Meet Fritz, a Rare Appenzeller-Spitzhauben Breed Rooster

Reader Contribution by Tom Hemme and Hemme Farms
Published on January 6, 2017
article image

So much on a farm we are exposed to negative activity. In fact, that’s everywhere we go. Our small farm is no exception. Here we have 15 chickens with 14 hens and one rooster. Our rooster fancies himself a very special individual with his funky tuft of feathers instead of a cone and his beautiful black, white, and blue feathering. He is a rare Appenzeller Spitzhauben, the national bird of Switzerland. We have named him Fritz for his background.

The Appenzeller Sptizhauben Chicken Breed

The Appenzeller Spitzhauben has been called “friendly and engaging.” They are truly beautiful birds and are excellent free rangers. It is famed for its forward-facing crest and feathered cone, rather than the traditional cone.

The Spitzhauben is very well adapted to cold temperatures being native to the Alps. They are excellent climbers and can fly at low levels, making them difficult to catch for predators. The breed was established in the 1400s and has been known to stay in trees in the winter in its native Switzerland.

Comments (0) Join others in the discussion!
    Online Store Logo
    Need Help? Call 1-800-234-3368