grass-runs, with ample shed- 

 room in which they can be confined. In such 

 circumstances they thrive well if properly 

 attended to, and quickly become exceedingly 

 affectionate and tame. 



One or two points of practical management 

 require attention. The birds should if possible 

 be always driven in out of the rain, or at least of 

 any heavy rain, though this is not quite so 

 necessary when they are treated as presently 

 mentioned. Even then, however, this remains 

 the most vulnerable point in regard to health. 

 The fountain should have a very small opening, 

 in which the bottom of the crest cannot get wet. 

 When moult approaches, care should be taken 

 that the birds do not peck each other's crests, 

 which they are very apt to do in the young quill 

 stage, especially that of the cock, who will stand 

 still as if he enjoyed it, while his hens pick every 

 quill out. It is much the safest and best to put 

 him in a compartment by himself till his crest be 

 grown. Both at the moult, and as the bird 

 grows the crest in chickenhood, the horny 

 sheaths of these feathers should be attended to. 

 Fowls preen the rest of their plumage them- 

 selves, thus removing the dry sheaths at the 

 proper time, and leaving the feather free to 

 expand ; but the crest they cannot reach, 

 and it is necessary at the right time (not too 



soon) to remove the dry sheaths of the crest 

 feathers with the thumb-nail. 



Polish should not be hatched very early, or 

 late. April is a good month, and at this period 

 the chickens usually thrive well if on dry soil. 

 Early-hatched ones often perish, and late- 

 hatched ones hardly ever grow good crests. 

 The latter are only found on birds that have 

 thriven from infancy, and are generally last of 

 all to moult out perfect The size of the 

 crest, if it grows favourably, can be seen from 

 that of the little downy poll. 



Polish are not practically used for crossing ; 

 but almost the whole range of French poultry 

 proves their value in this respect, the Houdan 

 and Creve and many other breeds being mainly 

 of Polish blood. We happen to know that a 

 direct cross with the Dorking produces a fowl 

 with delicious flesh, which is a good layer, and 

 is also hardy, but very variable in appearance. 



Proceeding now to treat of Polish as exhibi- 

 tion fowls, it is deeply to be regretted that 

 this handsome race should have declined in 

 popularity to an extent only paralleled by the 

 case of the Spanish. Very rarely at shows 

 are any classes at all now provided for 

 them, whereas from 1850 to about 1865 the 

 Polish classes were amongst the best filled, and 

 most of the known varieties were occasionally 

 met with. At the Birmingham show of 1855, 

 Gold and Silver Spangled and Laced, Buff 

 Laced, Lead-coloured (blue or Andalusian), 

 White-crested Whites, Black-crested Blacks, 

 Yellows, and Greys were represented, many of 

 which are now forgotten. Unfortunately the 

 present scarcity of breeders tends to perpetuate 

 some of the evils already mentioned, and has 

 caused some obvious deterioration in several 

 respects : in fact many specimens show the 

 obvious need of fresh blood. This can readily 

 be procured from the Continent ; and Polish 

 are also popular and well supported in both the 

 United States and Canada ; several breeders at 

 London, Ontario, in particular, exhibiting speci- 

 mens in the United States as well as their own 

 country, which have challenged admiration. 



This popularity in a severe climate is 

 remarkable, and we think it probable that the 

 maintenance of Polish under such circumstances 

 may be due to management of the crests. Years 

 ago these were simply left on, not only with 

 consequences and difficulties to which we have 

 alluded, but to the great detriment of fertility 

 as well, which may have partly caused the great 

 decline of Polish fowls in England. The trouble 

 of keeping the crests clean is considerable, and 

 the birds being often unable to see, are some- 



