Description
White Crested Black Polish Chicken
Breed History and Origin
Cackle Hatchery® has White Crested Black Polish chicks available, a long-established variety of the Polish breed that originated in the Netherlands. This variety has been recognized in the American Standard of Perfection since 1874, reinforcing its place as a true exhibition poultry breed. Polish chickens have been admired for centuries for their ornamental qualities, and today the White Crested Black remains one of the most recognizable. It is also considered a sustainable heritage breed with recovering status. Cackle Hatchery® has been developing its own Polish bloodlines since 1971, maintaining consistency in type, crest quality, and coloration.
Appearance and Breed Characteristics
The White Crested Black Polish is known for its sharp contrast in coloration, featuring a deep, lustrous black body paired with a bright white crest, often accented by a few black feathers within the crest. This variety is non-bearded, giving it a cleaner facial appearance while still showcasing the signature crest growing from the knob of the skull. Even as chicks, they stand out with black bodies and distinct white “top hats.” As members of the Continental Class, mature birds typically reach about 6 pounds for roosters and 4½ pounds for hens, with pullets and cockerels slightly smaller. Their crest can limit visibility, which is important to consider for flock management and predator protection.
Egg Production and Broodiness
While primarily known for exhibition, the White Crested Black Polish is also a useful layer, producing a steady supply of medium-sized white eggs. They are considered good layers within ornamental breeds, making them a practical addition to backyard flocks that value both appearance and egg production. Hens are non-setters, meaning they rarely go broody and are not typically used for hatching eggs. Fertility rates generally range from 40–55%, with a recommended mating ratio of eight females to one male.
Temperament and Backyard Suitability
This breed is generally docile but can be somewhat flighty, largely due to limited vision from their crest. With consistent handling, they become calm and manageable, making them a suitable option for backyard flocks and hobby keepers. They do best in secure environments and when housed with other gentle breeds. A roost height of 2 to 4 feet is ideal for their comfort and safety.
Production Positioning and Exhibition Use
The White Crested Black Polish is best positioned as an ornamental and exhibition bird, though it does offer moderate egg production. Its primary value lies in its striking contrast of color and adherence to APA standards, making it a strong candidate for poultry shows. For buyers, this is a breed that balances visual appeal with practical egg laying, but it should not be considered a high-production layer.
Breeding Note / Color Note
Maintaining a clean separation between the black body and bright white crest is essential for show-quality birds. Careful selection is required to avoid excessive black feathers in the crest while preserving strong crest structure and overall balance. Cackle Hatchery® continues refining its Polish lines to ensure consistency and quality.
Related Resources
Check out our blog “Are Polish Chickens Really from Poland?” https://www.cacklehatchery.com/are-polish-chickens-really-from-poland/
Also may like our Crested “Top Hat” Special https://www.cacklehatchery.com/product/crested-top-hat-special/ or Polish Surplus https://www.cacklehatchery.com/product/polish-surplus-special/
FAQ
How many eggs do White Crested Black Polish chickens lay per year?
White Crested Black Polish chickens are moderate/good layers. They lay consistently but are not considered high-production birds.
Are White Crested Black Polish chickens good for eggs or just ornamental?
They are primarily an ornamental and exhibition breed. While they do lay a steady number of eggs, they are best suited for visual appeal rather than production.
Are White Crested Black Polish chickens friendly?
Yes, they are generally docile and can do well in backyard flocks. However, they may be somewhat flighty or easily startled due to their crest limiting visibility.
Do White Crested Black Polish chickens go broody?
No, they are non-setters and rarely go broody, making them a poor choice if you are relying on natural hatching.
Can White Crested Black Polish chickens see well?
Their large white crest can obstruct vision, which can make them more vulnerable to predators and bullying. Many backyard keepers manage this with flock selection or occasional crest trimming (non-show birds only).
Availability
Available Low Availability Unavailable
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Amy Potgieter –
Love my White Crested Black Polish! The kids love picking them up. They are a little skittish but sweet once we hold them.
ja1011k –
Received 10 of these chicks. 9 were roosters. We understood that these were not sexed but did not imagine that 90% would be dudes. Be prepared for roosters if you order these. Customer service said they couldn’t help due to their sexing policy.
Bryan Peed –
We ordered 10 of these, 10 red laced polish and 9 Black laced silver wyandottes. All arrived healthy. happy and fiesty. Great looking chicks. these are going to serve as the basis for our breeding flock and they are really good looking birds. Thanks Cackle for an amazing order and some awesome babies.
John Ansley –
Great service
I ordered a dozen white crested black and a dozen buff laced polish. They were shipped on Monday and I had them Tuesday before lunch. All the chicks were alive active and healthy. I even had two extra of each chick.
Great customer service and healthy birds. I will use cackle farms again.
April –
great
Very good breed of chickens. Very very friendly and super adorable. A very curious and trusting breed, unlike most ornamental breeds. Little eggs as expected as with ornamental hens.
Muppet –
Aaaaaaaaaaa
Awesome birds roosters are very pretty.
Atelsrow –
Beautiful birds!
I ordered these chickens earlier this spring and love their coloring.
Wayne –
White crested black POLISH
The white crested black POLISH chickens i got had finished out to be great quality birds great uniform crested and also received some white crested blues and they also where of great quality. Thanks for having a quality birds Wayne
Korree –
Love these Polish Chicks!
We ordered a batch of 16 chickens and included in it was 3 white crested black polish. They sent us an extra so we got 4. They all arrived in great health and we never had an issues with them. They are about 4 months now and they are so fun to watch. They are beautiful! Full feathers and such cool colors (and hair styles). Im so happy we got this breed of chickens and look forward to the years ahead with them!
Barb –
Black polish
Love these chickens. They do well with the white Americanas. Get bullied by the Marian’s. So cute. Two are roosters. One has a very loud crow
the crazy chicken lady –
so cute; in great health and very docile
so i got these as part of the “polish surplus” pack. they are so unique! i love their black color and their funky white heads allow me to keep an easy eye on them in the tall grass. lol. my girls are now almost full-grown, ready to lay any day now! they share the free-range space with a melting pot of many other (docile-breed) chickens and mutt-chickens, most of which are also from Cackle, or progeny of. They are so gentle and sweet- it’s hard not to love them!
Mark Ohio March 2014 –
Thanks Guys! Excellent Order
100% live arrival when I picked up this morning at Post Office. It’s been many years since I ordered from you , from the looks of today’s chicks that won’t happen again. Excellent chicks, strong solid bodies, vitality and good crest on. One jumped into the brooder to drink before I even had a second to dip its beak. Never have I had that before even in ones I hatch.
Sigfrido Puerto Rico May 2010 –
Cackle Hatchery
As you can see I live in Puerto Rico. My chicks were sent Wednesday and arrived today Friday. All of them alive and in perfect condition. Thank you very much. It has been a pleasure doing business with you and will definitely will do business again.
Doug, Oregon April 2014 –
Thank You!
We received our chicks (white crested black polish) on Tuesday morning exactly like you told us. We even had extras, thank you very much. 100% of the chicks were healthy and are in great shape. I had ordered these for my wife as a surprise and she was so excited to have them. We all think that you have done a wonderful job and are very professional in your business. We can’t thank you enough. Just to let you know we will be telling everyone about you with great regards. Now the adventure begins. Grateful to have found you. Thanks
Toby Oklahoma July 2014 –
Thank You
I just wanted to say thank you for the excellent service and communications. The customer service department was great, very patient and understanding. This was my first chick purchase and I wasn’t sure how everything worked so I was a little concerned. All the chicks arrived in great condition and I couldn’t be happier with the folks at Cackle Hatchery! Thanks Again,
Unknown April 2014 –
Att Cackle hatchery
I ordered 20 polish chicks from u through farm and home…5 of each kind of polish…buff, golden laced, silver laced and white n black…ne way I just wanted to let u know how happy I was to get them…they arrived on the scheduled date healthy n happy…I picked them up and took them home n I’ve had them for about 3 weeks now n I haven’t lost a single chick..so I just wanted to say ty and I will order from u again ty ur the best.