BackYard Chickens › BYC Forum › Chicken Breeds › Breeds, Genetics, & Showing › Best crested breed hen for cold and free range. Appenzeller the winner?
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Best crested breed hen for cold and free range. Appenzeller the winner?

post #1 of 12
2/13/12 at 11:05am
Thread Starter 
I've done a tiny bit of research into Polish, Houdans, and Appenzeller Spitzhauben breeds. I'm new to chickens, and my mother-in-law wants a crested bird. She orgininally wanted a Polish hen, but I have read several places that Polish aren't the greatest choice in areas where they need to watch the sky for predators.

I live where the winters are cold, with an unheated coop. I have a 10 x 30 enclosed run but we are expanding it in the spring. At noon every day (usually) I let the girls out to roam in the yard, which is in the middle of 300 undeveloped acres and mostly wooded with the 8 acres of yard being open. We have hawks, eagles, owls, etc. I would hate to order a chick, raise it up, to set it up for failure. Are polish that ditzy/can't see well? Are the Appenzellers super flighty or aggreessive? If they are real charcters, would just one be a loner with the rest of the flock or would she fit in? Would she even stay in the coop, or roost next to the barred owls up in the tall pines? wink.png

Can you tell I'm willing to do a lot to keep the mother-in-law happy? tongue.png
Off the grid since 1998. Wife to a wonderful DH of 10 years, Mommy to a fantastic 7 year old little boy and 22 chickens. Partridge Rocks, Dominiques, Rose Comb Brown Leghorns, Easter Eggers, 1 Welsummer, 1 Barnevelder, 2 Red Stars, 1Black Copper Marans, and a few mixed breeds.
Another blog I follow- Natural chicken keeping blog: http://naturalchickenkeeping.blogspot.com/?m=0
Reply
Off the grid since 1998. Wife to a wonderful DH of 10 years, Mommy to a fantastic 7 year old little boy and 22 chickens. Partridge Rocks, Dominiques, Rose Comb Brown Leghorns, Easter Eggers, 1 Welsummer, 1 Barnevelder, 2 Red Stars, 1Black Copper Marans, and a few mixed breeds.
Another blog I follow- Natural chicken keeping blog: http://naturalchickenkeeping.blogspot.com/?m=0
Reply

Featured Stories on BackYard Chickens

Why Join BackYard Chickens?
Have you ever wondered how a hen can lay an egg every day?
The Basics Of Raising Chickens - Raising Chickens 101
post #2 of 12
2/13/12 at 11:18am

I don't know about Spitzhaubens but I'd assume they would be a good choice, I just know that I've free ranged/pastured my Polish here with a not-the-greatest coop for years, and never lost anyone to a hawk, eagle, etc. I trim back the front of their crests just in case, but, so far no problems. It also highly depends on the quality of stock you're getting too when it comes to Polish and Houdans alike. With that varying, so will crest size, shape, and density. Otherwise mine have survived some pretty cold winters, have even survived being lost in the forest for over a week, and endure endless rainstorms every year (or, nearly every day roll.png ) They're great foragers too, among the top three of all the breeds I have experience with.

 

But if you really do worry of hawks, and don't want to "butcher" some crests if need be (I mainly do mine because it rains so much) then I would indeed suggest Spitz over Polish or Houdans.

Araucanas, Polish, Shamos

Reply

Araucanas, Polish, Shamos

Reply
post #3 of 12
2/13/12 at 11:35am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Illia View Post

I don't know about Spitzhaubens but I'd assume they would be a good choice, I just know that I've free ranged/pastured my Polish here with a not-the-greatest coop for years, and never lost anyone to a hawk, eagle, etc. I trim back the front of their crests just in case, but, so far no problems. It also highly depends on the quality of stock you're getting too when it comes to Polish and Houdans alike. With that varying, so will crest size, shape, and density. Otherwise mine have survived some pretty cold winters, have even survived being lost in the forest for over a week, and endure endless rainstorms every year (or, nearly every day roll.png ) They're great foragers too, among the top three of all the breeds I have experience with.

But if you really do worry of hawks, and don't want to "butcher" some crests if need be (I mainly do mine because it rains so much) then I would indeed suggest Spitz over Polish or Houdans.

Thanks! I had been wondering if I could just trim the crests, I'm not opposed to doing that at all. What about dispositions of those breeds? I love the photo you've used for your avatar. I think you've answered a lot of questions for me in a few of my threads, thank you. smile.png
Edited by off-grid hen - 2/13/12 at 11:41am
Off the grid since 1998. Wife to a wonderful DH of 10 years, Mommy to a fantastic 7 year old little boy and 22 chickens. Partridge Rocks, Dominiques, Rose Comb Brown Leghorns, Easter Eggers, 1 Welsummer, 1 Barnevelder, 2 Red Stars, 1Black Copper Marans, and a few mixed breeds.
Another blog I follow- Natural chicken keeping blog: http://naturalchickenkeeping.blogspot.com/?m=0
Reply
Off the grid since 1998. Wife to a wonderful DH of 10 years, Mommy to a fantastic 7 year old little boy and 22 chickens. Partridge Rocks, Dominiques, Rose Comb Brown Leghorns, Easter Eggers, 1 Welsummer, 1 Barnevelder, 2 Red Stars, 1Black Copper Marans, and a few mixed breeds.
Another blog I follow- Natural chicken keeping blog: http://naturalchickenkeeping.blogspot.com/?m=0
Reply
post #4 of 12
2/14/12 at 7:45am

Spitz would be good for your specifications. You may also want to look into brabanters. They also have smaller crests, and I haven't had any trouble with mine this winter. They also free range well.

Reply
Reply
post #5 of 12
2/25/12 at 1:35pm

I love my Spitz. Coming from Switzerland, they should be cold hardy. I have had no problems with Brabanters and cold, but it doesn't get that cold here. I have a friend who found them not hardy in below zero temperatures.

Brabanters and Appenzeller Spitzhaubens. My BYC page http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/hallerlakes-member-page

Reply

Brabanters and Appenzeller Spitzhaubens. My BYC page http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/hallerlakes-member-page

Reply
post #6 of 12
2/25/12 at 2:53pm

Crested Swedish flower hens might be on your list to consider.

 

DSC_0326 - Copy.JPG

The avatar is an ayam cemani chick hatched on our farm.

Reply

The avatar is an ayam cemani chick hatched on our farm.

Reply
post #7 of 12
2/25/12 at 4:48pm

Like others have said crested swedish flower hens and brabanters would be good choices. Another cool breed would be pavlovskaya hen from greenfire farms. It hasn't been released for sale yet but it looks like it would be excellent for a crested winter hardy breed, and they also have feathered feet.

http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/CGP/Pavlov/BRKPavlov.html

http://www.fermer.ru/forum/ptitsevodstvo/13101?page=48

Reply
Reply
post #8 of 12
2/25/12 at 4:55pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by stoneunhenged View Post

Crested Swedish flower hens might be on your list to consider.

DSC_0326 - Copy.JPG


Pretty bird!
Off the grid since 1998. Wife to a wonderful DH of 10 years, Mommy to a fantastic 7 year old little boy and 22 chickens. Partridge Rocks, Dominiques, Rose Comb Brown Leghorns, Easter Eggers, 1 Welsummer, 1 Barnevelder, 2 Red Stars, 1Black Copper Marans, and a few mixed breeds.
Another blog I follow- Natural chicken keeping blog: http://naturalchickenkeeping.blogspot.com/?m=0
Reply
Off the grid since 1998. Wife to a wonderful DH of 10 years, Mommy to a fantastic 7 year old little boy and 22 chickens. Partridge Rocks, Dominiques, Rose Comb Brown Leghorns, Easter Eggers, 1 Welsummer, 1 Barnevelder, 2 Red Stars, 1Black Copper Marans, and a few mixed breeds.
Another blog I follow- Natural chicken keeping blog: http://naturalchickenkeeping.blogspot.com/?m=0
Reply
post #9 of 12
2/25/12 at 4:59pm
Thread Starter 
Well, thanks to everyone for your input. I would love to give this breed a try, but of course, every hatchery on the net big and small seems to sold out of this breed for the season. I just want 2 hens/ chicks near April 9th to be close in age to the chicks I have coming. Maybe hatching eggs... I had a feeling I was ordering late... sad.png
Off the grid since 1998. Wife to a wonderful DH of 10 years, Mommy to a fantastic 7 year old little boy and 22 chickens. Partridge Rocks, Dominiques, Rose Comb Brown Leghorns, Easter Eggers, 1 Welsummer, 1 Barnevelder, 2 Red Stars, 1Black Copper Marans, and a few mixed breeds.
Another blog I follow- Natural chicken keeping blog: http://naturalchickenkeeping.blogspot.com/?m=0
Reply
Off the grid since 1998. Wife to a wonderful DH of 10 years, Mommy to a fantastic 7 year old little boy and 22 chickens. Partridge Rocks, Dominiques, Rose Comb Brown Leghorns, Easter Eggers, 1 Welsummer, 1 Barnevelder, 2 Red Stars, 1Black Copper Marans, and a few mixed breeds.
Another blog I follow- Natural chicken keeping blog: http://naturalchickenkeeping.blogspot.com/?m=0
Reply
post #10 of 12
2/26/12 at 11:06am

I love my Spitzhaubens and they are very cold hardy birds! There are times that it was below zero and they did well in it. If you are worried about frozen wattles, get the Brabanters!

President of the Welsummer Club of North America & BYC Member since 4/11/2002 and Appenzeller Spitzhaubens

Reply

President of the Welsummer Club of North America & BYC Member since 4/11/2002 and Appenzeller Spitzhaubens

Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Breeds, Genetics, & Showing

Featured Stories on BackYard Chickens

Why Join BackYard Chickens?
Have you ever wondered how a hen can lay an egg every day?
The Basics Of Raising Chickens - Raising Chickens 101
BackYard Chickens › BYC Forum › Chicken Breeds › Breeds, Genetics, & Showing › Best crested breed hen for cold and free range. Appenzeller the winner?