Bergische Schlotterkamm

The Schlotterkamm has been known since the eighteenth century and is probably the result of crossing imported Spanish birds with local Bergische Kräher stock.^[5] At the beginning of the nineteenth century the breed experienced competition from imported multi-purpose breeds such as the Minorca, and became almost extinct. A breed association, the Vereinigung der Züchter Bergischer Hühnerrassen, was established in 1916.^[6]

In the twenty-first century the Bergische Schlotterkamm is an endangered breed. In 2001 it was an "endangered breed of the year" of the Gesellschaft zur Erhaltung alter und gefährdeter Haustierrassen;^[5] it is listed in category I, "extremely endangered", on the Rote Liste of that organisation.^[7]: 162 In 2013 the total population was around 250.^[5]

A bantam version of the Schlotterkamm was created in the late twentieth century by cross-breeding bantam Bergische Kräher and Thüringer Barthuhn birds. It is found in one plumage colour only, silver-laced black, and is even rarer than the full-sized Schlotterkamm.^[4][8]

The Schlotterkamm is a medium-sized dual-purpose chicken. The shape is long and somewhat rectangular. It has a single comb which flops from one side to the other; it is this that gave the breed its name. Four plumage colours – cuckoo, silver-laced black, gold-laced black and black – have been recognised since 1896.^[4][9] The old cuckoo variant had virtually disappeared by 1922,^[9] and the white Schlotterkamm disappeared as the Leghorn breed became more widespread.^[6]

The Schlotterkamm is a dual-purpose breed, reared both for eggs and for meat. Hens lay about 150 eggs per year; the eggs are white and weigh about 55 g.^[3] The hens have little tendency to broodiness.^{[citation needed]}