The Thuringian Bearded Chicken

Thuringian Bearded Chickens are an ancient breed created in the Thuringian Forest region of Germany. Rhula is their home town and this breed has been known to the area since the mid 18th century. Thueringer Barthuhn, Thuringer Pausbuckchen and "chubby cheeks" are names they’ve gone by. For a century or more they were only seen in two colors: Silver Spangled and Gold Spangled. They are a clean legged breed with a fluffy beard hiding a hint of lobes and wattles.

Thuringian Bearded Chicken, The Facts:

Class: Medium

Size: Standard Male: 4.5 – 5.5 Ibs. / Standard Female: 3.5 – 4.5Ibs. / Bantam Male: oz. / Bantam Female: oz.

Comb, Wattles & Earlobes: Comb red single, wattles and earlobes nearly non-existent.

Color: Silver Spangled, Black, Chamois Spangle, White, Blue, Yellow, Cuckoo, Partridge, and Gold Spangle. The eyes tend to be brown and the beak usually dark, though varies.

Place of Origin: Germany

Conservation Status: Rare

This breed is a medium breed that does well in cold climates, very active and an excellent forager. There is a Bantam variety first seen during the years of 1890-1914, which became extinct but was recreated some time after 1945.

The breed is known to mature quickly and hens begin to lay white eggs early. Thuringian Bearded hens can lay 160 eggs per year, are not know for going broody, but do have good mothering instincts.

In 2000, the breed began to resurface abroad being exhibited at poultry shows in the UK. At that time 2000 of the breed were known to be in existence. It is not considered an endangered breed, but is considered rare in Germany.

With origins as early as the 1750’s, it’s believed that this breed was developed using an extinct breed known as the “Otterhead” and the Italian Paduan, but did not become an officially recognized breed until 1907.