Padua Chickens (aka Padovanas aka Polands aka Polish) are members of an ancient breed of Fowls traced back 150 million years ago. Who, since 1AD have been the subject of artists and naturalists, including Charles Darwin. But now this breed’s diminishing numbers, reflected by inclusion on the watch list of endangered heritage fowl, are the result of industrialization in agriculture and farm practice. Over a hundred years ago, Padua Hens celebrated as great egg layers are now categorized as non-sitters “strictly for ornamental use”.
In any breed you'll get a few who will still set. In laying situations, those hens won't be kept alive, as they're supposed to be egg producers and when they go broody they lose out on 2-3 months of production with each clutch. Barry Koffler, breeder of Shinnecock Flock founding Hens Cleo, Chloe, Clarissa, July 21, 2006
Observational Findings documents eggs laid by Shinnecock Family Flock Hens: most consumed, others set on for 21 days. The first six chicks born here, at Open Air Studio, were mothered by Padua Gold Lace Hen Cleo, fathered by Padua White Rooster Shinnecock. They and their progeny, plus ten hens from Breeder Sylvia Babus, gave life to one hundred fifty-one chicks as of November 2019, presented in documentation on the following pages. Eleven Shinnecock Family eggs hatched from incubator (2018); Nineteen arrived from breeder to add new bloodline.