Chickens. WWYD Chicken experts please.

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Esmae

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Bought, what I was told, a POL Polish pullet a couple of weeks ago. Between 18/20 weeks. Very pretty, very healthy. Doing all the usual stuff. A bit shy with the other hens but nothing that a bit of time won't sort out. Thing is, it is beginning to be just a bit aggressive. It jumped at my legs yesterday and ran at me today. I am wondering if I have been sold a boy. Doesn't seem to be a boy going by appearance, hasn't tried to crow yet. Haven't had this sort before so a bit puzzled. I have never, ever had an aggressive hen. Between themselves yes, but not to people. If it wasn't for the fact that the place I bought it from is 2 hours away I would try to return it. What would you do in this situation? I know what will happen if it is a boy, but really don't want to have to do that. Any thoughts?
 
Honestly I think aggressive. Will watch it for a bit and see if it calms down or starts to crow I suppose. I have the big Polish (Padovana) and they are really sweet but this little mite is a terror!!
 
I wish I could do photos but I am hopeless with this. Said chicken seems to have a neat hairdo, but is still only 18/20 weeks, so is that still too young for m/f characteristics to show up? Looking at the others that were available this bird looks no different in that respect. There are no male tail feathers either and it hasn't crowed or tried to. If it is an aggressive female, what to do?? Never ever had that.
 
Bingo!! By'eck she's done it!!! This was taken on the first day while I had the 2 of them separate while they all got used to each other. Is that any help?
 
Well done! I’ve forwarded it to a friend who has Polish. I had one once and she was like an Old English Sheepdog, couldn’t see a thing. I can’t tell if yours is like her
 
The worst cockerel I ever had was a gold laced wyandotte. He was an absolute barsteward!! I called him Adolf (among other things) We had to do the deed in the end. He was ruddy dangerous. Beautiful bird, but evil. Our window cleaner is Polish. I shall take lessons just for this little bird!! Do you think that "gerroff you little g*t!" in Polish will do the trick!!? The other birds are all lovely. Padovana, Pekin, Sablepoot, Silkie.
 
I’ve got and breed ‘dotte bantams. But I have a 3 strikes and you are out rule and don’t have any nasty boys now. Life’s too short!
Also Dutch bantams. The boys are not aggressive but absolute PITA. Culled Little S and ran on his son, LF, but he kept getting over any fence and beating up my silver Millefleur Wyandotte boy. So now running on his sons. One day I’ll get lucky and have one that isn’t so tiring.
 
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I don't blame you. I don't breed anything. Only because of the boy girl ratio and I don't want to just cull something for being the wrong gender. Bad enough when you have to for other reasons. I love my ladies. Now that I don't have a horse anymore they give me something to focus on and are easy to keep. Thank you Clodagh for this help. I will let you know how Maggie the Polish person gets on.
 
Okay then. Update on Maggie the Polish hen. @Clodagh No need for haircuts. Maggie is much relieved. She can see out perfectly well thankfully. Maybe she's just a bit bats but all is well. I hope she isn't aggressive but time will tell. I just need her to be brave now and take a walk outside the house into the run. Muriel Pekin has managed that today. I was delighted to see her in among the others doing what a chicken does. I was pleased to see that both of the new kids were asleep on the perch with the others for the first time last night. They are being accepted now so hopefully they should settle into our routine soon and thrive. Thanks again for all of your help.
 
I'm not experienced with Polish but have had many other breeds and types since 1977. Aggressive cockerels, had quite a few, most I have got rid of but my main gripe is, the young cockerels being so rough and aggressive with the hens. Even if you keep them separate it doesn't stop them, when you release them back in, they are worse as more frustrated. I have a smallholding full of them. I came up with the answer, I had a brain wave (not a common thing with me) I put hobbles on the cockerels until they quieten down and grow up a bit. My young maran x warren couldn't run as fast to catch the hens or the ducks come to that, they can outrun him. The other young cockerel I have is a bantam type and he cant jump on the hens now with hobbles on so I can have him with the flock but not to breed from.
I had comments on facebook that it's cruel and this was from a man who had ever had chickens or any farm yard animal. I told him, come and watch how the cockerel treads, he doesn't woo them just rips them off their perches and basically its a violent rape. The girls were too scared and scarred to come out of the barn.
The young maran x warren now has calmed right down and I have taken them off him. He walks about and repsects the girls, as it should be. Alternative is, he's dog food.I would also put the hobbles on any hen that had become aggressive, it really does calm them down and gives them a chance to be with the flock and to basically grow up.
 

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