Sulmtaler

While I love their wheaten color and looks, the one batch I hatched was not what I was looking for in a backyard bird. Not the most nervous bird I've hatched, but they were not calm as their breed description states and did not care to be handled.(Eggs from Greenfire stock) The funniest part is they would eagerly run up to your hand to eat out of it, jump right in it, etc. Stick your hand in 60 seconds later and they would run screaming for the corner in terror. :-?

Con: they had bizarrely sharp nails. At 8 days old, scabs started showing up on a few. It took another day before I figured out they were slashing their own skins open. Their nails were literally like raptor talons in shape and length and had to be clipped at 8 days old (ideally it should have been on day 6)! This is the tenth breed I’ve had as chicks and the first time I’ve ever had to clip chick nails.

If you have space and want a free-ranger, I think these could be a nice bird. Not ideal as a city chicken.

This is a very sweet and gentle breed. The hens lay a nice sized egg. The roosters live in a mixed flock with other roosters without any issues. I would definitely add this to my flock if I had to choose all over again!

Sulmtaler are very large - similar in size to a Faverolle.

They are quiet vocally however they are a workhorse of a breed. Extremely active and always on the move - penned or not. Males get along with each other well. They are non-agressive/gentle and prefer to flock together. Mine keep their distance however, I have heard others enjoy being handled. My own theory is that they are thin/tender skinned and don't like to be pecked. Rarely are there any squabbles. Pecking order is set and that's that with Sulmtaler. They do best as free range birds preferring to find their own food but can do well penned if it's a large enough area to allow for plenty of movement. I would consider them on the quiet/gentle but "flighty" side.

Out of 5 hens, I get 3-4 eggs everyday - still up to today (January) but I live in a desert and it has been ~75 degrees here with plenty of sunshine. Eggs are a lovely size and shape. Excellent breast/muscle development with large thighs etc. Meat is extremely tender, juicy and can be baked in the oven.

2 studies I have found indicated:
-Testing was implemented in 1912 on the Altsteirern strain with the result of an average of 191 eggs per hen in 12 months.

Sulmtaler are unique and an Austrian wine country favorite.

I really like these birds. My birds are over a year old now, and I have been very happy with them so far. Neither of my hens have ever gone broody which is good because I sure do not need any more broodies. They also do not sing the "I just laid and egg song" which is nice. I am not sure if "quiet" is common for this breed but that has been my experience. I have hatched lots of chicks and they are always super strong and healthy. People who visit the ranch often comment that they are "cute" instead of beautiful. I think they are both.

I have been very impressed with this breed. They hatch out quickly and very strong. I could sex my chicks at two weeks, the male gets a black band color in the wings. They are very beautiful also, I like the crest. Here in the USA we are seeing wheaten, blue wheaten and splash colors. I have had no problems with them being flighty or skittish.