Spitzhaubens

[SueT]

no

One of my chicken friends said that Spitzhaubens are super hard to breed (naturally) has anyone had fertility problems with theirs?

No problem with fertility here, all Spitz eggs have been fertile w good hatch rates, as well as the half Spitz cross eggs. I now have 14 youngsters and am wondering, what was I thinking....
3 Spitzes w a couple half spitz siblings:

Here are some of the half Spitz 'Sprights:'

The feather pattern on this cross between a silver laced hen and the silver spangled Spitz rooster, has both spangles and lacing! My DH calls it 'spanglaced'

 

[Faraday40]

@SueT
Between to the Spitzes, Sebrights, and Sprites all I see is a vast sea of black & white chickens. It reminds me of a zebra herd trying to conceal their numbers. LOL No problems with chicken fertility at your place!

 

[homeschoolin momma]

One of Spitzers babies hatched last night and the others look internally pipped!

And here is mama with her brood of 5

She has already taught them how to get on the perch and under her wings! They are a little over 2 weeks I think.

Unfortunately my other spitzie "fan head" lost her first hatchling. It looks like mama chased her off when she heard cheeping and killed her baby. Fan head and the rest of her clutch are in the garage next to Spitzer and hers.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Are they good brooders? I have one that stayed and cared for a bunch of chicks that were a few weeks younger than her ib the brooder, but I'd love to have a bird that hopefully gets brooder somewhat often and stayed on the nest

 

[homeschoolin momma]

If they go broody - they are a non broody breed - they are very committed. Lots of banshee screaming and growling. My hens this year have also been peckers if I mess with them. The pullet (almost hen) isn't a pecker.

They are fiercely loyal and good mothers too. At least mine have been.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Rats. Let's hope I get lucky then and they want to brood.

 

[Faraday40]

My Spitzie is over 3 years and never even thought about it. (Way I like it!) However, I have Sebright who likes to go broody. (Another "nonbroody breed")

My silkies and bantam orpington are my broody queens. I also have seramas that love to have babies. The little bantams don't care if their babies are bantams or large fowl.

@homeschoolin momma
Glad you have some built-in brooders caring for your chicks. It certainly helps lighten the workload. Have you ever thought about giving them your orp eggs/chicks?

 

[SueT]

However, I have Sebright who likes to go broody. (Another "nonbroody breed")

Me too, my Sebright goes broody every month during warm weather. This is the second year I let her hatch chicks. She has no problem w the larger Spitzhauben eggs, tho I suppose a larger hen could cover more...
I wonder if her cross breed Sprights will tend to be broody or not.

 

[Alaskan]

None of the Spitz I have owned have ever even thought of going broody, not even slightly. They sit on a nest only long enough to lay an egg.

I used to have other colors, but now only have Chamois.

 

[homeschoolin momma]

How'd I get so lucky having three this year?