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Silver Spangled

Characteristics

Colour: Silvery white with a lacy bonnet; feather tips have black dots (spangles). Also Gold Spangled, Black Spangled and Barthuhner varieties.

The Appenzeller – the national chicken breed of Switzerland – originated in the Canton of Appenzeller, where it is thought to have existed for over four hundred years. The bird’s comb is similar to a traditional pointed lace bonnet from the area: a spitzhauben.

During World War II the Appenzeller Spitzhauben came close to extinction and it was only the dedication of German breeders in the 1950s that ensured its survival. It is a good, hardy breed, well adapted to living in mountainous regions. The birds require little attention if they have a good foraging area and virtually look after themselves. The Appenzeller does not like to be confined and is at its best when given the freedom to roam; the birds are superb climbers and will happily roost in trees. It will lay in the region of 150 eggs a year so is possibly not the best of layers, but is “a good companion”.

Originally found only in Switzerland the breed is now seen throughout the British Isles and Europe, the USA, Canada and Australia.