Appenzeller Barthüner chicken
The Appenzeller Barthühner is a hardy, rose-combed Swiss laying breed named for its beard – Barthühner means 'bearded hen'.
The Appenzeller Barthüner is a pure-bred chicken breed in the PCGB Rare Soft Feather Light class. Its origin is given as Appenzell, Switzerland.
It is kept in large and bantam forms. Recognised colours: Black, Blue, Laced, Black-Red. Typical adult weights: cock about 2.26–2.94 kg and hen about 1.36–1.81 kg.
Expect roughly 190–220 eggs a year, with white shells. It is mainly kept for eggs and for exhibition or as an ornamental bird.
Compiled from poultryclub.org, poultrykeeper.com. See sources
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Identity
- Species
- Chicken
- Type
- Pure breed
- PCGB class
- Rare Soft Feather Light
- Also known as
- Appenzeller Barthuhner
- Origin
- Appenzell, Switzerland
- Kept for
- Eggs, Exhibition or ornamental
History
It comes from the north-eastern Appenzell canton of Switzerland, from remote areas with harsh winters. A local farmer bred it to lay well on little extra feed and to cope with the cold; the rose comb and beard-covered wattles help with that. It has never been popular in the UK. Since the joint Spitzhauben and Barthühner club collapsed in 2001, it has been looked after by the Rare Poultry Society.
Appearance
A full beard that should almost hide the small wattles, which this breed (unlike most bearded breeds) is allowed. Rose comb. Only the large fowl is standardised in the UK.
Recognised colours
Black, Blue, Laced, Black-Red
Size and weight
- Forms
- Large, Bantam
- Cock
- 2.26–2.94 kg
- Hen
- 1.36–1.81 kg
Eggs
- Eggs a year
- 190–220
- Egg colour
- White
Temperament
- In short
- Fairly calm; males can be aggressive when breeding
- Keeping notes
- Calmer and less flighty than its crested neighbour, the Spitzhauben, though males can be aggressive in the breeding season. Very active and a superb forager, so best free-ranged.
Hardiness
Bred for cold winters
Broodiness
Not recorded yet.
Flying
Not recorded yet.
Suitability
- Good to know
- Part of the Rare Poultry Society's remit in the UK.
Conservation status (RBST)
Not on the Rare Breeds Survival Trust's priority list.
Breed club
- The Rare Poultry Society, umbrella · Website
Sources
This page is compiled from:
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