How much space do I require for a Appenzeller Spitzhauben?

[Kearaaaa23]

Hey, just wondering how much space I'll need for one Appenzeller Spitzhauben cockerel? He is around 4 months old and will be with 4 pullets and other cockerel. They all get an hour of free ranging everyday and get let out early every morning too. I have 175 sq feet in my backyard and set up a few roosts and digging areas but majority is concrete. Will this be okay for my Appenzeller cockerel?

 

[SueT]

2 cockerels with 4 pullets sounds like trouble. I have Spitzhaubens and they are no different than my other breeds in space requirements. They are slightly smaller, but not enough to make a difference regarding space. It is often very difficult to deal with 2 cockerels. (Of any breeds). I think that will be your challenge. You may have to decide between them.

 

[SueT]

Yes we have a 22sq ft coop with a couple roosts but we don't have a run their usually just let out in the backyard which is heavily fenced and taken out to free range at 6-7pm.I heard that Appenzeller chickens are very active and require 230sq ft to move around in so I'm a bit worried..

I’ve had Appenzellers for several years now and they are not much different from any of the other 10 breeds I’ve had. They are, if anything, a bit calmer and more mellow than any of the others.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

It may or may not be. It just depends on how the two males get along. Some are much more willing to share hens than others, but with only 4 hens total (because roosters do not count out hens to keep things even between them), odds are there is not enough space or hens for two cockerels. Especially if they are all the same age. Males mature far faster than females, and without mature hens to whoop their misbehaving butts, they'll likely terrorize the pulleys until they mature at the least

 

[nuthatched]

Yes we have a 22sq ft coop with a couple roosts but we don't have a run their usually just let out in the backyard which is heavily fenced and taken out to free range at 6-7pm.I heard that Appenzeller chickens are very active and require 230sq ft to move around in so I'm a bit worried..

Space shouldn't be an issue but you don't have enough females for two, or even 1 boy.

 

[Kiki]

You'll need waaayyy more space than you have for two roosters no matter what breed they are.

 

[SueT]

Yes, they can breed bantams. I have one bantam, a Sebright, and she has raised several batches of half Spitzhauben chicks.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I'm wondering, will they be able to breed Pekin Bantam pullets?

yes

I'm quite new to owning chickens and with the cockerel problem hopefully they get along and share as the age difference between them is quite significant.

it gets much less significant when the 2nd is getting his hormones

. if not then I'll have to rehome one... hopefully the 1hr of freeranging,seperating them at night and getting 2 gingernut pullets in the future solve the problem?

Unlikely. My multi male flocks all either are very, very docile breeds (silkies, with 3 brain cells between the two), were literally hatch mates, or have free range all day, every day with far more space than you have avaliable

The flocks that do not free range all have hens older than the male's that taught them to behave and have more than 6 hens in the pen

 

[nuthatched]

Do you have a coop at all?
Generally, you want four square feet per bird in the coop and 8 in the run.

 

[Kearaaaa23]

Yes, they can breed bantams. I have one bantam, a Sebright, and she has raised several batches of half Spitzhauben chicks.

okay I'll see how the cockerels go. Praying for the best with them as I don't want to give away either also do you have any pics of the half Spitzhauben chicks? Curious to know how they look incase I have to rehome one of the cockerels..