Westfälischer Totleger
Gallus gallus domesticus
✨ Fun Fact
The Westfälischer Totleger's name — 'Dead Layer' — sounds ominous but refers to something farmers considered a virtue: the hens lay even when other birds are 'dead' (i.e. not laying). In the days before electric lighting in hen houses, a hen that continued laying through the dark months of winter was extraordinarily valuable, which is why Westphalian farmers preserved this characteristic so carefully.
A remarkable German laying breed from Westphalia, whose name translates as 'Dead Layer' — a reference to the breed's most unusual characteristic: it lays eggs continuously throughout the year without the seasonal laying break that virtually every other breed takes in winter. While most hens reduce or stop laying when days shorten in autumn, the Westfälischer Totleger continues producing white eggs year-round. This economically valuable trait was selected by Westphalian farmers over generations and led to the breed's striking name. Recognised by BDRG and EE, it is today a rare conservation breed.
🏷️ Breed
Westfälischer Totleger
💭 Temperament
Active, alert, independent, hardy, self-sufficient
📏 Size
Medium (1.8-2.7 kg)
⏳ Lifespan
5-8 years
🎨 Colors
Black with beetle-green iridescence (most common); also cuckoo, white
🌍 Origin
Germany — Westphalia; documented from 19th century; BDRG recognised
🏠 Habitat
Free-range or enclosed run; adapted to Westphalian climate
🍽️ Diet
Layer pellets; efficient forager that supplements diet naturally
🎯 Purpose
Egg
🥚 Egg Colour
White
👑 Comb Type
Single
🏅 EE Class
Large Fowl