Diversity

About Appenzeller Spitzhaubens ChickensAbout Appenzeller Spitzhaubens Chickens




Appenzeller Spitzhaubens are the national chicken of Switzerland. They have a rugged physiology and personality suited to the mountains from which they came. Although rangy and independent, they can provide 150 medium, orange-yolked, eggs a year. Appenzeller Spitzhauben chickens sleep in the trees if allowed and will only return to the coop for feeding. They thrive in cold weather.  

Appenzeller Spitzhauben chickens display entertaining personalities highlighted in their outrageous appearance and heightened by their free-spirited lifestyle. They derive pleasure through their unrelenting pursuit of bugs. Long-time owners have nicknamed the breed “Spitz”--a name which captures the spunk of this rangy chicken from the alps. New owners marvel at the cleanliness of the Appenzeller Spitzhauben. Their cleanliness may come from the fact that they spend so little time around the coop or from their stature as a smaller bird in the chicken world. Some interpret the Appenzeller Spitzhauben's independence as unfriendliness; but with early handling most Appenzeller Spitzhaubens chickens will be friendly with humans.  

Appenzeller Spitzhauben plumage ranges from black, dark blue, gold, gold spangled, to silver spangled. Silvers have brilliant white feathers tipped with black fringe like the snow and black rocks of the alps from whence they come. Appenzeller Spitzhauben chickens come in two basic varieties: the Spitzhauben (meaning “pointed hood”) and the Barthuhner (meaning “bearded hen”). The Spitzhauben has a feather crest that looks like a pointed women's hat, a “V” comb, small wattles, and slate blue legs. The other Appenzeller, the Barthuhner, replaces the feather hat with a feather beard and rose comb.  

Appenzeller Spitzhauben Chickens are only a good choice if you have the land to support their foraging habits. They like to run and fly free and need adequate room. They have little tolerance for confinement.

They are good egg layer, so they need extra calcium and protein in their diet.