Appenzeller Barthuhn

Appenzeller Barthuhn
Cock and hens
Conservation status
  • SAVE Foundation (2003): critical[1]: 27 
  • FAO (2007): not at risk[2]: 151 
  • DAD-IS (2022): at risk[3]
Other names
Country of originSwitzerland
Distribution
  • Switzerland
  • Austria
  • Germany
Useeggs
Classification
APAno[4]
EEyes[5]
PCGBsoft feather light[6]
A hen of the black colour variant

The Appenzeller Barthuhn is a Swiss breed of bearded chicken originating in the historical Appenzell region of Switzerland.[7] It is one of two chicken breeds from that area, the other being the Appenzeller Spitzhauben; the only other Swiss breed of chicken is the Schweizer.

History

The Barthuhn was bred from about 1860 in the historical Appenzell region of Switzerland. It may derive, at least in part, from Italiener, Polverara and Russian Bearded stock.[7][8]: 36  Much of the breeding was done by a man named Züst in the district of Vorderland in the Canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden, who hoped that a bearded and rose-combed bird might have a better resistance to frost than other chickens.[7] The breed was recognised in 1898.[7]

A bantam version was bred in the 1990s by E. Meier of Bottenwil, in the Canton of Aargau.[7]

A flock-book was started in 2005; in 2019 the recorded population consisted of 334 hens and 205 cocks.[9]: 12 

Characteristics

The Barthuhn is a light chicken: hens weigh some 1.6–1.8 kg, cock birds about 2.0–2.3 kg.[10][11]

It is recognised by the Entente Européenne in three colours: partridge, black and blue-laced;[5] other sources list only the first two colours.[12][1]: 305  The Poultry Club of Great Britain allows any colour seen in any breed of game fowl.[8]: 41 

Ring size is 18 mm for cocks and 16 mm for hens.[12][13]: 4 

Use

Hens may lay some 150 white-shelled eggs in their first year, with an average weight of 55 g.[10][14]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Appenzeller Barthuhn.
  1. ^ a b [Monitoring Institute for Rare Breeds and Seeds in Europe] (2003). Agricultural Genetic Resources in the Alps; Landwirtschaftliche Genressourcen der Alpen; Ressources génétiques agricoles des Alpes; Risorse genetiche agricole delle Alpi; Kmetijski genetski viri v Alpha. Zürich: Bristol-Stiftung; Bern, Stuttgart, Wien: Haupt. ISBN 3258066698. Archived 24 May 2022.
  2. ^ Barbara Rischkowsky, Dafydd Pilling (editors) (2007). List of breeds documented in the Global Databank for Animal Genetic Resources, annex to The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Rome: Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ISBN 9789251057629. Archived 23 June 2020.
  3. ^ Breed data sheet: Appenzeller Barthuhn / Switzerland (Chicken). Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed August 2022.
  4. ^ APA Recognized Breeds and Varieties: As of January 1, 2012. American Poultry Association. Archived 4 November 2017.
  5. ^ a b Liste des races et variétés homologuée dans les pays EE (28.04.2013). Entente Européenne d’Aviculture et de Cuniculture. Archived 16 June 2013.
  6. ^ Chickens: Soft Feather Light. Poultry Club of Great Britain. Archived 9 November 2018.
  7. ^ a b c d e Norbert Niemeyer (2011). Hühner aus dem Appenzeller Land (in German). Geflügelzeitung 23/2011. Berlin: HK Verlagsgesellschaft.
  8. ^ a b J. Ian H. Allonby, Philippe B. Wilson (editors) (2018). British Poultry Standards: complete specifications and judging points of all standardized breeds and varieties of poultry as compiled by the specialist breed clubs and recognised by the Poultry Club of Great Britain, seventh edition. Chichester; Hoboken, New Jersey: Wiley Blackwell. ISBN 9781119509141.
  9. ^ Tiergenetische Ressourcen der Schweizer Landwirtschaft (in German). Bern: Bundesamt für Landwirtschaft. Accessed August 2022.
  10. ^ a b Das Appenzeller Barthuhn (in German). Neukirch an der Thur: Züchterverein für ursprüngliches Nutzgeflügel. Archived 27 November 2016.
  11. ^ Appenzeller Barthuhn (in German). ProSpecieRara Schweiz. Accessed August 2022.
  12. ^ a b Rassename: Appenzeller Barthühner. Entente Européenne d’Aviculture et de Cuniculture. Accessed August 2022.
  13. ^ [s.n.] (2021). Ringgrössenverzeichnis/Liste des bagues (in German and French). Standard- und Fachkommission von Rassegeflügel Schweiz/Commission du standard et technique de Volailles de race Suisse. Accessed August 2022.
  14. ^ Rassetafeln: Hühner (in German). Reichenbach, Haselbachtal: Bund Deutscher Rassegeflügelzüchter. Accessed August 2022.