View source for Appenzeller Spitzhauben

{{Short description|Swiss breed of chicken}}
{{infobox poultry breed
| name          = Appenzeller Spitzhauben
| image         = Appenzeller Spitzhauben.JPG
| image_size    =
| alt           = head of a hen with a large upward-pointing crest
| image_caption = Head of a gold-spangled hen
| status        = {{ubl|{{nobreak|SAVE Foundation (2003): critical{{r|save2|p=27}}}}|[[FAO]] (2007): not at risk{{r|barb|p=151}}|[[DAD-IS]] (2022): at risk{{r|dad}}}}
| altname       = {{ubl|{{langx|gsw|italic=no|Gässerschnäpfli}}|{{langx|gsw|italic=no|Tschüpperli|link=no}}}}
| country       = Switzerland
| distribution  = {{ubl|Switzerland|Austria|Germany}}
| standard      =
| use           = eggs
| apa           = no{{r|apa}}
| aba           = 
| ee            = yes{{r|ee}}
| pcgb          = soft feather light{{r|pcgb2}}
| maleweight    = 
| femaleweight  =
| skincolour    =
| eggcolour     =
| comb          =
| note          = 
| type          = [[Chicken]]
| latin         = Gallus gallus domesticus
}}

[[File:Appenzeller Spitzhauben1 PSR (cropped).JPG|thumb|alt=head of a cock with thick crest and a comb like two vertical conical horns|Head of a cock, showing the v-shaped comb]]
[[File:Appenzeller Spitzhauben trio.jpg|thumb|A Silver Spangled Appenzeller Spitzhauben trio: two cocks (at left) and a hen]]
The '''Appenzeller Spitzhauben''' is a Swiss [[list of chicken breeds|breed]] of [[crested chicken]] originating in the historical [[Appenzell]] region of Switzerland.{{r|geh|}} It is one of two chicken breeds from that area, the other being the [[Appenzeller Barthuhn]]; the only other Swiss breed of chicken is the [[Schweizer (chicken)|Schweizer]].

== History ==

The origins of the Spitzhauben are unknown.{{r|gz|p=8}} It has been bred in the mountains of the Alpine region for hundreds of years.{{r|geh}} A similar breed, the [[Brabanter]] of the [[Low Countries]], is shown in paintings of the seventeenth century; it has been suggested that the Spitzhauben may have originated at about that time.{{r|allonby|p=36}} 

In the twentieth century it was found only in the historical [[Appenzell]] region of Switzerland – the [[canton (administrative division)|"half-cantons"]] of [[Appenzell Ausserrhoden]] and [[Appenzell Innerrhoden]].{{r|geh}} Some birds were shown in 1935 at the national [[poultry show]],{{r|blw|p=88}} but by about 1950 the Spitzhauben was close to extinction.{{r|pro}} A recovery project was launched in 1983 with the help of [[ProSpecieRara]]; 230 chicks were hatched in that year.{{r|pro}} A [[flock-book]] was started in 2005; in 2019 the recorded population consisted of 243 hens and 153 cocks.{{r|blw|p=12}}

== Characteristics ==

The Spitzhauben is a light chicken: hens weigh little more than a kilogram, and cock birds barely over {{nobreak|1.5 kg}}.{{r|zun}} It is an active breed that doesn't do well in close confinement, can forage well, and will roost in trees if given the opportunity. In North America, it is very rare and is recognized officially by neither the [[American Poultry Association]] or other breed registries. The silver-spangled Spitzhauben is the most common variety.

The Spitzhauben variety, meaning "pointed bonnet", has a V-comb and feather crests in males and females. The word 'spitzhauben' derives from a ceremonial hat worn by the women in the Appenzeller region in Switzerland. The breed was imported into America by a doctor. Spitzhauben are recognised by the EE Standard commission in the following colours: silver-spangled, gold-spangled, lemon-spangled, chamois-spangled, pure black and pure blue.

Ring size is {{nobreak|16 mm}} for cocks and {{nobreak|15 mm}} for hens.{{r|ee2|ks|p2=4}}

== Use ==

Hens may lay some 150 white-shelled eggs in their first year, with an average  weight of {{nobreak|55 g}}.{{r|zun|bdrg}}

== References ==
{{commonscat}}
{{reflist|refs=

<ref name=allonby>J. Ian H. Allonby, Philippe B. Wilson (editors) (2018). [https://books.google.com/books?id=A6BtDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA489 ''British Poultry Standards: complete specifications and judging points of all standardized breeds and varieties of poultry as compiled by the specialist breed clubs and recognised by the Poultry Club of Great Britain''], seventh edition. Chichester; Hoboken, New Jersey: Wiley Blackwell. {{ISBN|9781119509141}}.</ref>

<ref name=apa>[https://web.archive.org/web/20171104135004/http://www.amerpoultryassn.com/PDF%20Forms/APA%20Recognized%20Breeds%20and%20Varieties%20Sept2012.pdf APA Recognized Breeds and Varieties: As of January 1, 2012]. American Poultry Association. Archived 4 November 2017.</ref>

<ref name=barb>Barbara Rischkowsky, Dafydd Pilling (editors) (2007). [https://web.archive.org/web/20200623201209/http://www.fao.org/3/a1250e/annexes/List%20of%20breeds%20documented%20in%20the%20Global%20Databank%20for%20Animal%20Genetic%20Resources/List_breeds.pdf List of breeds documented in the Global Databank for Animal Genetic Resources], annex to [https://web.archive.org/web/20170110125634/http://www.fao.org/3/a-a1250e.pdf ''The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture'']. Rome: Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. {{ISBN|9789251057629}}. Archived 23 June 2020.</ref>

<ref name=bdrg>[https://www.bdrg.de/media/docs/Rassetafeln_Huehner.pdf Rassetafeln: Hühner] (in German). Reichenbach, Haselbachtal: Bund Deutscher Rassegeflügelzüchter. Accessed February 2022.</ref>

<ref name=blw>[https://www.blw.admin.ch/dam/blw/de/dokumente/Nachhaltige%20Produktion/Tierische%20Produkte%20und%20Tierzucht/Tierzucht%20und%20tiergenetische%20Ressourcen/borschueretiergenetischeressourcen.pdf.download.pdf/Broschüre%20Tiergenetische%20Ressourcen%20der%20Schweizer%20Landwirtschaft.pdf Tiergenetische Ressourcen der Schweizer Landwirtschaft] (in German). Bern: Bundesamt für Landwirtschaft. Accessed February 2022.</ref>


<ref name=dad>[https://dadis-breed-datasheet-ext-ws.firebaseapp.com/?country=CHE&specie=Chicken&breed=Appenzeller%20Spitzhauben&lang=en Breed data sheet: Appenzeller Spitzhauben / Switzerland (Chicken)]. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed January 2022.</ref>

<ref name=ee>[https://web.archive.org/web/20130616062803/http://www.entente-ee.com/deutsch/sparten/gefluegel/dateien/2013/Verzeichnis%20R%20F%2028042013.xls Liste des races et variétés homologuée dans les pays EE (28.04.2013)]. Entente Européenne d’Aviculture et de Cuniculture. Archived 16 June 2013.</ref>

<ref name=ee2>[http://www.entente-ee.com/wp-content/uploads/Appenzellerspitzhaubenhuhner.pdf Rassename: Appenzeller Spitzhauben]. Entente Européenne d’Aviculture et de Cuniculture. Accessed February 2022.</ref>


<ref name=geh>[https://www.g-e-h.de/index.php/rassebeschreibungen/55-gefluegelhuhn/143-appenzeller-spitzhaube Appenzeller Spitzhauben] (in German). Gesellschaft zur Erhaltung alter und gefährdeter Haustierrassen. Accessed January 2022.</ref>

<ref name=gz>Norbert Niemeyer (2011). [https://www.appenzeller-und-schweizerhuhn.com/ueber-huehner Hühner aus dem Appenzeller Land] (in German). ''Geflügelzeitung'' 23/2011. Berlin: HK Verlagsgesellschaft.</ref>

<ref name=ks>[s.n.] (2021). [https://www.kleintiere-schweiz.ch/resources/3/uploads/KP20-02617_Ringgroessenverzeichnis_2021.pdf Ringgrössenverzeichnis/Liste des bagues] (in German and French). Standard- und Fachkommission von Rassegeflügel Schweiz/Commission du standard et technique de Volailles de race Suisse. Accessed March 2022.</ref>


<ref name=pcgb2>[https://web.archive.org/web/20181025235402/http://www.poultryclub.org/breed-gallery/chickens/soft-feather-light/ Chickens: Soft Feather Light]. Poultry Club of Great Britain. Archived 9 November 2018.</ref>

<ref name=pro>[https://www.prospecierara.ch/tiere/rassenportraets/gefluegelportraets/appenzeller-spitzhaubenhuhn.html Appenzeller Spitzhaubenhuhn] (in German). ProSpecieRara Schweiz. Accessed January 2022.</ref>

<ref name=save2>[Monitoring Institute for Rare Breeds and Seeds in Europe] (2003). [https://web.archive.org/web/20220524150902/https://www.save-foundation.net/images/projekte/alpen/monitoring-2003-en.pdf ''Agricultural Genetic Resources in the Alps; Landwirtschaftliche Genressourcen der Alpen; Ressources génétiques agricoles des Alpes; Risorse genetiche agricole delle Alpi; Kmetijski genetski viri v Alpha'']. Zürich: Bristol-Stiftung; Bern, Stuttgart, Wien: Haupt. {{isbn|3258066698}}. Archived 24 May 2022.</ref>

<ref name=zun>[https://web.archive.org/web/20161105214430/http://zun-schweiz.ch/db/daten/dokumente/rasseportraets/spitzhaube.pdf Das Appenzeller Spitzhaubenhuhn] (in German). Neukirch an der Thur: Züchterverein für ursprüngliches Nutzgeflügel. Archived 5 November 2016.</ref>


}}

== Further reading ==
{{refbegin}}
* Carol Ekarius (2007). [https://archive.org/details/Storeys_Illustrated_Guide_to_Poultry_Breeds_Complete/mode/1up ''Storey's Illustrated Guide to Poultry Breeds'']. North Adams, Massachusetts: Storey Publishing. {{isbn|9781580176675}}
* Chris Graham (2006). ''Choosing and Keeping Chickens''. London: Octopus Publishing. {{isbn|9780793806010}}
{{refend}}

[[Category:Chicken breeds originating in Switzerland]]