About the Buff Laced Polish
Buff Laced Polish are an eye-catching crested breed known for their rounded head crest and beautifully patterned plumage. The Buff Laced variety has warm golden-buff feathers edged with a contrasting pale cream to white lacing, giving the bird a soft but very distinctive appearance.
Polish are primarily kept as an ornamental and exhibition breed, although hens are also useful layers of white eggs. They are generally gentle birds, but their large crest can restrict their vision and make them more easily startled than less heavily crested breeds.
History & Origin
The precise origin of the Polish is uncertain. Despite its English name, there is no clear evidence that the breed originated in Poland. It is an old European breed associated particularly with the Netherlands and other parts of continental Europe, where crested poultry have been known for centuries.
Polish were recognised as a distinct type by at least the sixteenth century. Dutch breeders are credited with refining the breed’s colour patterns and developing the enormous crest that has become its defining characteristic.
Polish in Australia
The breed is recognised in Australia in both large and bantam forms and is maintained principally as an exhibition, ornamental and heritage breed.
Characteristics
Egg colour: White.
Egg size: Medium.
Average egg production: Approximately 150–200 eggs per year, averaging around 3–4 eggs per week across the year.
Weekly egg figures are annual averages. Actual laying varies with age, season, daylight, nutrition and individual bird.
Day-old sexing: Buff Polish are not an autosexing or sex-linked breed, so males and females cannot be reliably distinguished by colour at hatch. Sex generally becomes clearer as the crest, comb and sex-specific feathering develop.
Temperament: Generally gentle but often timid, easily startled and somewhat flighty. The large crest can restrict a Polish bird’s vision, meaning a bird may react suddenly when approached from outside its field of view. Regular calm handling can make them considerably easier to manage.
Broodiness: Low. Polish hens are generally regarded as non-sitters and are not normally relied upon for broodiness.
Notable features: Buff Laced Polish are distinguished by their large, rounded crest and striking laced plumage. Each feather has a warm golden-buff centre surrounded by contrasting pale cream to white edging, creating the characteristic laced appearance. Their prominent crest can restrict vision, so care should be taken around predators and when approaching birds suddenly.
Genetic anomaly: Buff Laced colouring is influenced by the Dominant White gene, which changes the normally black areas of the lacing to creamy white. Depending on the genetics of the breeding birds, Buff Laced parents can occasionally produce Gold Laced offspring. This is a normal genetic colour result and does not necessarily indicate crossbreeding.
Hardiness: Polish can cope well under normal poultry-keeping conditions, but their crest requires additional management. Restricted vision can leave them more vulnerable to predators and bullying from other birds, while wet or dirty crest feathers can cause problems around the eyes. Crests should be regularly checked for parasites and kept clean and dry where possible
Rare Breed Status
The large Polish is currently classified as WATCH by the Rare Breeds Trust of Australia. RBTA assesses rarity at breed and size level rather than individual colour variety, so this WATCH classification applies to large Polish generally rather than specifically to the Blue variety.
Current Availability
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