I have a couple Biels and I wish I had more. They’re smart, friendly, large, cold hardy, and are an auto-sexing breed. I had to rehome my cockerel as we are not allowed to have roosters. I’m in MN and I know a good small breeder who will ship chicks when the weather warms up.I have also been considering adding bielefelders. How are they as far as predator awareness and free-ranging / foraging? They seem to have good coloration for survival, but I have neighbors who have lost chickens to hawks and I would like to avoid that. My current flock is in a run with aviary netting over it and they have survived since last spring. If I add to my flock, I don't know how much I can enlarge the run, and I would like to free range more anyway.
Everyone talks about how docile and friendly they are which makes me wonder if they are also alert, or more like naive and unreasonably friendly to everything including predators
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Does anyone have any relevant experience to share?
And also, I'm in Western Pennsylvania a bit east of Pittsburgh. Does anyone know anyone who breeds them in this area(Ohio, Pa, Wv)?
Thanks