Monday, May 16, 2011

Sebastopol Geese - The Goose With a Curly "Perm"

Sebastopol - White Curly Breasted
Photo Source:  J, Metzer, Metzer Farms (www.metzerfarms.com)


“Sebastopols look like they just got a curly perm at a hairdressing salon” – Carol Ekarius

Sebastopols - Curly Breasted White
Photo Source:  Dave Kozakiewicz


“Wow!  A big ball of fluff! Is it supposed to be like that?” - Those were my thoughts upon first seeing a Sebastopol goose.  I wanted to reach out and pet it; it looked so soft and cuddly.  The more I researched various poultry breeds, the more I wanted to get some of these unique looking geese. 




Sebastopol - Curly Breasted White
Photo Source:  Dave Kozakiewicz

Sebastopol - Curly Breasted White
Photo Source:  Dave Kozakiewicz



What makes the Sebastopol so unique are its curly feathers, giving it that “curly perm” look.  The frizzled feathers are the result of a genetic mutation and curl due to the lack of a rigid feather spine or quill. The feathers curl downwards and are up to four times the length of the feathers found in other geese.

If one would imagine the Sebastopol as having regular feathers – no curls at all – they would greatly resemble the Roman breed of geese. 


Roman Goose
Photo Source:  Lou B.



Sebastopols have large, rounded heads, prominent eyes, slightly arched necks, keel-less breasts and dual lobes – the fatty “lumps” that hang down below the abdomen. (A.L.B.C.)


There are two types of Sebastopols; the Curly feather breasted type and the Smooth (regular) feather breasted type.  On both types, the plumage on the head and upper two-thirds of the neck is smooth and regular.  Orange bills, legs and feet are the standard for both types. White is the historical and most common colour variety found in both types, but there are now Blue, Buff, Cream, Gray, Lavender, Buff Saddleback, Gray Saddleback and Splash varieties found in both Curly and Smooth breasted types. In White colour varieties, the eyes are a bright blue while with the Buff colour, the eyes are brown.




Sebastopol - Smooth Breasted White
Photo Source:  Dave Kozakiewicz


Sebastopols - Smooth Breasted White Pair
Photo Source:  F. L.


Sebastopols - Smooth Breasted Gray Saddleback
Photo Source:  F. L.



Sebastopols - Curly Breasted White, Gray and Gray Saddleback
Photo Source:  Dave Kozakiewicz



The Curly breasted type has its curled feathers commencing on the lower third of the neck and continuing on down on the breast and underbody. The feathers on the back, wings and tail are soft and curl downwards almost touching the ground in outstanding individuals (Holderread).  

“Smooth breasted Sebastopols that have the proper feather pattern (as Standardized in Europe, where they can and do show them) have long wide streamers coming off the back/shoulders and a waterfall of streamers in front of the thighs. Wings are completely 100% normal. The wing flights and totally smooth breasts DQ them under the APA SOP. Young and/lightly built birds can and have become airborn though usually there is enough bulk, especially as adults, to make that difficult at best.” - Dave Kozakiewicz  
The Sebastopol is classified as a Medium Goose by the American Poultry Association Standards with weights as follows:

Old Gander:           14 lbs                  Old Goose:                  12 lbs.
Young Gander:         12 lbs.                  Young Goose:         10 lbs.

Only Curly breasted White Sebastopols are currently recognized for show in North America. Defects include straight flights, wing feathers protruding from the body and the absence of curled feathers on the underbelly and back under the folded wings.  (American Standard of Perfection, 1998)

In Germany, only Smooth breasted White Sebastopols are recognized for show. 




Sebastopols - Smooth Breasted White Pair as Per German Standards
Photo Source:  SV Deutscher Gänsezüchter von 1907


They are classified as a Light Breed by the German Standards with stipulated weights being 5.0 – 6.0 kg. for Ganders and 4.5 – 5.5 kg. for the Goose.




Merkmale: Typ einer Landgans, kurzer Rumpf, volle runde Brust, kleiner runder Kopf und kurz geschlossener Schwanz, Gefieder ein-farbig weiß,
Körpermasse: Gans 4,5 - 5,0 kg, Ganter 5,0 - 6,0 kg
Besonderheit: Verlängerte spiralig gedrehte Federn am Oberkörper

Sebastopols - Smooth Breasted White Pair
Photo Source:  Rassegefluegel.de




In Britain, BOTH Curly breasted and Smooth breasted (sometimes called the Frizzle and Trailing Frizzle) types in White and Buff are recognized for exhibition.  They are classified as a Light Breed with body weights of 5.4 -7.3 kg. (12 – 16 lbs.) for the Gander and 4.5 – 6.3 kg. (10 – 14 lbs.) for the Goose.



History of Sebastopol Geese

Sebastopol Geese have a long, but somewhat unknown and slightly disputed history.  They are descendents of the European Graylag and in body shape, closely resemble the Roman breed of geese.

It is believed that they were developed in South Eastern Europe along the Danube River and the Black Sea. In fact, by the early 1800’s, Sebastopols could be found in all of the countries surrounding the Black Sea where they were bred specifically for the soft curly feathers to be used in pillows, quilts and comforters; however, they did not make it to Western Europe until the mid to late 1800’s.

The first Sebastopols in Western Europe are believed to be those which were sent from the sea port of Sebastopol (now in the Ukraine) to Britain by Mr. John Harvey, esq., who was apparently yachting on the Black Sea. At a port of call, Mr. Harvey saw some of Sebastopols and became quite taken by them. He arranged for some to be shipped back home and he is therefore credited with bringing the first birds to Britain.

From the London Times (Mar. 28, 1878):
We lately announced the death of Mr John Harvey, of Ickwellbury, Bedfordshire, and of Finnenley Park, Yorkshire, J.P. & D.L. and Chairman of the Quarter Sessions, and its High Sheriff, Beds, who died at 9 Cavendish Sqr, London, on the 7th inst. after long illness.
The representative of one of the most ancient families of Gt Britain, and a large landed proprietor in several counties, Mr Harvey may be cited as the model of an Engllish country gentleman. In public life as a Magistrate and chairman of the Quarter Sessions, Mr Harvey's career was one of the highest usefulness and influence, and it will be difficult, if not impossible, to replace him. Few men have succeeded in doing so much good to their suffereing fellow creatures, for it is mainly due to Mr Harvey's exertions that the condition of county lunatic asylums was early brought to his notice, and after years of untiring labour he had the satisfaction of seeing better building erected and a better mode of treating the insane adopted in all of those counties in which he had influence.     
For many years Mr Harvey had been well known as an enterprising Yachtsman, and was one of the oldest members of the Cowes Royal Yacht Squadron. In his yacht "The Claymore" he visited most parts of the world,
Mr Harvey married Annie, daughter of Mr Henry Tennant, of Cadoxton Hall, Glamorganshire, and leaves two children, - a son who is on the staff of the Governor General of Canada, and a daughter.
Mr John Harvey was a descendant of the same family of Harvey as of the Noble House of Bristol (Marquies), who married his cousin, daughter of Audley Harvey, Esq of Cole Park, Malmsbury, Wilts. He was born Nov 14, 1815; married in 1848. His son is named John Audley Harvey, 42nd Highlanders; daughter named Beatrice Susan Audley. 
- Wells - Campbell Family Tree Genealogy Pages


It is believed that the birds arrived in Britain between 1857 and 1859. They were known as Danubians due to the fact of that great numbers of them were raised along the Daube. (Ashton ,1999)  William Bernhardt Tegetmeier, a British naturalist, writer and journalist was the first to document the presence of “Danubians” in Britain and gave the credit to Mr. Harvey, esq. for introducing them. They were also mentioned in Lewis Wright’s “The Book of Poultry” (1st Edition) in 1872.


Another account mentions the belief that they originated in the southern areas of Russia or Turkey and that they were introduced into Britain in 1859:

“Among some of the earlier imported birds a few had a small tuft on the top of the head, and we are informed that many birds having that decoration are to be found in Southern Russia and Asia Minor.” – Brown (1906)

According to the Poultry Club of Great Britain, the history of the introduction of Sebastopols into Great Britain is somewhat different:

 “They were introduced into the U.K. by the diplomat Lord Dufferin in 1860, when he was sent to sort out problems in countries surrounding the Black Sea.” - www.poultryclub.org

This is disputed with the fact that in February 1860, before Lord Dufferin went to the Baltic area, some Sebastopol were presented to the Zoological Society by Mr. Bartlett, a poultry fancier. (Domestic Waterfowl Club of Great Britain)

What is known and agreed upon is that in 1860, the British public was introduced to the “Danubians” at the London Poultry Exhibition held at the Crystal Palace and they were subsequently written up  and described in the ‘Illustrated London News’.  The birds were shown by Mr. Harvey D. Bayly under the name of “Sebastopol”, in reference to the port from which they were exported. [‘Journal of horticulture, cottage gardener and country gentlemen’ (1861), University of Mass., Amherst Libraries). 

The name “Danubian” for the breed can be first referenced back to Ireland in 1863, and both it and “Sebastopol” were used synonymously when referring to the breed until the early 1900’s. The name “Danubian” was used in E. Brown’s 1906 The Poultry Book, and was thus was given precedence over “Sebastopol”.  However, in a 1912 revised edition of “The Book of Poultry” by S. H. Lewer, they had once again became known as “Sebastopols”, probably due to the fact that The Poultry Club (of Great Britain) had included them as such in their 1910 Breed Standards and have thereafter held the name.  The Spanish and Italians refer to the breed as Danubio, the French and Belgians l’Oie frisée du Danube (Frizzled Goose of the Danube), and the Germans Lockengans  (Curly goose) or Struppgans (Shaggy goose).

The Sebastopol made its way back to mainland Europe (France and Germany) from Britain.  In France, where they are known as l’Oie frisée du Danube, they were first exhibited and received broad public admiration at l'exposition universelle de 1889 in Paris.  This World’s Fair was held during the 100th Anniversary of the Storming of the Bastille.  




In Germany, their history goes back to the mid to late 1860’s with the recognized Standards set prior to the formation of the German Goose Association in 1907. (SV Deutscher Gänsezüchter von 1907).




The history of the Sebastopol in North America is even more obscure. It is believed that they first arrived here in the late 1800’s and then supposedly they were then bred with Embden geese to increase their size (Weir, Harrison, Johnson, W.G., Brown G.O. - 1904) 

Depending upon sources, the American Poultry Association either recognized the breed in 1938 (Malone, et. al., 1998) or 1939 (Ekarius 2007).



Keeping Sebastopols

Sebastopols are said to be quite calm with exceptional personalities. When handled carefully, they have a quiet and pleasant nature (Holderread, 1981). 


"Me and My Geese" - Victoria and her Gray Saddleback and White Sebs
Photo Source: Victoria O.

"...as you can see they are friendly geese and I love my Geese." - Victoria O.


"Flurry of Feathers" - Victoria and her Sebs
Photo Source: Victoria O.




They can be quite the conversation piece when people first see them and a group of them is a real magnificent scene. They are excellent show birds, but also make a fine table bird.

Mr. Dave Kozakiewicz of Hindsight Farm in Ann Arbor, MI.  got his birds from the late Mr. W.C. "Bill" Garber of Simcoe, Ontario, Canada.  Dave has raised the Garber strain of Sebastopol Geese since 1972.  … Dave loves working with these geese and learns more about them every day. 
"A good Sebastopol in full feather is just awesome.  It can be hard to believe that they are real" says Dave. 
- HPBAA.

Sebastopols - Curly Breasted White
Photo Source:  Dave Kozakiewicz

Sebastopols - Curly Breasted White
Photo Source:  Dave Kozakiewicz



Many people believe that keeping Sebastopols clean, especially those long trailing curly feather, is a difficult task so they shy away from them as a breed of choice.  In fact, they are quite easy to keep clean if provided with a mud-free environment and water to bathe. This can be provided in the form of a kiddy pool or at the very least, a large bucket of water. The curled feathers prevent flight making them easier to confine. (Grow, 1972)


Sebastopol - White Flock Enjoying Kiddie Pool
Photo Source;  J. Metzer, Metzer Farms (www.metzerfarms.com)



Even though they look like delicate balls of fluff, Sebastopols are actually quite hardy. However, care must be taken to provide good shelter from the wet, wind, and extremes of temperature as their feathers are loose and do not lay flat thus do not shed water or provide as much warmth as those of other breeds. Winds can easily   fluff up their feathers thus body heat is quickly lost. In very cold weather they might like to spend more time in shelter than other breeds, but they are known to enjoy their baths, even in the cold of winter.


Breeding Sebastopols

“Whenever a domestic animal is selected for an unusual characteristic, great care must be taken to insure that vigor and fertility of breeding stock is not overlooked.”  (ALBC)


As with most poultry for breeding purposes, the primary selection should be for healthy, robust individuals showing the proper size for the breed.  When selecting Sebastopols, one should look for birds with well-curled breast feathers, flexible flight feathers, and back and tail plumes that are long, broad and spiraled. Avoid selecting breeding stock with crooked toes and slipped wings (Holderread, 1981).


It seems that even though ganders can be mated with one to four geese, low fertility is often experienced with this breed. Females normally produce 25-35 eggs annually.

“Fertility seems to be a problem with most Sebastopols, along with lower than normal egg production. Fertility is adequate early in the season (and they do seem to come into production earlier than most breeds) but quickly drops off. Oftentimes we will have no fertile eggs the last three weeks of production in the spring.” (J. Metzer)

Clipping the long plumes of the back and tail and the feathers around the vent is sometimes helpful (Holderread, 1981).

The mutation causing the curly feathers is sometimes referred to as the “Sebastopol Gene”.  Birds that have a “double dosage” of this gene are Curly breasted whereas those that are Smooth breasted carry only one “dose” of the Sebastopol gene. Only Curly breasted breed 100% true and when breeding two Smooth breasted individuals together, three sorts of offspring are possible:  Curly breasted, Smooth Breasted, and totally smooth. (C. & M. Ashton)

“You will see so called smooth breasted birds being offered as the best breeding tool ever that have no or very little mutated feather. This is not what a smooth breasted should be and those offering such birds are either misleading the novice or ignorant. Dave Holderread has done more with them than anyone and said that at least in theory it is possible to breed smooth BIRDS” - Dave Kozakiewicz

Natural incubation lasts for a period of 30 days usually with one clutch a year of about 10 - 15 eggs.  Young birds may start with a few gray feathers but gradually lose them until they are pure white at about 20 weeks, after their final set of feathers develops. (Metzer)


Sebastopol - White Gosling
Photo Source;  J. Metzer, Metzer Farms (www.metzerfarms.com)





Sources

Metzer Farms (www.metzerfarms.com)
– White Curly breasted Sebastopol








I would like to thank Dave Kozakiewicz and Victoria O. for all of the valuable information and pictures. 

If anyone would like their name to be listed as a source please contact Cameron at mcattack_ca@yahoo.com  Also, if you have any pictures you would like to share or have any additional information, please contact Cameron at the above address.

Appenzeller Spitzhauben








From the slopes of the Swiss Alps comes a very hardy little chicken with a rather unique look, the Appenzeller Spitzhauben.  It was bred in the 15th Century to survive the harsh mountainous environments of isolated monasteries whose communities required a breed that could fend for itself quite well – foraging along the rocky slopes; be a fairly productive layer as well as a tasty table bird; and be able to survive the harsh climate without too much difficulty – no large combs or wattles to freeze.


Madonna del Sasso Monastery, Switzerland
Photo Source: Places Pack

The Appenzeller Spitzhauben is ideally suited to life in the mountains as they are excellent climbers especially on steep rocky ground and can fly well, often making nests and roosting in trees.  They are even known to have stayed in the trees throughout winter.  

Appenzeller Spitzhauben - Gold Spangled Flock Roosting with Unknown


They are active foragers, constantly being on the move scratching the rocky ground for insects and tidbits of greens.  Hens are early layers capable of producing plenty of medium-size white eggs on very little food thus making them ideally suited for free range systems.

Appenzeller Spitzhauben - Silver Spangled Flock
Photo Source:  Manuela Silvestro

Appenzeller Spitzhauben - Gold Spangled Flock
Photo Source: Förderverein Schweizer Kleintierrassen



They are often said to be a “flighty” bird, nervous and high-strung but in fact they settle well with regular handling and contact. Appenzellers are intelligent and do prefer very little interference.   They are as independent as chickens can be. If confined, Appenzellers need a very high fence or a covered pen, since they are known to be able to fly very well. 

Appenzeller Spitzhauben - Silver Spangled Flock in Covered Run
Photo Source:

Appenzeller Spitzhuaben - Silver Spangled Flock
Photo Source:  French Poultry Forum

Appenzeller Spitzhuaben - Black Flock
Photo Source:  French Poultry Forum

Appenzeller Spitzhuaben - Gold Spangled Pair
Photo Source:  French Poultry Forum







The head of the Spitzhauben is what gives it its unique look. It is of medium size, held high, with a pointed crest bent forward similar to the traditional hats the ladies in the Appenzell region wear, thus the name Spitzhauben, German for “pointed hoods”. 



Photo Source:  Manuela Silvestro

Photo Source:  Manuela Silvestro




Women in the Traditional Costume of Appenzell, Switzerland
Photo Courtesy:  Swiss World



Appenzeller Spitzhauben - Close Up of Silver Spangled Hen
 Photo Source:  Manuela Silvestro


Both male and female Spitzhaubens have an almost walnut-shaped, rounded body. Their breasts are full and carried rather high, like a soldier when at attention. Backs are of medium length - males slightly sloping while females almost horizontal. The Spitzhauben’s wings are rather long and are carried close in to its body; tails rather full, well-spread and carried at right angles to the back.  The wattles are moderately long, yet thin; the white earlobes are of a medium oval size. The birds have strong beaks with a small fleshy knob at the front.  They have large, cavernous nostrils and prominent brown eyes that always seem very alert. The comb is almost like a horn consisting of two small rounded spikes, separate and without any side sprigs.

Photo Source:  Manuela Silvestro

Photo Source:  Manuela Silvestro

Photo Source:  Manuela Silvestro

Photo Source:  Manuela Silvestro


History of the Appenzeller Spitzhauben

Although there are no exact records for its creation, it is widely believed that the Spitzhauben came about as a result of crossings of Brabanter, La Flèche and Crèvecoeur. 

Brabanter
Crèvecoeur

La Flèche - Head Shot
Photo Source:  Unknown



Also mentioned is the possibility of a Russian crested breed used instead of - or with - the Brabanter.  This would probably have been the Pavlovski, a very old crested breed greatly resembling a Brabanter, but having feathered legs. 

Pavlovski
Photo Source: www.komovdvor.spb.ru 

Pavlovski
Photo Source: www.komovdvor.spb.ru

The Pavloski are probably the ancestors of the Brabanter, Sultan and Spitzhauben breeds as it is documented to be much older and exported from Russia prior to the development of the aforementioned breeds. Unfortunately, we will probably never know as the Pavloski was rare and then basically wiped out during the Russian Revolution and subsequent wars.*

“Abosin in 1895 said: "Pavloski chickens are currently extremely rare. This breed undoubtedly will disappear and probably soon be completely removed from the list of modern breeds of domestic chickens." - Translated from www.komovdvor.spb.ru
Pavlovski
Photo Source: www.komovdvor.spb.ru
  
Also it is interesting to note the following:

Bruno Dyurengen in his "Poultry" in 1886: "If we compare what they write about these crested chickens - the old writers, data researcher Pallas - you will recognize the native Russian breed (old) crested chickens and they are simiar with all those features that are inherent in our current Sultan (Turkey), Padua (Brabanter) and Holland (Poland), with the only difference is that now we do not recognize the Brabanter (Padua), with feathered legs. But before they had feathered legs in Germany … " - Translated from www.komovdvor.spb.ru
Pavlovski
Photo Source: www.komovdvor.spb.ru
 "... researcher Pallas knew that at the time when he traveled to Europe and the Asian part of Russia from 1768 to 1773 - these domestic chickens were already in those countries: namely - silver / white and black-colored / with feathered legs and a golden / yellow and painted black.
 Continuing this theme, Bruno Dyurengen in 1906, in his new book, wrote: "As the actual source or mother of the current breed of crested breeds of chickens, considering crested hens with beards, and feathered legs, and its homeland Russia, where [these features] were developed as a means of protection from the harsh climate. … Prominent scholars of this species share this opinion, which confirmed my latest observations in Russia. This is an old Russian chicken, which for hundreds of years is considered to be in Russia and found there yet with all the intended features and colors that we find in our current Sultans, Brabanter and Padua (Polish) chickens." - Translated from www.komovdvor.spb.ru 


Pavlovski
Photo Source: www.komovdvor.spb.ru

Pavlovski
Photo Source: www.komovdvor.spb.ru


At first, Spitzhaubens- at that time known "Gässerschnäpfli" or "Tschüpperli” - were kept only by the religious orders; commoners were not given the pleasure of having them. By the mid 16th century, the breed was in the hands of the common farmers and they had spread throughout most of the areas that make up today’s Switzerland. Throughout the wars and upheavels of the 16th and 17th centuries, the Spitzhauben remained primarily a bird of Switzerland, very few – if any – raised outside of the Federation’s cantons.

Appenzeller Spitzhauben - Silver Spangled Flock
Photo Source:  Manuela Silvestro

Appenzeller Spitzhauben - Silver Spangled Flock
Photo Source:  Unknown


By the 19th century the Spitzhauben had practically become extinct.  A small number of birds were discovered in the Cantons of Appenzell  and a small breeding effort began.  The breed pretty much stayed within the Appenzell Cantons and it was not until the latter part of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th Century that the breed became known as the Appenzeller Spitzhauban.  Up to this time, they had been known as "Gässerschnäpfli" or "Tschüpperli” or “Tyrolerhühner”.

The breed flourished for a few years, but after World War II, the numbers declined so drastically that they almost disappeared for good.
In 1953, Kurt Fischer, a German poultry fancier, imported to Germany Spitzhaubens representing the three colour varieties that remained. 


Appenzeller Spitzhauben - Gold Spangled Cock
Photo Source: Kippen Encyclopedie

Appenzeller Spitzhauben - Gold Spangled Hen
Photo Source: Kippen Encyclopedie

Appenzeller Spitzhauben - Silver Spangled Cock
Photo Source: Kippen Encyclopedie

Appenzeller Spitzhauben - Silver Spangled Hen
Photo Source: Kippen Encyclopedie

Appenzeller Spitzhauben - Black Cock
Photo Source: Kippen Encyclopedie


Appenzeller Spitzhauben - Black Hen
Photo Source: Kippen Encyclopedie


Mr. Fischer ensured that the Appenzeller Spitzauaben varieties were included in the German Poultry Standards, thus preventing the breed’s loss to the Poultry World.  Through dedication and hard work, the breed was revived and colours re-created.  German breeders are credited with the creation of the Blue and Chamois Spangled colour varieties Spitzhaubens


Appenzeller Spitzhauben - Blue Cock
Photo Source: Kippen Encyclopedie


Appenzeller Spitzhauben - Blue Hen
Photo Source: Kippen Encyclopedie




Appenzeller Spitzhauben - Chamois Spangled Cock
Photo Source: Kippen Encyclopedie


Appenzeller Spitzhauben - Chamois Spangled Hen
Photo Source: Kippen Encyclopedie



The Dutch are credited with creating the Barred and the Lemon Spangled colour varieties.


Appenzeller Spitzhauben - Citron Spangled Hen
Photo Source: Kippen Encyclopedie
Appenzeller Spitzhauben - Barred Hen
Photo Source: Förderverein Schweizer Kleintierrassen


Originally the Spitzhaubens could be found in ten colour varieties, but today the majority are mainly found in two colours, Golden Spangled and Silver Spangled.  However, Black, Blue, self-Gold, White, Chamois Spangled and Barred do exist in Europe, but in North America only one, the Silver Spangled, is found. 

Appenzeller Spitzhauben - White Cock
Photo Source: Huhner Forum

Appenzeller Spitzhauben - White Hen
Photo Source: French Poultry Forum

Appenzeller Spitzhauben - White Flock
Photo Source: French Poultry Forum


Hopefully, with the interest in Rare Breeds, more varieties of the Spitzhauben will make their way across the pond and North Americans will be treated to the colour varieties of this breed.


Appenzeller Spitzhauben - Silver Spangled Cock
Photo Source:  Manuela Silvestro

Appenzeller Spitzhauben - Chamois Spangled Cock
Photo Source:  Manuela Silvestro


Appenzeller Spitzhaubens were not found in Britain until the early 1970's when Mrs. Pamela Jackson imported hatching eggs from Switzerland.  In 1978, the "Appenzeller Breed Society" was formed catering to both the Appenzeller Spitzhauben and the Appenzeller Barthühner, a separate breed not to be confused with the Spitzhaubens.  

Appenzeller Barthühner Pair
Photo Source: Unknown
Appenzeller Spitzhauben - Silver Spangled Pair
Photo Source:  French Poultry Forum


Continual importation from mainland Europe through the years has not only broadened the gene pool but has also improved the quality and standard of British birds.  Currently, five colour varieties of the Spitzhauben are found in Britain – Gold Spangled and Silver Spangled being the most popular followed by the Blacks, Blues and Chamois Spangled.  

Appenzeller Spitzhauben - Chamois Spangled Cock
Photo Source: Förderverein Schweizer Kleintierrassen 

Appenzeller Spitzhauben - Chamois Spangled Cock
Photo Source: Förderverein Schweizer Kleintierrassen

Appenzeller Spitzhauben - Chamois Spangled Hen
Photo Source: Förderverein Schweizer Kleintierrassen

Appenzeller Spitzhauben - Chamois Spangled Flock
Photo Source: Förderverein Schweizer Kleintierrassen

Appenzeller Spitzhauben - Blue Flock
Photo Source: Förderverein Schweizer Kleintierrassen

Appenzeller Spitzhauben - Blue Cocks Squaring Off
Photo Source: Förderverein Schweizer Kleintierrassen

Appenzeller Spitzhauben - Blue Cock
Photo Source: Unknown


Appenzeller Spitzhauben - Black Cock
Photo Source: Förderverein Schweizer Kleintierrassen

Appenzeller Spitzhauben - Black Flock
Photo Source: Förderverein Schweizer Kleintierrassen


Unfortunately the Appenzeller Breed Society folded in 2001 even though interest in Spitzhaubens continues to grow, especially with the explosion of the back yard poultry movement. Beauty and productivity – what more could one ask of a breed!

Appenzeller Spitzhauben - Silver Spangled Cock
Photo Source: Manuela Silvestro

Appenzeller Spitzhauben - Silver Spangled Cock
Photo Source: Förderverein Schweizer Kleintierrassen

Appenzeller Spitzhauben - Silver Spangled Flock
Photo Source: Förderverein Schweizer Kleintierrassen

Appenzeller Spitzhauben - Silver Spangled Flock
Photo Source: Förderverein Schweizer Kleintierrassen

Appenzeller Spitzhauben - Silver Spangled Chicks
Photo Source: Förderverein Schweizer Kleintierrassen 


British Standards for the Appenzeller Spitzhauben are as follows:

Silver Spangled

Appenzeller Spitzhauben - Silver Spangled Cock
Photo Source: Manuela Silvestro

Appenzeller Spitzhauben - Silver Spangled Hen
Photo Source: Manuela Silvestro

Male plumage: Pure silvery white ground colour, with each feather ending in distinct black, fairly small spangle, not circular, less pronounced on the head and neck. Primaries, secondaries and tail feathers, silvery white with black tips. Abdomen and fluff grey; undercolour dark grey.

Female plumage: Head, crest and the neck silvery white with black tipping. Breast, wing bows, back and tail silvery white with distinct black spangling. Flights as for the male. Undercolour dark grey.


Gold Spangled

Appenzeller Spitzhauben - Gold Spangled Cock
Photo Source: Manuela Silvestro

Appenzeller Spitzhauben - Gold Spangled Hen
Photo Source: Unknown


Male plumage: Gold-red ground colour, spangling as for the silver spangled. Flights; outer web golden yellow, inner web as black as possible. Breast and flanks gold with black spangles. Abdomen and undercolour greyish black. Tail as brown as possible with black tips, a blackish brown tail allowed.

Female plumage: Golden-yellow ground colour, tail golden-brown with black spangling. Otherwise as for the male, having regard to the necessary sexual differences.


Black

Appenzeller Spitzhauben - Black Flock
Photo Source: Unknown

Male and female plumage: Shiny greenish-black with a dark grey to black undercolour.


Blue




Male plumage: Head, neck, saddle and wing-bows dark slate-blue. Remainder medium blue, free from mealiness, sandiness or bronze. Black splashes in the tail permissible. Undercolour grey-blue

Female plumage: Medium blue throughout, free from mealiness, sandiness or bronze, except head and neck which are a darker shade, but not so dark as in the male. Undercolour grey-blue.


Chamois Spangled

Appenzeller Spitzhauben - Chamois Spangled Cock
Photo Source: Unknown

Appenzeller Spitzhauben - Chamois Spangled Cock
Photo Source: Unknown


Male plumage: Golden-buff ground colour, with each feather ending in a distinct creamy-white, fairly small spangle, not circular; less pronounced on the head and neck. Flights; outer web golden-buff, inner web creamy-white. Breast and flanks golden-buff with creamy-white spangles. Abdomen and undercolour creamy-white. Tail as golden-buff as possible with creamy-white tips, a buff/white tail allowed.

Female plumage: Head, crest and neck golden-buff with creamy white tipping. Breast, wing bows, back and tail golden-buff with distinct creamy-white spangling. Flights as for the male. Undercolour creamy-white.

In both sexes and all colours
Beak bluish
Eyes dark brown
Comb, face and wattles bright red
Ear-lobes bluish-white
Shanks blue

Weights
Male          1.60 - 2.00kg (3.5 - 4.5 lb)
Female      1.35 - 1.60kg (3 - 3.5 lb)

Scale of points

Type and carriage
25
Colour and markings
25
Head points
25
Legs and feet
15
Condition
10

100

Serious Defects:
- Comb other than horn
- Side sprigs
- Narrow or roach back
- Squirrel tail
- Breast too deep or narrow
- Low wing carriage
- Tail lacking fullness
- Crow beak
- Nostrils not cavernous
- Bad stance
- Any sign of feathering on shanks
                                               - from www.appenzellerspitzhauben.co.uk


Appenzeller Spitzhauben - Silver Spangled Flock
Photo Source: Unknown

Photo Source:  Unknown

Appenzeller Spitzhauben - Silver Spangled Flock
Photo Source:



In Holland, Spitzhaubens are recognized in four colours: Silver Spangled, Gold Spangled, Lemon Spangled (a little different from the British Chamois Spangled) and Self-Black; although the Lemon Spangled and the Black are somewhat rare. The Dutch Standards speak of tipped or spangled feathering.  With the Spitzhauben, the markings are really in between tipped and spangled with the black tips at the end of each feather in the Spangled colour varieties not as prominent as those of the Spangled Hamburgs. The result of this smaller “tipping” or “spangling” is a lighter looking bird; not as black or dark looking which would be a fault. Tail feathers are also spangled.

Weights per the Dutch Standards are as follows:

Large Fowl                                               Bantams
haan
hen
haan
hen
1,5-1,8 kg
1,2-1,5 kg
700-800 gram
600- 700 gram




Appenzeller Spitzhauben - Silver Spangled Flock
Photo Source: Förderverein Schweizer Kleintierrassen





Appenzeller Spitzhaubens from the Appenzeller Europashow
November 2010 in Wapenveld The Netherlands 
(Photo Source: Herman van Olst  www.spitskuifkriel.nl)



















Bantam Appenzeller Spitzhaubens

Herman van Olst (www.spitskuifkriel.nl) , a Dutch breeder is credited with the development of the Bantam varieties. Starting around 1980, he began his breeding program with a crossing of Bantam Dutch Owlbeards (Uilebaardkrielen) with the Large fowl Spitzhauben.  This proved not to be a wise choice as resulting birds were larger than the Appenzeller itself.

The second attempt was a crossing using Dutch bantams and the results showed more possibilities.  For ten generations, Mr. van Olst
concentrated on attaining proper bantam size and an upright Spitzhauben-like crest.  The crest proved to be the hardest property to attain. In 2003, after more than 12 generations of crosses, Mr. van Olst achieved his goal.  At the 2003 NHDB show, his Silver Spangled bantams were recognized by the Dutch Poultry Standards and his Gold Spangled bantams recognized in 2004.








 Documentation as to when the first Spitzhauben arrived in North America has not yet been found.  If anyone knows the history of this breed in North America or knows of any sources which might shed some light on this, please contact Cameron at mcattack_ca@yahoo.com


*There is currently work going on in Russia to re-create the Pavloski through genetic tracing and other means.


I would like  to thank Manuela Silvestro for giving me permission to use so many of her photos.  She has a great site that is well worth viewing:

http://www.appenzeller-spitzhaube.com

Many thanks are also in order to Mr. Herman van Olst, the creator of the Bantam Appenzeller Spitzhauben.  Please take time to visit his website at:
http://www.spitskuifkriel.nl


I would also like to thank Dean Shuck for all of his help and for reminding me of the  Russian link in the history of the Spitzhauben. I apologize for any errors made in the translations, be they from Dutch, French, German or Russian.