About Appenzeller Spitzhaubens Chickens

Appenzeller Spitzhaubens are the national chicken ofrnSwitzerland. They have a rugged physiology and personality suited to thernmountains from which they came. Although rangy and independent, they canrnprovide 150 medium, orange-yolked, eggs a year. Appenzeller Spitzhauben chickensrnsleep in the trees if allowed and will only return to the coop for feeding.rnThey thrive in cold weather.rnrn rnrn 

rnrnAppenzeller Spitzhauben chickens display entertainingrnpersonalities highlighted in their outrageous appearance and heightened byrntheir free-spirited lifestyle. They derive pleasure through their unrelentingrnpursuit of bugs. Long-time owners have nicknamed the breed “Spitz”--a namernwhich captures the spunk of this rangy chicken from the alps. New owners marvelrnat the cleanliness of the Appenzeller Spitzhauben. Their cleanliness may comernfrom the fact that they spend so little time around the coop or from their staturernas a smaller bird in the chicken world. Some interpret the AppenzellerrnSpitzhauben's independence as unfriendliness; but with early handling mostrnAppenzeller Spitzhaubens chickens will be friendly with humans.rnrn rnrn 

rnrnAppenzeller Spitzhauben plumage ranges from black, darkrnblue, gold, gold spangled, to silver spangled. Silvers have brilliant whiternfeathers tipped with black fringe like the snow and black rocks of the alpsrnfrom whence they come. Appenzeller Spitzhauben chickens come in two basicrnvarieties: the Spitzhauben (meaning “pointed hood”) and the Barthuhner (meaningrn“bearded hen”). The Spitzhauben has a feather crest that looks like a pointed women'srnhat, a “V” comb, small wattles, and slate blue legs. The other Appenzeller, thernBarthuhner, replaces the feather hat with a feather beard and rose comb.rnrn rnrn 

rnrnAppenzeller Spitzhauben Chickens are only a good choice ifrnyou have the land to support their foraging habits. They like to run and flyrnfree and need adequate room. They have little tolerance for confinement. rnrn rnrn 

rnrnThey are good egg layer, so they need extra calcium andrnprotein in their diet.