Spitzhaubens

[SueT]

Okay, I saw this one crowing this morning--a squeaky rusty crow, but definitely a crowing neck stretching, etc...so the one I call Fleck is our first confirmed cockerel.

 

[SueT]

I have a little D'Uccle pullet named Sunshine who is the very lowest in the pecking order. Everyone pushes her around and she never stands up for herself. So I brought her in with the Spitzhaubens, who ran up to her like happy puppies. She was terrified at first, but soon found out she could scare them away, and began running at them. This is their first intro to the pecking order of the flock. I didn't leave her in but will let her visit every day. In this pic, one of them challenges her briefly....

 

[SueT]

My 5 youngsters are now 8 weeks. 3 have started crowing! I'll have to part w 2...
The first cockerel is Fleck:

Here are (from top to bottom,) 1st pullet Greta, and the other 2 boys, Fritz and Flugel:

And there's our other pullet Heidi at the top, and Fritz again:

I like Fritz the best of the 3 cockerels, in fact he's always been my favorite of all the chicks. The poultry swap Sat will be far too cold and snowy for me and probably buyers, so I have to wait a month. I'll know better by then which one to keep.

 

[Alaskan]

I like Flügel best.

I don't have hatchery silver spangled Spitz... So not sure on the personality differences of your's compared to the ones I have...

But mine did perfectly with 2 males over 4 females. The girls looked good, and the boys didn't fight. Yeah, crazy stupid ratio. .. but it was fine with the Spitz.

 

[SueT]

I like Flügel best.

I don't have hatchery silver spangled Spitz... So not sure on the personality differences of your's compared to the ones I have...

But mine did perfectly with 2 males over 4 females. The girls looked good, and the boys didn't fight. Yeah, crazy stupid ratio. .. but it was fine with the Spitz.

Well, maybe I could keep all the boys....I have the 3 Spitz cockerels, 2 Spitz pullets, but then there are 7 hens of various breeds. So 9 girls to 3. We'll see.

 

[Alaskan]

It wouldn't hurt to try... if a problem develops then you know that you need to reduce the number of males, but the males will also be bigger so it will be easier to tell which one you want to keep.

 

[bellium]

at the recommendation of SueT, here are my two babies - sold to me from TSC as “orpingtons” - i hope they’re both hens, as i can’t keep a rooster. think there will be anyone who will want one for more than just the stew pot if they start crowing?

 

[Alaskan]

well... clearly Spitz,and not Orpingtons

Looks like they are both female. .. give it some more time to be sure.

 

[SueT]

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at the recommendation of SueT, here are my two babies - sold to me from TSC as “orpingtons” - i hope they’re both hens, as i can’t keep a rooster. think there will be anyone who will want one for more than just the stew pot if they start crowing?

Your story made my day! What a delightful surprise!! Who'da thunk one could get Spitzhaubens at TSC! So much more interesting than Orpingtons these birds are. Have you now researched this breed?
Yes I would think you'd have a better chance of rehoming one of these. Fingers crossed that they aren't cockerels. Please keep us updated!
Sue

 

[bellium]

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!).