08/09/2026
🐔 BREED SPOTLIGHT – POLISH CHICKEN
You definitely won’t mistake a Polish chicken for anything else! Their huge feathery crest gives them one of the most recognisable hairstyles in the chicken world.
Despite the name, the exact origins of the Polish chicken are a little unclear. The breed has been around for hundreds of years, with Dutch breeders playing an important part in developing the spectacular crests and colour varieties we see today.
🥚 Eggs: White, usually medium to large
🍳 Laying: Generally a good layer, although nowadays they are often kept more for their looks than their egg production
🐔 Temperament: Usually friendly and fairly calm
👀 Special feature: That enormous feathered crest!
One slight downside to their impressive hairdo is that it can restrict their vision. This means Polish chickens can sometimes seem a little nervous or easily startled simply because they haven’t seen you coming!
Their crests also need a little extra care in very wet weather, as the feathers can become soaked and chilled.
Polish hens aren’t particularly well known for going broody, so if you’re hoping for a hen to hatch her own chicks, there are better breeds for the job.
Fun fact: Polish chickens have been depicted in European paintings going back hundreds of years, so that fabulous hairstyle definitely isn’t a modern invention!
A brilliant breed if you want a chicken with plenty of character — and possibly the best hair on the farm.
