Origin: The
Pointed Hood Hen has been present in the Alps for centuries. According to
unconfirmed reports it was supposed to have been bred already in the 15th
century. During the breed demarcationing of the last century it was found only
in the canton Appenzell, for which reason it was named the “Appenzell Pointed
Hood” Hen.
Characteristics: The
Pointed Hood Hen is ideally adapted to the conditions of the mountains. It
climbs admirably on rocky ground and can fly well, which intensifies the wild
hen impression. It gladly spends the night in a tree - even in snow. Because it
has only small throat lopes and instead of a comb two small horns, there is
little surface for frost to bite. Characteristic is the narrow,
forward-inclining hood of feathers on the head. Hens weigh mostly only a little
over 1 kg, roosters over 1,5 kg. Pointed Hood Hens are relatively good layers;
they lay approx. 150 white-shelled eggs in the first year, each 55 g in weight.
The brooding instinct is very minimal.
Breeding
Organization: A few breeders in the Appenzell Hen Club must be thanked for
their efforts at saving this hen. Of course only four of the originally more
than ten colors could be maintained from the few remaining hens in the 1950s.
Most common are the silver-black spotted ones; they are put on exhibit over and
over again at hen breeders exhibitions. More seldom is the gold-black spotted
variety. They are held to be sensitive nurslings, and for the refreshment of
blood in a breed hardly any other breeds are suited. Very rare are the pure
black and the pure blue Pointed Hood Hens. They exist only in very few,
numerically small and heavily inbreeding-damaged lines.
Reference:
Endangered
Domestic Animal Breeds 1995, Pro Specie Rara, Engelgasse 12a, CH-9000 St.
Gallen, Switzerland, Telefon 071/222 74 20, Fax 071/223 74 01. German
Translation provided by John te Velde, Associate Professor of German, Oklahoma
State University
Photographs:
Endangered
Domestic Animal Breeds 1995, Pro Specie Rara, Engelgasse 12a, CH-9000 St.
Gallen, Switzerland, Telefon 071/222 74 20, Fax 071/223 74 01. German
Translation provided by John te Velde, Associate Professor of German, Oklahoma
State University
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