Spitzhaubens

[SueT]

i have done a bit of reading about them and see they dislike confinement and are cold hardy, both fine traits for my flock. i’m a little concerned about the flying thing, as we keep our chickens within our 1 acre of fenced property. my two chicks are definitely characters - more active than the other four, and they like to flap around their chick tractor outside and bump chests (hopefully not because they’re boys!).

All my girls of various breeds did the chest bump thing as chicks.
My Spitzhaubens are now 8+ weeks. I love them and their unique personalities. 3 are cockerels tho. I will probably try to find a home for one. There's a poultry swap next month.
I haven't yet integrated them with the big hens but they have all been able to see each other thru the fence for 3 weeks now, I guess it's about time. I've let two of the bantam hens in, who are now smaller than the spitzes and that was fine. All the other 7 hens are big and mean. My run is 1000+ sq. ft. with lots of obstacles, several feeding stations, etc. I guess I'm waiting for the Spitzes to indicate their small coop/ run area is too small.

 

[Faraday40]

Mine free range but always stay within the yard - only a 4' chain link fence. Their flock mates are mostly orps - who stay put - so my flying girls stay inside the fence with their friends. Sometimes they'll hang out in the trees or briefly hop the fence (If the neighbor calls with treats in hand). They always sleep inside the coop/run, so I don't worry. I never tried trimming wings b/c I'd rather they be capable of flight to escape possible predators.

 

[SueT]

I had been letting my hens and a young rooster free range most days and they started going down to the wooded areas beside the creek, which is at least 300' or more from the yard. Last month we lost 2 to coyotes, (the rooster and a br. leghorn,) and so I locked everyone back up again. Now I just occasionally let all 7 remaining hens out when I can watch them, but more often just let the 2yr old hens (2) go out since they don't range far, are more expendable, and also they quickly come when called. I really like the 'grass-fed' eggs but they have come at a cost. Right now, I don't feel like ever letting the Spitzes out. They're so naive and trusting. I may have a free range group and a confined group.....
As far as flying, all my various breeds of chickens can fly well, even the big heavy hens, can fly up to a 5' roost in the run.

 

[bellium]

my little ones got to spend the day outdoors with their brooder mates - forgive the numbers, i had posted some photos on the breed/sexing thread and marked the chicks for easier reference. i am finding the appenzeller spitzhauben chicks to be quite personable, despite the fact that i wasn’t able to handle them as much as i would have liked during their first few weeks at our home (my dog became seriously ill and required extensive nursing care). i think the all black-poofed one resembles elvis presley.

 

[bellium]

they were so active, i couldn’t get very good photos, but we had a warm day here in the hudson valley, so i let the littles out of their chick tractor to integrate with my big girls - success! the spitz twins were so excited and explored the whole yard. when i put them back in the house for the night (we are working on adding roost space to our coop so we’re not quite ready to move chicks out full time), the smaller of the two fell asleep almost immediately with her face flat in the shavings.

 

[SueT]

My Spitzes at 10 weeks old:
The 2 pullets, Greta and Heidi :

Fritz

Fleck

Flugel and Heidi

 

[Alaskan]

My Spitzes at 10 weeks old:
The 2 pullets, Greta and Heidi :
View attachment 1344175


Fritz
View attachment 1343975
Fleck
View attachment 1343971
Flugel and Heidi
View attachment 1344115

still think I like Flügel best.

How are the personalities?

 

[SueT]

still think I like Flügel best.

How are the personalities?

The one called Fleck is afraid of me and panics if I get too close, running into the fence and freaking out. The others will all come up to me, especially the pullets, are calm around me, but they don't want to be touched or eat out of my hand. Fritz is cautious about new things, as when I opened the big part of the run to them, he stayed back and watched. Flugel is the boldest about everything and may be the leader. I have come to like him best.
I am tentatively planning to take Fleck to the poultry swap May 5 assuming I can catch him. Keep the other boys and see how the hens treat them when I integrate everyone.

 

[bellium]

@SueT , are you keeping any of your roosters? I’m still waiting to see how my two turn out - how loud do the roos crow? Maybe I can hide a rooster from my husband for a little while.

 

[SueT]

@SueT , are you keeping any of your roosters? I’m still waiting to see how my two turn out - how loud do the roos crow? Maybe I can hide a rooster from my husband for a little while.

I think I can keep two, but I do have 7 older hens (of various breeds) we'll see if that works out. Roosters can be loud. The young Spitzhaubens aren't loud yet. And they crow only in the morning. Our neighbor's rooster 1/4 mi away crows all day long. And I can hear roosters in the distance in several directions. I like the sound, we live out in the country and it's part of what being rural is all about.
How old are yours now? Look for wattles emerging in males around 7 weeks. On page 71 in this thread, post #702, @Faraday40 has close up photos showing this.