Spitzhaubens

[The-White-Elephant]

So glad to see all the above recent posts and pics!
I let my flock out yesterday into this back area of the run that had been closed off all winter to regrow. There was absolutely nothing at all growing by last fall, but now it’s full of chickweed and henbit. They can’t stay out there everyday or it will be denuded again.
View attachment 3066431
I have 2 Spitz roosters now. The solo chick that hatched last May seems to get along with his dad, and with us humans, so he gets to stay.
This is Beldar, who must be 3 yrs old now. His father was aggressive to humans but he is a gentleman, as seems to be the son so far. I can move amongst the flock without worry about them.
View attachment 3066429
I have 3 Spitz hens, this is Nadine, age 2. They all have a lot of black.
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I got the first Spitzhaubens at Cackle. I am not hatching out any chicks this year. Bird flu is in our area and the swaps are closed. I don’t want any more roosters, and we have 10 hens all together, which lay more eggs than we can eat.
I really love my ‘Spright’ hens, a cross between Spitz and Sebright. I have 5 of them and they all look so much alike that I put leg bands of them. They are almost as big as the Spitzhaubens and they lay a lot of eggs, which are smaller than the huge Spitz eggs. 2 of the Sprights go broody a lot like their Sebright mom, the other 3 are like the Spitzes and do not. They are really sociable and smart. I didn’t keep any of the boys.
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They’re so pretty!

Still looking for a hen

 

[The-White-Elephant]

(Sorry for the bad picture!)

I hatched out some chicks, these 2 are Spitzhauben X White Jersey Giant. They have little crests so far

 

[The-White-Elephant]

(Sorry for the bad picture!)

I hatched out some chicks, these 2 are Spitzhauben X White Jersey Giant. They have little crests so far View attachment 3066527

A better picture of the crests

 

[Alaskan]

Well... starting a set of eggs when I did was silly. So little daylight still, the cocks were still producing too little sperm.

Anyway, out of 5 Spitz eggs, only 2 were fertile. Both of those hatched.

The poor bantam Ameraucanas don't get as much light as the Spitz... out of the 21 eggs I set from the bantams, only 1 was fertile... and I think it rotted, but not sure..... blue eggs are super hard to see into. I am leaving it in the incubator an extra day since I don't smell anything.

But.... here are the 2 hatched Spitz.

The light one will be Chamois, the dark will be gold spangled.

 

[MeanCheek]

Well... starting a set of eggs when I did was silly. So little daylight still, the cocks were still producing too little sperm.

Anyway, out of 5 Spitz eggs, only 2 were fertile. Both of those hatched.

The poor bantam Ameraucanas don't get as much light as the Spitz... out of the 21 eggs I set from the bantams, only 1 was fertile... and I think it rotted, but not sure..... blue eggs are super hard to see into. I am leaving it in the incubator an extra day since I don't smell anything.

But.... here are the 2 hatched Spitz.

View attachment 3067315

The light one will be Chamois, the dark will be gold spangled.

So cute. Chamois is my next variety

 

[Faraday40]

Most people dye eggs for Easter. We dye chicks. LOL
DS picked his favs and wants to be able to tell them apart.

 

[MeanCheek]

Somewhere on BYC, I read that chicks from a gold Spangled roo over a silver Spangled hen are sex linked. Correct?

 

[The-White-Elephant]

Somewhere on BYC, I read that chicks from a gold Spangled roo over a silver Spangled hen are sex linked. Correct?

Never heard of that before, interesting

 

[MeanCheek]

Never heard of that before, interesting

Very interesting. What genetics would those chicks then have?

 

[The-White-Elephant]

Very interesting. What genetics would those chicks then have?

I... Have no idea... Maybe ask the experts? I know barely anything on genetics , but I would love to learn