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Appenzeller Spitzhauben

The Appenzellar Spitzhauben originated in Switzerland. Large fowl are found but bantams were not...
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General Information

Breed Purpose
Ornamental
Comb
V-Shaped
Broodiness
Seldom
Climate Tolerance
All Climates
Egg Productivity
Medium
Egg Size
Medium
Egg Color
White
Breed Temperament
Friendly, Do not bear confinement well
Breed Colors/Varieties
Silver Spangled/Silver Crescent, Golden Spangled and Blacks are found in the UK and USA. Light/soft feathered.
Breed Size
Large Fowl
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With their characteristic forward sweeping crest, the Appenzeller Spitzhauben is an unusual looking bird. The breed originated in the Appenzell canton of northeast Switzerland and seem to date as far back as the 16th century, where similar birds are described as being developed in the local monasteries. Switzerland considers the Appenzeller Spitzhauben to be the national chicken of their country and the breed takes their name from the ceremonial hats worn by woman of the region, called Spitzhauben (pointed hood) which are reminiscent of the breeds large forward sweeping crest.

The breed fell into disfavor after WWII and was at the brink of extinction when a German breeder, Kurt Fischer, imported all three of the original colors (black, golden spangled and silver spangled) into Germany in 1953, he is credited with saving the breed. The silver spangled version was also imported in to the US in the 1950’s, and it is the primary color found in the US today. The breed is not currently recognized by the APA, but is in the UK.

Besides the characteristic crest, Appenzeller Spitzhauben have "V" combs, blue legs, and white skin. They are rather small birds, are very active and alert,and are good flyers and foragers. They do not take well to close confinement. They are cold hardy, and though they are primarily an ornamental breed today, the hens are good layers of medium-large sized eggs and are non-setters.

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Appenzeller Spitzhauben egg

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Appenzeller Spitzhauben chicks

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Appenzeller Spitzhauben juvenile

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Appenzeller Spitzhauben hen

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Appenzeller Spitzhauben rooster

For more information on this breed and their owners' and breeders' experiences with them, see our breed discussion here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/chicken-breed-focus-appenzeller-spitzhauben.1013428/
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Latest reviews

The Welch Chickens
Pros: Adorable with hilarious antics! One of my favorite breeds in the flock.
Cons: They are supposed to be good winter layers, but ours really isn’t.
I love this breed! I have one silver spangled hen. She is funny and cute. She’s super popular with visitors (“Look at the white one with the funny hat!”) :D
They are supposed to be good layers in the winter (better than other breeds, at least), but she slowed down just like the rest of the flock. Yes, her egg song is a bit loud, but not horrible.

Overall, I would totally recommend this breed!
Note: I only have one hen! My review may not apply to all chickens of this breed.
Purchase Date
April 2023

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Eggstaticmom
Pros: Very good egg layers- cold hardy- heat tolerant-
Cons: Very loud, attention seeking
I have three hens- producing average 2-3 eggs a day- they insist on access to the entire yard which can be troublesome when you have dogs. They want you digging up worms for them 24/7 - hardly let you work in the yard because they want to be in the middle or not everything-again very loud one in particular- I live in a neighborhood so I thankfully no complaints yet-
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Purchase Date
May 2022
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MeanCheek
Pros: Cold hardy, ornimental, small, great egg layers, and great foragers.
Cons: Loud strange call. Hard to find decent quality birds.
Spitzhaubens are one of my favorite breeds. I wish I could find better quality birds. Mine roam up the hill into the woods, foraging diligently- instead of going to my neighbor's chicken coop to eat their feed, which they appreciate. The pullets lay well, but their eggs are small. The cockerels are gentle on hens, and not aggressive with me. I plan on getting many more.
Purchase Price
About $5 from Cackle Hatchery
Purchase Date
Spring of 2021
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Comments

joydix
I have had several and they are so quirky and inquisitive....always the first to try anything...which includes flying to the top of fences and up on the roof! they are showstoppers for sure . one of my favorites
 
Hogs and Horns
There are two cantons (similar to states) in Switzerland with the word Appenzell in their names: Appenzell Ausserrhoden and Appenzell Innerrhoden. They are located in the large eastern region of Switzerland that speaks Swiss-German rather than the smaller regions that speak French, Italian, or Romansh. That is why the name is Swiss-German, which is a form of German. According to the Appenzeller Spitzhauben Club of America, the breed originated in those Swiss cantons, found in the north-east part of tiny Switzerland. Sorry, Spitzboyz, but Sweden has nothing to do with them. It's a very common mistake people make between Switzerland and Sweden. Sweden is in the northern part of Europe, in what we call Scandinavia, located between Norway and Finland. Switzerland is smaller and farther south, landlocked between France, Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein, and Italy. We actually are Swiss citizens, from Switzerland, and hear it all the time: "Wow, you're Swiss but you're not blond and blue-eyed...aren't people from Sweden supposed to look like that?", etc. :)
 
Priscilla Feathers
Are your Spitzhaubens friendly? I'd like to try Spitzhaubens since I've heard from several sources that they do well in Arizona heat, but I really like my chickens to be cuddlers as well.

I've had good luck with Australorps for both heat tolerance and friendly behavior. They are lovely, quiet, cuddly birds, but having a whole flock of Australorps is a bit boring.

Were your Minorca chickens cuddly or at least friendly? I've thought about trying a buff minorca. I love my cuddly buff orpington hen, and I love her color. She's so pretty out in the yard. But I have to bring her indoors when the heat gets over 100, she just suffers too much when she's left outside.
 
dtimoth
My Spitzhaubens are not particularly friendly. They're a bit like the Mediterranean breeds in that they are flighty and somewhat nervous but good layers. I doubt any Spitzhaubens would be good cuddlers, although you could try to start cuddling when they are chicks and see how it goes. Yes, the Australorps are very sweet. They mellow out a lot as they grow older, which the Mediterranean breeds and Spitzhaubens tend not to do. Speaking of boring, someone mentioned that the Spitzhauben ladies are very talkative. That's true. They are always spreading gossip and making music with their talkativeness.

The Minorcas are not cuddly or friendly. They are nervous acting no matter how old they get, but they are great layers. Again, you could try a Buff Minorca, starting with a chick, but I don't think she'll ever be a lap chicken the way Orpingtons or Australorps can be. Another very sweet breed I've had in the past was the Speckled Sussex. That gal would fly onto my shoulder and perch while I did the feedings, and she always enjoyed being petted.

In summary, the Spitzhaubens are not cuddly at all, but they are stunning to look at and soothing to listen to. They are good layers and although they're from Switzerland, they tend to do well in the Phoenix heat. We've had a 'relatively mild' summer this year, but even in last year's 115+ days, they did okay with water and shade. I've never lost a Spitzhauben to heat stroke like I have Rhode Island Reds, Australorps, Minorcas and Orpingtons. My suggestion would be to get a couple of Spitzhauben chicks and try to cuddle them as much as possible, and see how they turn out. Good luck.
 
Priscilla Feathers
Thank you so much for the information. I like talkative birds too, so maybe I could handle one chicken that isn't quite so cuddly. I wish I could find cuddly and heat tolerant in the same breed. It seems like most of the heat tolerant ones are flighty though.
 
Chicken Egg 17
They are very pretty birds do u know at least how many eggs they lay a year or how often they lay an egg
 
duluthralphie
I have some and so far I have to say, I like them, they have not started laying yet. They are a cute crested bird that is not nutso like a polish is.
 
DuckingLost
I wonder if anyone can give me some info on caring for the nose/nostrils on my pullet...it looked a little more crusted than normal. A warm wet qtip released a lit of brownish gunk. Should I keep doing? She did not like it!
 
MoparGirl89
This is my first year with spitzhauben. So far my pullet is as sweet as can be. She has no care if my kids (9&6) handle her. My little roo had some weird feather issues that seem to have corrected themselves. Out of my 10 chicks the spitzhaubens and my cochins are super friendly. My silkies not so much....
Here is a recent picture of my pullet and one of both of them from 3 weeks ago they are now 6 weeks old.
 

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DuckingLost
Spitzenhauben rooster attacked my 3 year old. Also put a puncture hole in his back. Very close to his spine. We won't have anymore. He was a very large rooster.
 

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Stu74 said:
Hi. I am new to backyard chickens. Where did you get your Appenzeller Spitzhauben from. I am in Western Australia and are interested in breeding the Appenzeller.
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I purchased mine from ONLINE Tractor Supply. I purchased the crested assortment I have polish in that mix
 
SJensen
Just now looking into this breed more -- I have a Spitzhauben -- probably a crossbreed -- going on 12 years old this year! Purchased when she was a day old at an auction in the Fraser Valley, BC in a box of "mixed chicks". Wonderful girl -- laid so many eggs over the years -- still get some in the spring and summer. Goes broody every year and raised several little flocks of chicks. Very smart and friendly -- can be noisy when she wants out into the yard to forage.
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L
Mitzi, my chamois Spitzhauben pullet was the first of a group of assorted chicks hatched in June that started to lay. She’s the smallest chicken in the flock and extremely friendly and inquisitive. She is madly in love with Steve. She is also the very favorite hen of my humongous Bruge fighter rooster. It’s hilarious how extremely gentle he is with her. I was worried about her at first because he is so big, but he has never been rough with her.
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Item information

Category
Chicken Breeds
Added by
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Views
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Watchers
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Comments
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Reviews
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Last update
Rating
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