Oven-Baked Chicken Bites – Delicious and easy oven-baked chicken recipe! Tender and delicious boneless chicken breast baked in the oven with an irresistible garlic butter sauce. You can get a…
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 [email protected] *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.
Chicken pakora (pakoda) is a crispy and crunchy appetizer, also it is a quick evening snack. It is an easy and simple Indian fried chicken recipe to make in 20 minutes.
Imgur: The magic of the Internet
all the details on our chicken’s new digs
2014 was a fairly good year for me and I entered the New Year with a lot of positive thoughts swimming through my smart and pretty head. And one among them was that I would loose the few extra kgs that had tormented me all through the past year. So determined was I that I even briefly wondered whet
My notes on paper crafts, photography, illustration, and life on the farm, by Anna Wight.
There is no such thing as "just" a chicken curry! This Chicken Jalfrezi recipe has strong Gujurati and Pakistani influences and is often found hanging out at all the best British Indian curry houses.
Garlic Butter Chicken with Parmesan Cauliflower Rice – Crispy, soft and SO delish! These garlic butter chicken cutlets with parmesan cauliflower rice are just perfect for those busy weeknight…
Very tasty and spicy Hyderabadi restaurant style Chicken majestic recipe.It is an Indo-Chinese recipe mostly served as an accompaniment to alcohol..........
Chicken Boti Kabab is a popular Indian Chicken kabab recipe that's extremely flavorful & made with tender juicy chicken boneless meat pieces marinated in a special yogurt based marinade and cooked until just done.
Chicken pakora is a quick Indian appetizer made with gram flour, chicken, spices & herbs. These are amazing to serve for parties with some green chutney or masala tea.
Love balsamic chicken? This Italian Caprese Chicken from Delish.com is the best.
