Polish. 
333 
One vice the Polish Fowls, in common with all crested varieties, are prone to— that is, feather-eating — and 
at moulting time the cocks should always be removed from the hens, the fleshy shafts of the feathers, when 
partly grown, being such a dainty morsel, that they cannot resist the temptation, the cocks often standing 
still while the hens literally pluck them alive ; and, strange to say, the cocks seem to have a decided liking 
for the performance. This, again, is often caused by the unsuitable fountains from which the birds drink. 
The crest coming in contact with the water, encourages the hen to peck at it, with the result that the habit 
is contracted, and will be found one of the most difficult to eradicate. 
As the crest feathers grow on the chickens, the sheath encasing the feather should be removed, so as to 
allow the feather to expand properly, which often it will not do, as the bird cannot reach the head feathers, 
the same as the other feathers of the body. 
The following remarks on the Golden-Laced Variety are kindly supplied by Mr. J. C. P. Creese, of 
James Street, Leichhardt, N.S.W. Mr. Creese has had some years' experience with the variety as a breeder 
and successful exhibitor, and writes: — 
"The Golden-Laced Polish are a purely ornamental variety of Poultry, though their laying capabilities 
are by no means to be overlooked, as I have found the hens fairly prolific, they generally commencing to lay 
about the latter part of July, and continuing, with slight intermissions, until the following April, averaging 
about 150 eggs each per annum, and these of fair size. The hens never exhibit the slightest inclination to 
incubate, so that it is compulsory to keep another variety to hatch and brood the chickens. The cocks are 
very vigorous up to an advanced age, and a good bird need not be discarded even up to five or six years old, 
but, of course, cannot attend to as many hens as a younger bird. With a cock of this variety I would have 
no hesitation in running from ten to twelve hens, rarely, even with this number, finding an infertile egg. 
When the chickens are hatched they should be kept in a very dry coop or house, as wet is almost certain to 
prove fatal to them. The future quality of the chickens can be determined at a very early age as regards 
crest and muffling, as I have found that the larger the protuberance on the head and fullness of muffling 
around the throat, the better the bird will be in these respects when arrived at maturity. The plumage, 
however, is one of the disappointments Fanciers have to grin and bear, as the best stock will not breed 
absolutely true to colour. From one pen, consisting of a sound-coloured cock and five fairly well-marked 
hens, I have bred 40 chickens in a season, ranging in colour from deep black to the lightest buff. The 
chickens are easily reared until about three months old, providing they are kept perfectly dry ; after 
that age they are liable to drop off without any apparent cause, just at a time when they look most 
promising, but if they reach the age of seven or eight months they are as hardy as any variety I know. 
There is one thing I would like to acquaint beginners, in breeding this handsome and attractive variety, to 
guard against— that is, to examine closely the crests of all young birds for lice. These torments get in the 
crest, muffling, and back of the neck, in positions where the bird cannot dislodge them, causing untold 
misery, and finally death. The Golden-Laced Polish are a very timid Fowl, and one should be very careful 
of approaching them from behind without giving notice of presence, as from the size of the crest, especially 
in good specimens, their sight at the side and back is more or less obstructed, consequently they are easily 
frightened ; some birds have actually died from fright on being approached suddenly. The breed occupies a 
very low position in the scale as Table Fowls, but to those desirous of taking up a highly ornamental variety 
I think there is nothing prettier or more attractive than a good Gold Polish cock, with flowing crest carried 
jauntily, and marching erect, as if he would say, 'Now, am I not cock of the walk ?' surrounded by half-a- 
dozen hens, also strutting about on a well-mown lawn. Even the adult stock should be kept out of the rain, 
as I think no breed of Fowls look more miserable and unattractive when wet, their bedraggled crests giving 
them quite a forlorn appearance. 
" There is no doubt they could be improved in size, but new blood must be introduced in order to 
improve them in this respect. There has been but little competition at our Shows with this variety, but 
occasionally a splendid specimen is exhibited, notably a year or two back, when Mr. Ogg, of Melbourne, 
exhibited a cock. This bird was the best Gold ever seen here. The chickens should be hatched as early as 
