Appenzeller Spitzhauben chicken is noted for its very unusual forward-pointing crest and v-shaped comb. It is a very beautiful chicken breed originating in the North-Eastern Appenzell region of Switzerland.
It is the national bird of Switzerland, having existed there for centuries. Appenzeller Spitzhauben chicken was named after the ladies lace bonnets of Appenzellerland. The word “spitzhauben” means pointed bonnet.
It is a very rare chicken breed in the United States and not yet admitted to the American Poultry Association’s Standard of Perfection and not by any other breed registries or standards.
There are two varieties of this chicken breed available. And both types appear in either black, golden spangled and silver spangled plumage.
Nowadays, Appenzeller Spitzhauben chicken is largely an ornamental breed and kept for showing, but it is also a great layer of white eggs. Review characteristics, behavior and full breed profile of Appenzeller Spitzhauben chicken below.
Characteristics of Appenzeller Spitzhauben Chicken
Appenzeller Spitzhauben chicken is a very beautiful breed. It has a well spread tail, full hackle and fairly hard, tight plumage. It has well proportioned round body and their crest is tipped forward over face.
Appenzeller Spitzhauben chickens have v-shaped comb without any side sprigs. Their eyes are dark brown and have large nostrils. The breed has no beards or muffs. They have blue/slate legs and their skin color is white.
The wattles of Appenzeller Spitzhauben chicken are long and fine and their ear lobes are white and oval shaped. They have a powerful beak with large deep nostrils and a fleshy knob at the front of the beak.
Appenzeller Spitzhauben is a light weight poultry breed. On an average, the roosters weight about 2 kg and the hens about 1.6 kg. Photo from Wikipedia.
Behavior/Temperament
Appenzeller Spitzhauben chickens are excellent climbers and are ideally suited to mountain life. They don’t have so much to get frostbitten, as they only have small wattles and combs. They like to roost in trees. They are not flighty or nervous like the Leghorn chicken.
They are quiet and friendly in nature, but they can’t tolerate confinement. They are great foragers and will look after themselves and live happily when insects are plentiful.
They are economic breed and will take most of it’s feed from outside, if allowed to access pasture or roam freely. They like to roam freely and prefer roosting in trees. Hens are good layers of white eggs and have good feed to eggs ratio.
They are active, alert and really don’t do well in confinement. So don’t keep them unless you can’t allow them to roam freely throughout the day. However, review full breed profile of Appenzeller Spitzhauben chicken below.
| Breed Name | Appenzeller Spitzhauben |
| Other Name | Appenzeller, Silver Spangled Spitzhauben |
| Breed Purpose | Ornamental, Show |
| Breed Temperament | Friendly, Easily Handled, Calm, Docile, Shy, Quiet, Can’t Bear Confinement well |
| Breed Size | Large |
| Broodiness | Seldom |
| Comb | V-Shaped |
| Climate Tolerance | All Climates |
| Egg Color | White |
| Egg Size | Medium |
| Egg Productivity | Medium |
| Feathered Legs | No |
| Rarity | Available |
| Varieties | Black, Golden Spangled, Silver Spangled/Silver Crescent are found in the UK and USA |
| Country of Origin | Switzerland |
