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Appenzeller Spitzhauben

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Swiss breed of chicken
Appenzeller Spitzhauben
Head of a gold-spangled hen
Conservation status
  • SAVE Foundation (2003): critical
  • FAO (2007): not at risk
  • DAD-IS (2022): at risk
Other names
Country of originSwitzerland
Distribution
  • Switzerland
  • Austria
  • Germany
Useeggs
Classification
APAno
EEyes
PCGBsoft feather light
head of a cock with thick crest and a comb like two vertical conical horns
Head of a cock, showing the v-shaped comb
A Silver Spangled Appenzeller Spitzhauben trio: two cocks (at left) and a hen

The Appenzeller Spitzhauben is a Swiss breed of crested chicken originating in the historical Appenzell region of Switzerland. It is one of two chicken breeds from that area, the other being the Appenzeller Barthuhn; the only other Swiss breed of chicken is the Schweizer.

History

The origins of the Spitzhauben are unknown. It has been bred in the mountains of the Alpine region for hundreds of years. A similar breed, the Brabanter of the Low Countries, is shown in paintings of the seventeenth century; it has been suggested that the Spitzhauben may have originated at about that time.

In the twentieth century it was found only in the historical Appenzell region of Switzerland – the "half-cantons" of Appenzell Ausserrhoden and Appenzell Innerrhoden. Some birds were shown in 1935 at the national poultry show, but by about 1950 the Spitzhauben was close to extinction. A recovery project was launched in 1983 with the help of ProSpecieRara; 230 chicks were hatched in that year. A flock-book was started in 2005; in 2019 the recorded population consisted of 243 hens and 153 cocks.

Characteristics

The Spitzhauben is a light chicken: hens weigh little more than a kilogram, and cock birds barely over 1.5 kg. It is an active breed that doesn't do well in close confinement, can forage well, and will roost in trees if given the opportunity. In North America, it is very rare and is recognized officially by neither the American Poultry Association or other breed registries. The silver-spangled Spitzhauben is the most common variety.

The Spitzhauben variety, meaning "pointed bonnet", has a V-comb and feather crests in males and females. The word 'spitzhauben' derives from a ceremonial hat worn by the women in the Appenzeller region in Switzerland. The breed was imported into America by a doctor. Spitzhauben are recognised by the EE Standard commission in the following colours: silver-spangled, gold-spangled, lemon-spangled, chamois-spangled, pure black and pure blue.

Ring size is 16 mm for cocks and 15 mm for hens.

Use

Hens may lay some 150 white-shelled eggs in their first year, with an average weight of 55 g.

References

  1. (2003). Agricultural Genetic Resources in the Alps; Landwirtschaftliche Genressourcen der Alpen; Ressources génétiques agricoles des Alpes; Risorse genetiche agricole delle Alpi; Kmetijski genetski viri v Alpha. Zürich: Bristol-Stiftung; Bern, Stuttgart, Wien: Haupt. ISBN 3258066698. Archived 24 May 2022.
  2. Barbara Rischkowsky, Dafydd Pilling (editors) (2007). List of breeds documented in the Global Databank for Animal Genetic Resources, annex to The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Rome: Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ISBN 9789251057629. Archived 23 June 2020.
  3. Breed data sheet: Appenzeller Spitzhauben / Switzerland (Chicken). Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed January 2022.
  4. APA Recognized Breeds and Varieties: As of January 1, 2012. American Poultry Association. Archived 4 November 2017.
  5. Liste des races et variétés homologuée dans les pays EE (28.04.2013). Entente Européenne d’Aviculture et de Cuniculture. Archived 16 June 2013.
  6. Chickens: Soft Feather Light. Poultry Club of Great Britain. Archived 9 November 2018.
  7. ^ Appenzeller Spitzhauben (in German). Gesellschaft zur Erhaltung alter und gefährdeter Haustierrassen. Accessed January 2022.
  8. Norbert Niemeyer (2011). Hühner aus dem Appenzeller Land (in German). Geflügelzeitung 23/2011. Berlin: HK Verlagsgesellschaft.
  9. J. Ian H. Allonby, Philippe B. Wilson (editors) (2018). British Poultry Standards: complete specifications and judging points of all standardized breeds and varieties of poultry as compiled by the specialist breed clubs and recognised by the Poultry Club of Great Britain, seventh edition. Chichester; Hoboken, New Jersey: Wiley Blackwell. ISBN 9781119509141.
  10. ^ Tiergenetische Ressourcen der Schweizer Landwirtschaft (in German). Bern: Bundesamt für Landwirtschaft. Accessed February 2022.
  11. ^ Appenzeller Spitzhaubenhuhn (in German). ProSpecieRara Schweiz. Accessed January 2022.
  12. ^ Das Appenzeller Spitzhaubenhuhn (in German). Neukirch an der Thur: Züchterverein für ursprüngliches Nutzgeflügel. Archived 5 November 2016.
  13. Rassename: Appenzeller Spitzhauben. Entente Européenne d’Aviculture et de Cuniculture. Accessed February 2022.
  14. (2021). Ringgrössenverzeichnis/Liste des bagues (in German and French). Standard- und Fachkommission von Rassegeflügel Schweiz/Commission du standard et technique de Volailles de race Suisse. Accessed March 2022.
  15. Rassetafeln: Hühner (in German). Reichenbach, Haselbachtal: Bund Deutscher Rassegeflügelzüchter. Accessed February 2022.

Further reading

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