Chortle Chook Posted August 23, 2012 Share Posted August 23, 2012 A couple of weeks back under the bad influence of Mollyripkim I went to Hamble Valley Poultry near Winchester and came back with this wee girly (now called Dizzy) There I also saw a lovely white Poland but alas she was already spoken for. Then just a few days ago the amazing Rachel of Hamble Valley called me to say she had manged to find one for me. So off I went yesterday and came back with this girly (now called Dazzle) I just love her creamy colouring So with this other little girl (Dotty) my Poland collection is now complete BUT . . . I couldn't resist putting in an order for a little Cuckoo Silkie (eggs in the incy). SO BAD of me. Poor OH - I think he has totally given up trying to limit my chicken collection now. Well the Silkie will make it 10 and an even number and will give me 3 Silkies, 3 Polands and 3 Frizzles (+ my cockerel) so how could I not . . . I only wish I'd known about Hamble Valley years ago. OH says he is just so glad that it takes me a couple of hours to get there or he'd have to move out to make room for chickens in the house Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted August 23, 2012 Share Posted August 23, 2012 They are all very smart. It's dangerous going to places that sell chickens isn't it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted August 23, 2012 Author Share Posted August 23, 2012 Especially dangerous if you can see different breeds and colours and where everything is nice and clean and the birds in good condition. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted August 23, 2012 Share Posted August 23, 2012 Must be like being in a sweetie shop, and not knowing what to pick and then perhaps just buying a bit more because you can't decide Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zakjon-98 Posted August 23, 2012 Share Posted August 23, 2012 They are lovely How hard is it to look after them? I know they have problems with lice, cold, wet weather and bullying. Do they need anymore care than to be checked and dusted for lice and kept warm and dry? Sorry for all the questions! Thinking of getting some in the future Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted August 23, 2012 Author Share Posted August 23, 2012 Ask away zakjon-98 My answers will be based on keeping Polands in the set up I have which is a wooden granary house from Flyte so Fancy and all day FRing in my 20m garden which has lots of shrubbs, earth and shingle but no grass. Food and water is given in a Grub / Glug on an Omlet frame thingy. I've had my chamois Poland for a year now. I find that she does get her hair do wet in the rain - and muddy too, not so much because she stays out in the rain as she is quite good at finding shelter, but because after the rain has stopped, when all the plants are sopping wet and the earth beneath them is turned to mud, she loves to go poking about in the dirt for grubs (she is a gready soul ). This means that when it rains I do need to take a paper kitchen towel and gently squeeze the water out of her 'hair' before bed time. In the winter when it was icy I occasionally dried her with the hair drier on a low setting. I haven't done this in the summer. She never got ice on her head so I guess I must have done that right. Touch wood my Polands have not had lice as I use a spot on anti parasite control that is for doves (I have 2 doves). I have worked out the right amount for the hens which is obvously more than for the doves. This is not licensed for chickens but as I don't keep my chooks just for their eggs I don't mind. In fact I have to admit that I merrily eat the eggs (though OH does not) even after a treatment as I reckon that if it is bad for me it must be much worse for the chicken. So if it is safe for my Polands, then it must be safe for me. (I don't give the eggs away during a fortnight period after the spot on treatment which I do quarterly). As for bullying, my Polands FR with my Frizzles and Silkies both of whom are docile breeds. I don't think I'd want to put them with more agressive birds as they are certainly real softies and half the time don't seem to really know where they are going. Breeds like Faverolles and Orps would probably also be ok with them, but I'd say no to hybrids though others may have a different experience. As for character I just love Polands. They are very friendly, talk a lot, run up to me, love to sit on my lap, are easy to pick up and even fly up onto my shoulder where they like to ride about like parrots . (They can all fly well but don't bother to do so once they know where their home is so I have not clipped any wings). Hope this helps and is not too long a reply Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted August 23, 2012 Author Share Posted August 23, 2012 This shows you what my Chamois Poland looks like on a 'wet hair' day. I don't wash her 'hair' as the mud seems to come off once she is dry, but as mentioned, I do dry her 'hair' by gently squeezing it in a paper kitchen towel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zakjon-98 Posted August 23, 2012 Share Posted August 23, 2012 (edited) Thanks for the reply I'm sure it will be useful That pic of her with wet hair is hilarious I love her chamois colouring. I think a chamois frizzle Poland is my dream chicken they look so unusual and funny. Edited August 23, 2012 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkysmum Posted August 23, 2012 Share Posted August 23, 2012 Too, too gorgeous Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted August 24, 2012 Share Posted August 24, 2012 I love my polands but at the mo I only have w/c blacks and self blacks. I am waiting for a couple to er 'fall off their perch' so I can replace with some SL or GL. Your polands look in excellent condition but don't worry if you don't manage to dry their crests, I never bother and I haven't lost a poland yet to anything cold and wet related as despite having plenty of cover they do like to get soaked:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miller30 Posted August 24, 2012 Share Posted August 24, 2012 Anyone interested in polands i have some girlies for sale im not far from rachel at hamble valley she sometimes buys eggs of my friend who has a big breeding flock which is where my eggs come from so are good quality and we all go to salisbury so maybe able to meet up leanne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
