Deathlayer Chicken — Quick Facts

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🌍 Origin: Germany
🧬 Breed Type: Dual-purpose (heritage laying strain)
❄️ Cold Hardiness: Excellent — winter-proven, cold-climate tolerant
🥚 Egg Production: ~200–250 eggs per year
🎨 Egg Color: White to light cream (often with a porcelain sheen)
📏 Egg Size: Medium to large
⏳ Laying Pattern: Consistent, long-term layers (often productive into old age)
🧠 Temperament: Alert, intelligent, moderately friendly
🌿 Foraging Ability: Excellent — active and efficient foragers
🪺 Broodiness: Low to moderate
✨ Appearance: Striking plumage with highly variable color patterns
🌍 Rarity: Rare outside of Europe and specialty breeding programs

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About the Deathlayer

 

The Deathlayer is a rare and historically fascinating European breed originating in Germany, traditionally valued for its remarkable longevity and sustained egg production. The breed nearly went extinct in Germany, and they are still very rare.  Its name comes from old folklore suggesting the hens would continue laying eggs for the entirety of their lives—a reputation that, while poetic, reflects their genuinely long productive span compared to many modern hybrids.  The actual reason for the name may be a mistranslation from Low German name meaning "permanent layer".

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Unlike commercial layers bred for short bursts of extreme output, Deathlayers are steady, resilient birds. They are particularly well-suited to cold climates, handling harsh winters with ease while maintaining respectable egg production when other breeds slow down. Their tight feathering, strong constitutions, and active metabolism make them ideal for northern environments.

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Visually, Deathlayers are anything but ordinary. This variability, combined with their alert and intelligent nature, gives them a strong presence in the flock.

 

Temperament-wise, Deathlayers strike a practical balance. They are not lap chickens, but they are calm, observant, and people-aware—curious without being flighty. Their excellent foraging ability makes them a smart choice for pasture-based or free-range systems, where they actively contribute to flock efficiency and health.

For keepers looking for a cold-hardy, rare, long-living layer with heritage value and real-world productivity, the Deathlayer stands apart as a truly distinctive breed.

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Deathlayer Breed Standard & Genetic Integrity

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Breed Overview

The Deathlayer (Westfälische Totleger) is a historic German landrace laying breed valued for longevity, genetic depth, and distinctive physical markers. True Deathlayers are identified by a combination of structure, feather patterning, eye color, and comb type, rather than uniform coloration.

 

Head, Eyes & Comb

• Eyes: Solid black “doll” eyes (a defining hallmark of the breed)

• Comb: Compact cushion/rose-style comb; low-profile and cold-hardy

• Beak: Slightly curved with a strong base and clean taper; horn to dark horn in color

• Face: Smooth and refined, with a keen, alert expression

Incorrect eye color or tall single combs are considered serious deviations from breed type.

 

Body Type & Posture

• Frame: Medium-sized, refined heritage layer type

• Posture: Moderately upright, alert carriage with good balance

• Bone: Fine-to-medium, dry and athletic (never coarse or heavy)

• Tail: Well-developed, with visible iridescence in darker feathering

Roosters:

• More upright stance, pronounced presence

• Fuller hackles and saddle feathers

• Strong tail development with confidence and composure

Hens:

• Slightly lower, efficient stance

• Streamlined body emphasizing laying capacity

• Tighter, more refined feather patterning

 

Feather Pattern & Color Genetics

Deathlayers are pattern-defined, not color-fixed. Correct birds show clear, repeated penciling or structured patterning across the body.

Common pattern expressions include:

• Penciled

• Spangled

• Mottled

• Barred or crele-influenced layering

Genetic bases include:

• Silver (S): White to pale silver ground color with dark penciling

• Gold (s⁺): Warm brown or reddish ground color with dark penciling

• Lemon: A dilution of gold producing pale straw or lemon-toned ground color beneath patterning

Feathering should show clean edges, strong contrast, and structural clarity. Washed-out color, smudging, or indistinct patterning is undesirable.

 

​Temperament & Behavior

• Disposition: Alert, intelligent, and self-directed

• Flock Behavior: Confident without unnecessary aggression

• Foraging Drive: High; active and environmentally engaged

Correct Deathlayers are observant and responsive, never dull or lethargic.

 

Functional Breed Traits

• Egg Color: White to light cream

• Egg Size: Medium to large

• Production Style: Persistent, long-term laying rather than early burnout

• Cold Hardiness: Excellent; suited to harsh winter conditions

 

Undesirable Traits

The following traits are actively selected against:

• Any eye color other than solid black

• Tall single combs, floppy or coarse comb texture

• Muddy or poorly defined feather patterning

• Heavy, meat-type body structure

• Nervous, panicky, or overly aggressive temperament

• Poor vigor, weak feather quality, or structural imbalance

 

Breeding Standards

Selection is based on:

• Correct breed-specific eye and comb traits

• Clear silver, gold, and lemon genetic expression

• Strong posture and functional body type

• Temperament stability and foraging ability

• Proven vitality, cold resilience, and laying persistence

This approach preserves the Deathlayer as a true heritage laying strain, maintaining both genetic integrity and real-world performance.

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❤️ Why You’ll Love Deathlayers

• Hardy & dependable – steady layers that thrive in cold climates

• Smart, active foragers – excellent pasture birds that stay engaged

• Calm but capable – observant, confident, and easy to manage

• Rare with presence – visually striking birds that feel special to own