Description
The Silver Spangled Spitzhauben, chicken also known as Appenzeller Spitzhauben (pointed hood) chicken, originated in Switzerland and is their national bird. This chicken is very rare in the United States and not yet admitted to the American Standard of Perfection. Noted characteristics are cavernous nostrils, horn type comb and mid size forward-pointing head crest which gives them their name. Cackle Hatchery® imported 3 breeding roosters of the Appenzeller Silver Spangled Spitzhaubens in 2013 to improve and work on our breeding program. Traditionally in the states most Spitzhaubens have the crest going backward and too much of a crest. Cackle Hatchery® would like to be instrumental in correcting this breeding issue with our own flock and hope others follow. Spitzhauben chickens are a good free range chicken and do not do well confined. They are active, alert and like to roost in trees.
Also may like our Crested “Top Hat” Special.
For more information about this breed check out our blog Breed Spotlight: Appenzeller Spitzhaubens
lajems65 –
I have two different hens that I received in two different orders over the last two years. They have such great personalities. One follows us around demanding treats and likes having her own special pile, the other also loves her special treats and waits for me when it is time to shut them in and flies over the fence when she sees me so i can carry her inside. Love my spitzhaubens
lassiedail –
Very attractive and active birds. They are more independent than many of my standard chickens, wanting to roost in a fig tree. One female has a funny crow-like voice. I love watching them forage.
carolinabayroan –
I wish the reviews would allow for photos, I took several of my chicks just to make a review. So far so good at 3 weeks. I ordered silver spangled and chamois spitzhaubens, and received extra of both to my delight. They are flighty as described, all came healthy and are thriving. This is my first time ordering chicks online through a hatchery and I’ll continue to order through cackle, very pleased with these birds.
Joyce Evenson –
Our Spitzhauben arrived this am. Very happy with these little guys and super excited to see them grow. Received everyone healthy n happy with extras (deeply appreciate it). They are great egg layers and foragers as a breed and very economical to keep. Perfect for homesteading or a survivalist chicken as these guys are super adaptable and have a great look while being highly functional (not something you find too frequently in most chicken breeds–it’s often either looks or function, but rarely both). My other spitzhauben are great around kids, just keeping a proper distance between themselves and any “danger.” Not a lap chicken unless you work with them, but not overly flighty or aggressive by any means.
levityspotion –
I love my Spitzhaubens! Got the first ones from Cackle and I have their descendants. They are cute, quirky, friendly, mellow. Excellent layers! Mid size. Most importantly, though, I want to comment on Cackle’s description that they don’t tolerate confinement….sure they do! I no longer free range my flock due to hawks and the Spitzhaubens are just fine with that. They are calm and happy in their run, just as my other breeds are. Description also says they roost in trees? Nonsense. Even when my flock free ranged, they always went back in the coop at sundown. They are no different than my Sussex’s, leghorns, barred rocks, Orpingtons in their tame-ness and behaviors. Don’t miss out on this most excellent breed. We need more of them in the world!
Beverley Arnholt –
Sweetest, smartest and prettiest chickens I’ve met so far. I ordered 15 and got 18… all thrived! I kept 4 girls and a roo who have just turned 5 months old and they are my friendliest, most curious chickens. They’re not at all flighty, and will hop on me to see what’s happening when I’m doing chores in the pen. They’ve just started laying and are laying an egg a day despite it being mid- December. They’re also quite tidy as far as chickens go. Cackle’s birds are very correct – my appenzellers all have forward, tidy crests, dark legs and no squirrel tails. There are no downsides to these chickens 🙂
crown.c.aussies –
My favorite bird!
I ordered a rare breed assortment and got both a Silver and Golden Spangled Spitzhauben! The silver is the sweetest thing and loves to hangout by my feet anywhere I go it just nap while sitting in my lap! I would definitely order more!!
msmidwifery –
Family Favorite
I’ve raised chickens for decades. Every spring I get a new breed or two. The only chickens I keep into ripe old age are the Spitzhaubens (the rest get given away or stewed after about three years), because by then each of them has declared herself to have a unique personality. Our only chicken to have a name was Mary, a spitzhauben. She lived 14 years, survived record setting floods, attack by a Great Horned owl (who took a slower moving cornishX instead), predation by wandering beagle, possum, fox….Even at 14 years old she was the top hen in the flock. She’d get loose and follow us around, chatting amiably. All our friends knew her by name because she would greet them as they walked up the path to the door. She just perished this spring when the coyotes found our barn which I had forgotten to close one night 🙁 —I found her body close to the entrance, and I am pretty sure she died defending the flock. Of all the chickens we’ve had, she is the one who will actually receive a proper burial (she’s in the freezer till Spring).
Our spitz roosters have always been pleasant as well.
Nagid –
Birds are great, doing well!
Great dealing with Jeff. The first batch I got of the Silver Spangled Appenzellers gotchilled at the airport and did not make it after arriving here in Fl. Called and they did a reorder for a few weeks later and they have all done well. I did have one hen who went broody and raised her own biddies and she was only about 8 months old. She had a hidden nest that I did find until she was setting. Had about half rosters so have 8 hens still laying at his time. Really pretty birds!
Virginia –
Stellar birds!
I ordered the Silver Spangled Appenzeller Spitzhaubens from Cackle after doing extensive research on both the breed and hatchery.
Pros: Dalmation chicken with a mohawk. Really, what isn’t to love? Birds are quirky and curious, very social. First of my order to start laying at only 6 months. Easily incorporated into my existing flock, doing well in the mix. Hens have a very distinctive call, and are very chatty birds (which we love).
Cons: Easily startled, can fly quite a distance. Can be a challenge to keep them in sight while free-ranging. Pronouncing their full name is both difficult and makes one sound rather pretentious.
Overall: Stellar birds! Very pretty, friendly, and nice egg layers. Do well confined and in a mixed flock.
Joe –
Great birds
I have ordered them twice in 2019. The first was a test run to see if we liked the breed. Then a big order in mid summer. Very friendly and love to climb. Not flighty but very curious.
Wolfee –
Best Chickens Ever
The best rooster I have ever had the pleasure of knowing came from our order of these spectacular & interesting birds. The hens are equally stunning in appearance & we had no bad apples behaviorally. They all develop slightly different spot patterns (unique to the individuals, like spots on a dalmation or stripes on a tiger), which helps family members & guests tell them apart better than if you got solid colored common breeds- which are identified with greater effort, knowledge of personalities, or giving them bracelets/legbands. Our roosters also each grew slightly varying mowhawks of feathers on their heads (come on, can these chickens look any more awesome? I think not). After over a decade of bird experience & all the bird companions I’ve worked with/raised, I have to say Cackle Hatchery really left a good impression on us with wide selection, reasonable prices, speedy delivery of healthy peeping babies packed carefully, & zero chick losses of order. Whether you’re looking for some character-filled companion birds, or enjoying raising good-tempered hens who gift you healthy eggs at home, these chickens should definitely cross your mind. I notice people label birds as “dual-purpose” sometimes; Silver Spangled Appenzeller Spitzhaubens do not grow freakishly fast (aka- obese in couple weeks), they are heritage breed birds which grow at a NORMAL growth rate- You can still eat them & enjoy the meat, if you plan on keeping chickens for longer than a couple weeks or if you want to establish a long-term flock, these birds will be more apt to develop healthier & have the potential to live longer than overly inbred or genetically altered breeds. Half our flock are S.S.A.S.- the eggs are delicious & the rate of lay is perfect for a family. Plenty for us, with a little to share or trade with friends. Don’t be discouraged by first eggs being tiny, they get bigger as the hen continues growing & level off at medium size.
Rich –
Great chickens
I have a verity of chickens from cackle. I’d say the spitzhaubens are my favorite free rangers of the group. They are one of the most adventurous breeds. They find enough food that they don’t care to show up for dinner sometimes and once they are full grown seem to be able to avoid predation very well. We also don’t have large Hawks or eagles where I live.
Johnette –
Spitzhaubens
Spitzhaubens are great chickens, one of my favorite breeds! Not just because they are so unique looking with their top knots, but they lay a very nice size egg to be a medium sized bird!. They can forage for half their food, so I don’t have to pour tons of feed to them, like some birds. But one of my favorite reasons I like Spitzhaubens is their little personalities! They are friendly and always want to help out around the farm! Never a dull moment with Spitzhaubens!
Becca –
Lovely Birds
I love this breed and they came healthy and hearty. I have one roo and two hens. They are beautiful birds.
MJM –
Lovely, intelligent birds
I’ll admit it: I wanted a few Silver Spangled Appenzeller Spitzhauben Chickens simply because of their looks. They’re gorgeous birds, upright in build and beautifully marked. I was pleasantly surprised at their appealing personalities and intelligence. The roosters aren’t aggressive, which was a relief; I won’t have a nasty-tempered rooster here. They’re smart birds: One of the hens gently tugs at my pants leg when I’m not feeding them fast enough, and one of the roosters likes to escape from the run daily and greet me halfway to the house or barn when I’m doing livestock chores, then keeps me company. They lay a smaller, perfectly white well-formed egg, and although they don’t keep up with the Marans for egg quantity, they aren’t slackers, either. They’re not easy to catch but neither are they crazy flighty, and they get along well with the rest of the poultry. They aren’t fighters and they aren’t bullies. I recommend the breed for anyone who wants to add some dazzle to their flock or who enjoys birds with interesting personalities – or even those who will enjoy announcing, “I’ve got some Silver Spangled Appenzeller Spitzhaubens” to friends.