Brabanters and Spitzhaubens--The Differences PIC HEAVY!

[allen wranch]

This was probably the worst quality Spitzhauben on here(was sold to a friend as a Spitz but I'm leaning more toward Polish or mix), but he was such a sweetheart

He looks like a poor quality silver laced bearded Polish.​

 

[cthrash1]

Well that explains it then... I knew the pattern wasn't quite right and the topknot was huge.

 

[allen wranch]

OK, here are some of my Spitz. I have 2 pens of 5 hens each, and one pen with a rooster and four hens. I have been working with the breed for about six years and don't have to cull as heavily as at first. I primarily concentrated on the crest and comb. I will be working on color next.

These are the 10 older hens. They are 5 - 6 years old. I lost the two roosters that were with them.

This girl has a larger crest than I like, but she was so pretty, I kept her anyway.

This hen had beautiful even spangles all over, but as she gets older, she is losing them on her body.

This is my rooster and three of the four hens hatched with him. Two of the girls will not be bred (I cannot even give them away) because of terribly deformed toes. Notice the little gold tail in the bottom left corner. This is the other Brabanter pullet I kept.

One other thing that is showing up both in my Brabanters and Spitzhaubens is spurs on the hens. This is a result of a limited gene pool and is hard to breed out.

 

[redhen]

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Me too! I just cant get ANY to hatch! Grrr! I've tried twice now..

 

[LeBlackbird]

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Err... Mine's from Ideal too...

He came with my crested assortment

 

[amazondoc]

I ordered 5 cockerels from Ideal this past spring. I only thought one of them was worth breeding -- and of course that one died this summer! I think I'll probably order 5 more this coming spring, and see if I get anything worthwhile. We Shall See!

 

[allen wranch]

How is your roo's temperment?

The Brabanter roo is non-aggressive.

All of the Spitz roos I have had are/were non-aggressive EXCEPT if I messed with one of their girls. If I picked one up or was trying to catch a hen and they squawked, the Spitz roo was at me on a dime. As soon as I put his girl down, he was back to normal as if nothing had happened. However, my hens are very protective mothers and if I approach one when she is broody, I better have thick gloves on.​

 

[EweSheep]

You can not blame the momma gettting all riled up!

Mine never was broody.

As for your almost white Spitz hen, I can see how her feathers are fading. Sometimes I wonder my hen's spangles are getting smaller.

 

[becky3086]

Interesting. I would definitely be interested in a crested breed that went broody. I am really pleased to be getting all this information now. I think I will be looking onto getting some from Ideal in the spring as well.

 

[EweSheep]

In most cases, they are not known for being broody but it can happen!