Appenzeller Spitzhauben

[Faraday40]

Those genetics remind me of my college days when fun & frustration were both parts of any science course.

I'm just happy to have been able to rehome my males. (In Feb, I traded some hatching eggs & got some silver Spitz eggs.) I hatched 6 chicks & 2 were males. NO ONE wants roosters (and often are illegal) here in the suburbs. I tried to give them away, but no takers. A sister of a friend has a farm in MI - and offered to give them a home. With the long weekend, my friend was driving back home and agreed to deliver them. So I packed up my 2 babies for a 5+ hour drive. This morning after I finished setting up their travel crate, one let out his 1st crow. It sounded like a hic-up! When my friend arrived, he crowed a few more times. I can just imagine her driving on the expressway all day while being serenaded by a hic-up-ing cockerel.

These Spitzes are in my mini video. I must admit I have many stories about these little guys. I'm going to miss them.

Here are some pics (most recent is 1st)














If you want a laugh, here's the video.

 

[PhoredaBurds]

Congrats on moving your cockerels! I wish I could keep all the chicks that hatched here too, but I just can't. It's so easy to get attached and so quickly. Great that you still have 4 pullets!!!

 

[Faraday40]

I'm down to my 2 fav females. Having a hard time picking which one to keep.
This one came inside for a little photoshoot. I like her tight crest better & think she's pretty. The other one has less black on her body, a bigger crest (doesn't fall over, just taller & wider), and a goofy personality.

 

[GregClark38]

Anyone on here sell Silver Spangled Appenzeller Spitzhauben hatching eggs? Thanks.

 

[drumstick diva]

Faraday - oh keep both pullets - they are beautiful.

 

[cpchicks]

Anyone on here sell Silver Spangled Appenzeller Spitzhauben hatching eggs? Thanks.

I have eggs but weather is a concern shipping a long distance. How many are you interested in?

 

[Faraday40]

Well below are a few pics of my pullet with the larger crest & more white.
Both are 13+ weeks old.

 

[GoldApps]

How long to coop train spitzhauben? My barred only needed 2 days but I've already lost 2 because they were too fast for me too catch and ran away from the brooder into the forest

I've got 3 left and they've been in the coop 4 days

How do I know they'll come home at night

Also I can't sex them yet, I'm worried they're all the same gender

 

[Faraday40]

How long to coop train spitzhauben? My barred only needed 2 days but I've already lost 2 because they were too fast for me too catch and ran away from the brooder into the forest

I've got 3 left and they've been in the coop 4 days

How do I know they'll come home at night

Also I can't sex them yet, I'm worried they're all the same gender

We trained ours slowly.
1. During the day we let the 2-3 wk old chicks have grass time inside a tractor & carried them back into the coop at night.
2. When they reached about 4 or 5 weeks, we carried some chicks & made some walk. (One person walked about 10 ft behind using a broom to encourage the walkers to keep up with me.) In less than a week, the chicks learned to run straight from one place to the other. When all were inside, the door was closed & some bread was thrown down as a reward. This is the hardest step, but all you need is a few smart ones to catch on & the rest follow.
3. By the time they were 6 weeks, we just opened the door at one end & closed the door at the other. They always ran ahead and didn't need treats.
4. At 12 weeks, I started keeping the coop & tractor doors open. The chicks can let themselves in & out for food/water, but can also free range and explore.

 

[GoldApps]

Thank you. What age should I be able to tell the gender?