Omlet Smart Autodoor - New in box

[Roobaloo]

My Poland chick is now about 9 weeks old...and seems to have a bigger pom pom than most adults I've seen! I've heard that this can be a result of poor breeding...but I'm worried about its welfare. It's always stood on the ramp to the coop, I assume so it can see the others...as the only way to see the eyes is to hold the feathers up or hold it directly above you. It's often startled by things and seems to struggle with things like the drinker.

 

This was a photo taken two weeks ago...

 

Should I be concerned or do anything about it? Or just leave it be?

[CallyChook]

with it being white and also sunny in the photo it's difficult to really see much, but I think it looks like you have a fine poland hen there, and she's a beauty! My white crested black has a similarly large bouffant and likes to roost up where she can see the floor, but doesn't seem to have any detriment due to it - you just have to take the extra care polands require re lice infesting the hair - I check mine twice a week. Drinker wise, I dont normally like the red plastic cheap efforts but they seem the best way to go with the hairdos, they stay dry.

 

If you get really worried, you can tie the feathers back with a lightweight bobble, which is preferable to trimming or cutting the feathers - but only if she really is struggling to eat and drink as it'll make it even more inviting for pests and might bother her if it tugs.

 

occationally mine will loose where their siblings are and give a chirrup until they find them

 

I have a bit of a fetish for sticking my nose right into the hair though and cuddling.... it might be a pregnancy thing!!! My polands are my absolute babies. Here's Flappy and her crest

 

[Roobaloo]

Thank you so much!! I hope you're right that it's a hen...we've already discovered one of our chicks is a boy (a dotte this time) we don't want another!!

 

Yeah, sorry about the pic...it was the only one I have that isn't just a blur!! The other three are easy to photograph but this one just doesn't keep its head still!!

 

Hopefully I'm just being over-cautious, I guess it's like old english sheepdogs and the like - they can see more than you think!

[abwsco]

That's one cracking hairdo

[CallyChook]

Well this yr is the first I've had to do with polands, but it definitely looks female in so far as you can tell at that age. Especially with such a thick plumage I have two 9 week olds that are foxing me... I'm fairly sure one of them is a girl, but the other, who at 6 weeks was doing a lot of blokey behaviour, in the last week or se seems to have really thickened its feathers up and still has tight feathering near it's tail whereas the boys I have (12 weeks) have a lot looser sickling going on with their pre-tail feathers (if that makes any sense at all??!!)

 

Fingers crossed for being a girl then for you xx

[Roobaloo]

If it's not a hen, I've already told Mum that she'll be introduced to the world of hen keeping, Polands in particular!!

 

I love your Polands...Flappy and Brian (great name!!) are gorgeous!! Well, they all are!!

[Redwing]

You cab snip the feathers from around the eyes if she is having problems

[chick wiggle]

I had a silkie with a massive 'hair-do' and i snipped around her eyes (very carefully! ) and she seemed to perk up an awful lot after that. Must be quite annoying having restricted vision.

[Roobaloo]

You cab snip the feathers from around the eyes if she is having problems

 

I was wondering if that was ok to do... I think the main pom pom is fine but there seem to be some from just above her eye that cover most of it. I'm useless at describing it so I'll try to get a better pic tonight!!

 

chick wiggle - Awwww bless!! It must be hard for them...I get annoyed when my hair gets slightly long....!

[chick wiggle]

I know, bless 'em. I snipped very carefully only around the eye so she could actually see and to be honest you could hardly tell at all. So unless you want to show her, id give it a go.