International Network of Poland Clubs
In 1999 we have spent quite some time
in establishing an international network of contacts with clubs and
breeders of Polands. The urgency of such a network is evident when we
realize that the genetic basis of of Polands is very small. Some colours
are very rare in most countries and are actually near extinction! Only a
few breeders worldwide are active in breeding certain colours and
varieties. This certainly applies to the large Polands. Fortunately
the situation is better for the Poland bantams. However, we realize that
this situation is very vulnerable and that national and international
contact could diminish the vulnerability.
Furthermore, international contact offers
opportunities to share information and views relating to Polands.
Even more so, these contact also offer the possibilities to exchange
Polands and eggs of these wonderful birds.
Luuk Hans.
THE
IMPORTANCE OF INTERNATIONAL CONTACT FOR OUR BREEDING HOBBY;
AN EXAMPLE OF THE POLAND CLUB
By Terry Beebe and Luuk Hans, former secretaries of the British and Dutch Poland Club.
International contacts are of growing importance for our breeding hobby. In particular for breeders of rare poultry breeds. In most countries only only a few breeders keep breeds. This certainly applies to an old and beautiful breed like the Polands. Therefore it is of the utmost importance to strengthen our heredarity basis of the Polands. International contacts can assist us in achieving this. International contacts are also made easier since border controls are less stringent (within Europe). Not only are direct contacts simpler to establish, but also use of new media, like Internet and e-mail, facilitate these contacts.
How it started
Nevertheless, most contacts
start more or less coincidentally. This also applies to the contacts
between the English Poland Club and the Dutch Poland Club. These
contacts started through an advertisement by the Dutch club in Fancy
Fowl, asking for contacts with English breeders. Terry Beebe responded
right away and through him the contacts with the British Poland Club
started.
In the meantime contacts had been established by the Dutch club with the
Poland (bantam) clubs in Switzerland, Germany and, coincidentally, even
Mexico. These contacts led to visits to each other. A British delegation
visited the Noordshow in the Netherlands in January last year (see Fancy
Fowl March 1999). Did they visit this show, also various breeders were
visited and many Poland’s exchanged hands and were taken home to
England. Also the contacts with the Swiss and German clubs are frequent.
In particular the club show of the German Club is a superb show for
fanciers of Poland’s. At this show about 500 bantams Poland’s are
exhibited! A number, which is unique by any standard. Obviously at these
shows birds are bought and swapped. Since the contacts are established
now and individual breeders get acquitted, many telephone calls are made
before shows starts to inform breeders whether they have Poland’s for
sale.
Once the first contacts are established the network starts doing its
work. Contacts with breeders from other European countries and from the
USA and Australia have also been established.
Polands in Britain
The breeding basis of Polands
is small in the UK, but is now on the increase. Most people specialize
in one or two colors; this enables them to breed to perfection. The
large Poland is where the most encouragement is needed, especially in
such colors as Gold Laced, Chamois, Blue and Black. The large Poland’s
appear to be more endangered, possibly due to the extra space needed to
keep large fowl.
The UK Poland Club was founded in the early 1950’s, and our longest
standing member is our present chairman, Mr. Brian Anderton, who has
been a member for the past 42 years. The first Poland’s to be
exhibited in England can be traced back to the very first poultry shows,
this seems to be recorded at around 1846. The Poland Club’s main
objective is to protect and promote the interests of Poland’s and
their breeders, including of course the conservation and quality of the
breed. The Frizzle Poland was standardized in the UK in July 1999; this
was done using the Dutch Standard as our base.
Comparing to other countries the English Standard varies slightly,
putting preference on large crests. This can cause vision problems, but
extra care taken by breeders and exhibiters prevent major eye problems.
Non-bearded varieties, i.e. Self White and Blue in both large and bantam
are standardized in Europe, but do not yet come under the UK Standard.
International contacts needed
The British Poland Club has
about 60 members. However, not every member is an active breeder, so in
essence the various colors and varieties of the Poland’s are kept by a
handful of people. This makes the survival of these varieties very
vulnerable. Actually the breeding basis is small in most countries,
whereby the German and Dutch clubs have the largest membership. In spite
of that some colors like the White Crested Cuckoo and Gold Laced bearded
Poland’s are rare in every country with only one or two breeders in
each country.
So the main aim of these international contacts is to make sure that the
genetic basis will be strengthened, or at least does not disappear.
Exchanges of these rare species are essential to improve the quality and
strength of these varieties.
Next to that new varieties and colors are more easily exchanged. For
instance the so-called White Crested Buff bantam has been created in the
early nineties in Germany. The interest in this striking color is
increasing and birds have already been imported to the Netherlands in
1998. It is our feeling that it will not take that long before this
color will also appear at English shows! The other way round, Black
Crested White bantams were created in the Netherlands some years ago.
Since 1998 these are also present in Switzerland, Germany and the UK.
So,
in general international contacts are not only necessary to strengthen
existing colors and varieties, it is also interesting for introducing
new colors.
Contacts with foreign breeders are also informative and fascinating. In
many cases this will broaden the horizon. In Germany a discussion
started some years ago about the vision of Poland’s. Due to the large
crest of Poland’s animal protectionists questioned the welfare of
Poland’s (and other species with ornamentals like crests, short legs
etc.). This discussion has led to discussion within the German and Dutch
Poland Clubs about the optimal size of the crest of Poland’s.
Actually,
this has also led on a focus on breeding better and more solid crests,
which will result in a better vision for the Poland’s.
Structural contacts
Some of the Poland clubs
mentioned has taken an initiative to set up an International Network of
Poland Clubs to prevent that these international contacts disappear or
be diluted. This network is still in its infancy but has 6 members from
Australia, Germany, Mexico, Netherlands, Switzerland and the UK, which
is very promising, since it represents the main European countries.
These clubs have long and exotic names like Schweizerischer Seiden- und
Haubenhühner-Züchterklub and El Club Mexicano de Gallinas Polacas.
Membership is open to any Poland Club worldwide. A board member
represents most clubs.
The goal of the International Network of Poland Clubs is to foster
international contacts between Poland clubs and breeders of Poland’s.
The national clubs will inform each other on new developments, new varieties, and changes in the Standard. Information will be shared by
exchanging club magazines, yearbooks, and etcetera. For instance the
description of the Frizzled Poland in the Dutch standard has been used
in the UK. The German description of the White Crested Buff bantam will
be the basis for the Dutch Standard.
These are only the first steps in international co-operation. These
first steps are the hardest since every club is organized in a different
way, and not all clubs are as active as others. So international
co-operation will be time consuming and slowly, also due to the
geographical distances and cultural differences. We are convinced that
international co-operation is necessary and will become more important.
The British and Dutch Poland Club will put a lot of effort in it to make
it work. After all, it is also fascinating and fun and, most
importantly,
Polands deserve more support and appreciation of the international
poultry world.
Australia
Michelle Bancroft
Secretary - Crested Breeds Club of Australia
P.O. Box 1771,
Victoria,
Phone: +61 3 5309 2535
e-mail:
web: www.crestedbreeds.com
Poland
Polish poland club
Stanislaw Roszkowski,chairman
Kazimierow 13
05-074 Halinow, Poland
e-mail: taurus@drukarniataurus.pl
internet-site: www.polishpolands.com
Germany
Sonderverein
der Zuchter von Seiden- und Zwerg-haubenhuhner
Frank
Peschke, vorsitzender
Hertigswalder Kirchweg 3 01855 Sebnitz, Germany
Tel.00.49.35971.53427
e-mail:
peschke-mb@t-online.de
Internet-site:
www.silkies-polands.de
Denmark
Specialklubben for
toppede hons
Stefan Søndergaard
Østervang 17, Vils
DK 7900 Nykøbing
Mors, Denmark
Tel: 0045 97 74 41 09
E-mail:
info@ronnow.com
Internet:
http://home8.inet.tele.dk/ranker/spe
Great-Britain
The
Poland Club of Great-Britain
Amelia
Richardson, secretary
11 Eastfields
Martock, Somerset TA12 6NW, United Kingdom
e-mail:
amelia289@btinternet.com
The Netherlands
Nederlandse
Kuif- en Baardkuifhoenderclub
Luuk Hans, treasurer
Edeseweg 40
6721 JX Bennekom, The Netherlands
Tel.00.31.318.419032
e-mail:
luuk.hans@planet.nl
Internet
site: www.kuifhoenderclub.nl
Switzerland
Schweizerischer
Seidenhuhn- und Haubenhuhner- Zuchterklub
Lotte
Gautschi
Seonerstrasse 235
CH-5704 Egliswil, Switzerland
Phone office: +41 62 888 10 40
Fax
office +41 62 888 10 49
e-mail:
motivation@motivation.ch
Internet
site: www.seiden-haubenhuhnklub.ch