Poland Crest Feather Question

[pebojuno]

I'm getting a quartet of new polands- they look really nice birds but the cockerel has been a bit over amorous and the girls look like they've been scalped :shock:
I'll eventually have to find a home for the boy as he is frizzled and so are all my girls so I can't breed with him. Is there anything I can do to encourage the crest feathers of the hens to re grow? Once they have been quarantined they will be wandering around the garden with the others so they shouldn't be bored (I'm worried that they may have started a feather pecking habit) and will have plenty of space to get away from the boy when they want to. I read somewhere that extra protein - like cat food may help but has anyone got anything else I could do?

 

[Davidd]

Hi, i think it will be the other hens picking at the feathers- the cock will grab the neck- not the crest- i keep L/F polands and sometimes the can be a nightmare- you need to keep them dry- if the get wet heads then the feathers drop and they start picking- mine are out but at the first sign of bad weather or rain i get them in-they have a 20 foot by 10 shed so they don't get too bored. The only trouble is once they start they will keep picking out the new growth as it begins and can make them bleed- over the years i have tried all sorts of methods but the only one that works for me is to isolate them individually until their crests are fully grown - then they seem to ignore them- good luck but it vcan be a long process- they are not the easiest birds to keep in good condition- any questions please ask, regards, David

 

[girlracer265]

My hubby wants to start keeping polands so thanx for all the info and good luck with yours pebojuno
ps what colour are they ?

 

[pebojuno]

Thanks David, will see if they improve when they've got other things to do and if not I'll try isolating them. I've got three already and haven't had any problems with pecking at all- they are beautiful birds, and so very friendly! My new ones are chamois bantams girlracer like my others- very pretty! Now I just need them to lay so I can hatch out some more :lol: Will try to get some photos on once they arrive. What colour do you keep David? I LOVE the lf tolbunt- they're fantastic looking and are next on my wish list

 

[Davidd]

Hi, i only have black and blue white crested l/f - i have been looking for self whites for years- there are none around- plenty of bantams but no large fowl My line are very good- they have the correct cresent at the front of their crests- and i am very selective about breeding- the ones that are not marked good are sold lol - their is a pic of my cockerel on this forum in the picture section.
regards, David

 

[pebojuno]

Picked them up today- they do look a mess! Saw one of the hens pulling out the cockerels feathers so it definitely is a habit they've picked up. They didn't have much to do where they were before so I'm hoping that they'll stop when they get into the garden.

 

[Davidd]

Hi, i think you will find it hard unless you seperate them- just my experience- they will pick the new growth faster than it grows :shock:
regards, David

 

[pebojuno]

Thanks for the advice David. I'll give them a little while and then isolate them if they don't start improving- they're not going anywhere near my others until they've stopped pulling feathers though. I've put a picture of them in the photo section - they look really daft!

 

[girlracer265]

good luck

 

[pebojuno]

Let them out for a wander in the garden today and they've thoroughly enjoyed pecking up the worms and grass- hopefully I can keep them busy enough that they forget the joys :? of feather pecking!

 

[pebojuno]

Had two eggs from the three new ones today so they must be settling in alright

 

[Anonymous]

Brilliant .

 

[pebojuno]

Put a pic I took today in the photo section of the hair feather challenged girls with their new pals. They're already looking much better, they spend a lot of time pecking about in the garden.

I haven't seen them pecking each other since they were let loose- my original three show no signs of feather removal so hopefully having something to do has cured them of their obsession. :roll:

Am putting their eggs in the incubator on Sat to see if my cockerel is doing his job- Can't wait for more poland chicks and I already have orders for some eggs once fertility is good, everyone that calls over falls in love with them!