History of the big race In 1894 doctor Hans Rudolf von Langen from Euskirchen in Germany crossbred Italian chickens with chickens from the village around Eifel. The chickens around the village of Eifel were weather resistant, tough and modest. With this crossbreeding he could make a resilient chicken who produced a lot of eggs. After a few years with a strong selection he won the first German egg laying competition in 1908 with the Rhinelander in competition with 67 competitors. Through this victory the Rhinelander became famous and in 1910 they were bred in Switzerland. There are now more and more breeder interested in Rhinelander chickens.

Typical achievement The Rhinelanders are resistant and usually lay eggs for more then one year. With a body weight for the cock from 2 – 2.7kg and for the hen from 1.8 – 2.4kg the Rhinelander are very good egg layers. The eggs are a minimum 55g in weight and white. In the first years the hen lays approximately 200 eggs and in the second year approximately 180 eggs.

Breeding goal The Rhinelanders have a distinctive shape  a deep chest and wide back. They have an unusual comb and small white ears. In Switzerland we breed five different colours, black, white, blue with a black trim, black-blue giving a speckled effect and brown. The black are very attractive birds and lock very decorative against a green lawn. 

History of the small race The small Rhinelander were first bred in Germany. In 1921 they were first exhibited but only the black ones. In Switzerland they have been around since the middle of the 20 century.

Typical achievement Small cocks have a body weight between 0.8 and 1.0kg and the hens are between 0.7 and 0.9kg. The hens lays white eggs with a weight of 35g.

Breeding goal The small Rhinelanders have the same shape as the big ones. They are lively and confident. In Switzerland the small Rhinelander are bred in four colours, black, white, brown and blue with a black trim.