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Altsteirer Chicken Breed Info

Modified: Feb 6, 2023 by Phil · This post may contain affiliate links ·

The Altsteirer is a beautiful, ancient chicken breed that hails from Austria. They are sometimes called “Styrian Chickens” because of the place they originated from. They are a dual-purpose breed, which means that they can be used for both meat and egg production.

An adorable Altsteirer Chicken perched on a tree stump.
Image source: Instagram

They make excellent quality meat birds due to their plump, round body shape. They are also solid egg layers. Altsteirer hens will lay 150-180 white eggs each year. They rarely go broody, which is good news if you don’t plan on raising chicks.

Jump to:
  • Altsteirer Chicken Breed Quick Info
  • Origins of the Altsteirer Chicken
  • Some Things to Know About the Altsteirer Chicken
  • How Easy is it to Keep Altsteirer Chickens?
  • Special Care and Considerations for Altsteirer Chickens
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Altsteirer Chicken Breed Quick Info

Altsteirer Chicken Description

Altsteirer Type/Size:Standard
Feather Color:Brown or white
Leg Type:Clean
Leg Color:Yellow
Skin Color:Yellow
Altsteirer Ease of Raising/Keeping:Easy
Altsteirer Special Care Needs:No
Is the Altsteirer breed a common, rare, or protected breed of chicken?Rare, endangered

Altsteirer Use

MeatYes
EggsYes
Dual PurposeYes
Altsteirer Temperament:Skittish, active
Altsteirer Ability/Likelihood to Free Range:Yes

Altsteirer Egg Production

Egg ColorWhite
Egg SizeMedium
Estimated Number of Eggs Per Year150-180
Likeliness to Brood Eggs/Raise ChicksLow

Altsteirer Meat Production

Dressed Weight Male4 ½ lbs.
Dressed Weight Female3 ¼  lbs.

Altsteirer Climate Tolerance

HeatGood
ColdGood

Altsteirer Age to Maturity

Number of Months to Reach Full Size5 Months
Number of Months to Start Egg Laying5 Months
Number of Weeks/Months to Reach Meat Harvest Size16 Weeks

Altsteirer Size at Maturity

Male6 ½ lbs.
Female4 ½ lbs.

Origins of the Altsteirer Chicken

An adorable Altsteirer Chicken standing near a wooden cart in a backyard.
Image source: Instagram

The Altsteirer chicken breed originated in the state of Styria in Austria. It is an ancient breed that was developed to be a dual-purpose bird. Over hundreds of years, landrace chickens in the area were used to create the ancestor if today’s Altsteirer chicken.

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Over time, the Polish chicken was crossbred into the mix (giving them the small crest on the back of their heads). Today, they are extremely rare outside of Austria. Even in Austria, they are considered endangered. There are currently only about 1,200 registered breeding animals in the country.

Some Things to Know About the Altsteirer Chicken

A beautiful Altsteirer rooster in a backyard on a sunny day.

These medium-sized chickens have a beautiful, striking appearance. They boast white earlobes and light yellow legs. You’ll also notice that they have a small, upright crest that sticks up behind their single red comb.

Wild brown and white are the two main colors you’ll find these chickens in. There are a few colors that are extinct, including silver duckwing, speckled, black, and cuckoo. However, with careful breeding, it may be possible to bring these colors back into existence.

How Easy is it to Keep Altsteirer Chickens?

A close-up of an adorable Altsteirer Chicken.

These birds are a wonderful choice for homesteaders and small farmers, as they are a true dual-purpose breed. They excel at both meat and egg production. When developing the breed, the goal was to make a strong, healthy breed for small farms out in the Austrian countryside. They certainly succeeded, as they created a hardy productive chicken.

One thing to be aware of is that Altsteirer chickens can fly very well. Although they excel as free-range birds, this means that they need high fencing or a covered run. It also means you may need to prevent them from roosting in nearby trees.

They are not the cuddliest breed out there and, as such, do not make the best pet or show birds.

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Special Care and Considerations for Altsteirer Chickens

As with all birds with a single comb, frostbite can be an issue. When the temperature drops, you can help to protect their comb with a bit of vaseline.

Altsteirer Chicken Breed Info pinterest image.

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