ChrisEllis Posted February 16, 2010 Share Posted February 16, 2010 Have been watching the ebay listings for quite some time for some Gold Laced Polands to run with my Chamois Poland >< and finally found some! Going to incubate them again as the hens haven't started laying although im sure i am nt far off!? Decided to spend a littl extra cash on cuying the gold laced Polands that had won a few shows, hoping to show them late this year! Very excited - should be arriving tomorrow! Pics soon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom123 Posted February 16, 2010 Share Posted February 16, 2010 Good luck with them Remember, if you are going show your Polands they will have to be kept inside in the dry so a stable, shed etc. How many eggs have you got coming? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted February 16, 2010 Share Posted February 16, 2010 Good luck Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisEllis Posted February 16, 2010 Author Share Posted February 16, 2010 Good luck with them Remember, if you are going show your Polands they will have to be kept inside in the dry so a stable, shed etc. How many eggs have you got coming? We have six and they say their fertility rate is very good, will they ALWAYs have to live in a shed? or can they live in a shed 3 days prior to a show for example? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted February 16, 2010 Share Posted February 16, 2010 I know this is going over old ground but Polands really shouldnt be out in the open, a roofed pen is the least they will need, yes a few people have them that freerange for long periods with no problems but especially in the cold and wet weather this is the exception rather than the rule If you plan to show them their crests and tails will need to be in tip top condition and cold weather does nothing for body condition either so yes they will need to be kept inside for show condition, if you only plan to take them to a couple of local shows you may be ok but to stand any real chance they'll need to be indoors (by that I mean a shed, stable, outbuilding etc..) they are small so a shed with the door replaced with a mesh door for daytime (door closed at night) and plenty of ventilation would be cheap and fine for the purpose It all depends on how serious and ultra competative you are! my show Wyandottes are kept indoors at present and they are a hardy breed! Keeping a chook indoors a few days before the show is a good idea regardless of the breed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom123 Posted February 16, 2010 Share Posted February 16, 2010 Everything Tasha said! Like Tasha, birds that I intend to show are kept inside (Stables) or kept in covered, slabbed runs with aubiouse on the floor to keep foot feathers and legs in tip top condition. When I know I am showing a bird they are washed 2 weeks before the show and kept in a small run inside a stable. They are kept in here, on their own, up until the show. About 3-4 days before the show, I wash their feet and legs and check them over for any dirt. Polands are very high maintenance if they are to be shown. They would definitely need to be kept inside all the time (In my opinion) and their crests will need to be kept dry and clean. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisEllis Posted February 16, 2010 Author Share Posted February 16, 2010 OOooOO i see, wow, what sort of prizes are there at shows? I mean for my purpose other than being able to say my Birds are show birds meaning hatching eggs are worth more...are there ever any prizes. And I'm sure I can sort something out for the poland. we have lots and lots of slabs and wood so we can make a small run that is roofed and then they can have a neat little house - if we connected it to the main run - keep them in the small run for a few weeks then when I rather show my Gold laced etc i can move them out and the new ones in? Im sure i can work something out Im not too serious at the moment but im sure over time it would grow therefore i would keep them indoors 24/7 but at the moment they seem happy with what they have and thats the main thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom123 Posted February 16, 2010 Share Posted February 16, 2010 Prize wise, you get a little card or a Rosette and sometimes you might get £2! That sounds fine. As long as you understand that, if you are taking showing seriously, then keeping your Polish outside will lower their chances of winning Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted February 16, 2010 Share Posted February 16, 2010 Polands are in need of more representation at shows so if you take it at least a bit seriously you should have a bit fo success and meet some top breeders I have won a few firsts now but only got a rosette twice, there is little if no prize money and first prize is usually just a card saying that but its the good it does to your reputation that will pay dividends but its a long slog to get known for your line of birds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisEllis Posted February 16, 2010 Author Share Posted February 16, 2010 Wow, okay, I thought there was more prize, i guess you reap the benefits mostly if your a breeder, which i hope to go into! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom123 Posted February 17, 2010 Share Posted February 17, 2010 Remember Chris, if you start breeding then you will have to have separate pens for each breed and you will have to buy in another cockerel that is unrelated after the first time you breed from them to minimise risk of problems occurring with inbred chicks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
