Purebred Appenzeller Spitzhaubens or mixed? (2024)

Hatched eggs from our own chickens. The eggs were from Appenzeller Spitzhauben hens. We have 2 roosters, one icelandic (Dominant) and one Silver Spangled Appenzeller Spitzhauben (Submissive). Are these chicks purebred Spitzhaubens or Icelandic/Spitzhauben mixes? They look almost identical to purebred Spitzhaubens but it’s unlikely that they’re pure since the most dominant rooster is the Icelandic. He mates with all the hens whenever he wants and the Spitzhauben only mates when the Icelandic isn’t looking (Which is relatively often but the other still mates those same ones but more) Can anyone tell if they are purebred or mixed? Is it possible to tell at this age? Or is it too early? (4 weeks) I am hoping at least a few are purebred, even though the chances of that are relatively slim.

I included pictures of all the chicks plus some of the two potential fathers.

That is going to be very difficult to tell. Both roosters are silver based in color, and both have crests, although the Icelandic's is smaller.

I think their combs could tell the tale, but they are too small yet to be sure. Purebreds would have the V-shaped combs. V combs are partially dominant, so mixed with a bird with a single comb you'd get something in between the two, and possibly something like the comb type of Sicilian Buttercups.

HorseGirlAbby said:

It’s too early to tell for sure. Both dads look so similar it may be impossible to tell even when they’re older.

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JedJackson said:

That is going to be very difficult to tell. Both roosters are silver based in color, and both have crests, although the Icelandic's is smaller.

I think their combs could tell the tale, but they are too small yet to be sure. Purebreds would have the V-shaped combs. V combs are partially dominant, so mixed with a bird with a single comb you'd get something in between the two, and possibly something like the comb type of Sicilian Buttercups.

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Thank you both for your responses! What made me think they could be pure is because we also have this chick, who is very likely a Icelandic/Spitzhauben mix. (Which I found out thanks to someone on BYC) and she looks very different from the others. Can chicks with the same parents look this different?

CashewVulture said:

Thank you both for your responses! What made me think they could be pure is because we also have this chick, who is very likely a Icelandic/Spitzhauben mix. (Which I found out thanks to someone on BYC) and she looks very different from the others. Can chicks with the same parents look this different?

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That one is definitely a mix. The comb type is a mix of single and V combs. Also her crest points backwards like an Icelandic's crest. So you make a good point. The ones in the previous photos do look different. But it's still a guessing game at this point. I'd keep an eye on the combs above all else. There can be a great deal of color variation in mixes.

JedJackson said:

That one is definitely a mix. The comb type is a mix of single and V combs. Also her crest points backwards like an Icelandic's crest. So you make a good point. The ones in the previous photos do look different. But it's still a guessing game at this point. I'd keep an eye on the combs above all else. There can be a great deal of color variation in mixes.

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Ok thanks! I’m just wondering if maybe there are other ways to find out? I know Spitzhaubens always have big nostrils (kind of shaped like a heart laying on its side) and Icelandics (and most chicken breeds) have normal side line nostrils. The Icelandic/Spitzhauben cross I just showed has normal line nostrils. The other chicks above that look Spitzhauben have the big nostrils. I don’t know if that means anything or not . Can feet color also mean anything?

I will continue looking at the combs as they grow and we’ll see! But for now, #1 and #3 have pretty big combs and I don’t see any single comb signs…they look pretty V to me. They’re not perfectly shaped but almost none of our adult spitzhaubens have perfect Vs.