Westfaelischer Totleger

The Totleger derives from the traditional rural chickens of Westphalia, and was reared mainly in the area of the cities of Bielefeld and Herford. It... more

by Eva Lechner

Title

Westfaelischer Totleger

Artist

Eva Lechner

Medium

Photograph

Description

The Totleger derives from the traditional rural chickens of Westphalia, and was reared mainly in the area of the cities of Bielefeld and Herford. It is closely related to the Ostfriesische Möwe and to the Braekel.

Although the German word Tot means "dead" and Leger means "(egg-)layer", the real meaning is another. Due to the considerable ability to produce eggs, the breed was called "Alltagsleger" ("every-day layer") or "Dauerleger". Under the influence of Low German the name changed into "Doutleijer". Later, from this Low German word, it developed into "Totleger". Derivation from "lays eggs until death" is not correct.

The Totleger was a popular breed until the arrival of more productive foreign breeds in the 1880s. By the time a breeders' association was formed in 1904, it had become largely an exhibition breed. Numbers remained low throughout the twentieth century, reaching a low point in the 1980s.

In 2013 the recorded population consisted of 301 cocks and 1353 hens;142  in 2016 it had fallen to 176 cocks and 798 hens, in the hands of 112 breeders.  In 2016 the breed was classified as "gravely endangered"

Copyright 2022 Eva Lechner(Canon EOS R5,Canon RF 35mm F1,8 ISO 100)

Uploaded

July 29th, 2022