The first recorded mentions of the Sulmtaler appear in the 14th century, praising the exceptional quality of its meat. Over the following centuries, the reputation of these chickens from the Sulm Valley spread across Europe. Demand for the breed grew rapidly, and by 1900 a concerted effort was made to standardize the breed and refine its strengths for agricultural production. The finest birds from this renowned wine-growing region were selected, and the name “Sulmtaler” was given to the chickens produced under this more structured breeding program.

The Sulm Valley, nestled in southern Styria, provided the ideal backdrop for this development. As a fertile lowland shaped by the Sulm River and known for its rich agricultural heritage, the region had long supported both crop cultivation and livestock breeding. Its abundance helped the Sulmtaler thrive, even as the valley weathered periods of hardship, including natural disasters and waves of military conflict. Through it all, the breed and the people who bred it proved remarkably resilient, allowing the Sulmtaler to endure and continue its rise in prominence.

Thanks to Armin Arbeiter, the man behind the standardization effort, the Sulmtaler was well established by 1915. In the years that followed, its reputation spread to neighboring countries, driven by the breed’s practicality and fine qualities. Local farmers earned higher prices per pound for Sulmtalers at market, and the birds thrived on what was already there, the valley’s abundant grain harvests. The Sulmtaler efficiently turned this rich diet into excellent growth and reliable egg production.

Two world wars followed, and the Sulmtaler persisted in their region but were all but lost to the chaos in the surrounding European landscape. In 1957, the commercial chicken industry spread through the area, and the dwindling population of Sulmtaler suffered the loss, unable to fairly compete with the new standards. However, a few dedicated hobbyists kept small flocks thriving, and in 1980, an effort at conservation was made to preserve this rare breed, bringing them back from the brink of extinction.

The roosters are large and have an incandescently bright metallic sheen to their feathers. The hens have an entirely different pattern that is no less beautiful for its muted cream and russet tones. Both rooster and hen share the delightful feathered head crest. Their legs are clean and pickish, chests broad, earlobes white, and combs confusing. Roosters sport an upright, serrated, single comb, while hens have an “S” or wickel comb that wraps back and forth and sits upright.

From chick to adult, the Sulmtaler ramians active and friendly. Due to their size, they do not have a strong urge to take flight or hop tall fences. In mixed flocks, the hens can become moody towards smaller breeds, but it is not an outstanding issue.

We incubate at 99.5F and 55% humidity. Once you've placed your eggs into your hatcher for lockdown, you should expect to see that most of the eggs will hatch on day 21, some will wait for day 22, though. Typically, we see about a 90-95% hatch rate from the eggs that made it to lockdown. The chicks are strong and tend to hatch well without intervention.

It is recommended to breed the Sulmtaler for show, to keep one pen to produce male offspring and one pen dedicated to producing female offspring. Since the Standard of perfection for comb differs for both male and female, the ideal setup is females with the correct style of comb in a breeding pen with a male who does not technically have the ideal comb; this pen will produce ideal females. In the other pen, a male with the correct comb and females with the incorrect comb, this pen will produce the ideal male offspring. Greenfire does not breed this way.