I have a Bielefelder roo and hen that were hatched this summer, and I absolutely love them! They are BIG birds - the biggest in my flock (a mixed bunch of production reds, Marans, Limousin, Sussex...) but by far the most gentle.
I have had three roos previously, (two production reds and one Sussex) and all have ended up in the pot, for being too agressive with my hens. But Ben the Bielefelder is completely different! He is the first roo I have had that has really cared for his girls, and he goes out of his way to look after them. He calls them over when he finds food - even special treats like sweetcorn - he doesn't eat it, but keeps picking it up and dropping it for the girls. He also comes running to see what's wrong whenever he hears one of the girls shouting, he checks on them on the nest to make certain that they are ok, and he runs up to separate any scuffles that break out between anyone! I couldn't believe it when I saw it for the first time - he literally pushed inbetween the two birds that were facing off and calmed the whole thing down!
He is also a wonderful influence on the two other roos in my flock (Black Copper Marans a few weeks younger than Ben). He tolerates them really well, and although he occasionally chases them off one of his favourite girls he never really does them any harm - just the odd peck to make certain they know who is boss!
Although he is still nervous of me (I was given Ben at 6 weeks old and he had never been handled before he joined my flock) he is getting better, and tolerates being stroked and handled at night. He has just started to eat out of my hand during the day - it's only taken 7 months! His mate, Chipmunk (not an original name I know, but she's the only female Bielfelder chick I've ever had!) was hatched by one of my broody hens, and I have handled her since day one, so she is much better. I can easily approach her and pick her up whenever I want to, although she has a habit of pecking at me if she thinks I want to touch her! It's not agressive, but just her way of saying 'I don't think I really want you to do that'. Once I pick her up she's fine - doesn't struggle at all, just waits patiently for me to do whatever I want to do and put her down again.
Ben, looking magnificent as usual
Chipmunk deciding (as usual) to photobomb my picture of Ben
Chippers looking at me suspiciously ("is she going to try and pick me up?")
I have had three roos previously, (two production reds and one Sussex) and all have ended up in the pot, for being too agressive with my hens. But Ben the Bielefelder is completely different! He is the first roo I have had that has really cared for his girls, and he goes out of his way to look after them. He calls them over when he finds food - even special treats like sweetcorn - he doesn't eat it, but keeps picking it up and dropping it for the girls. He also comes running to see what's wrong whenever he hears one of the girls shouting, he checks on them on the nest to make certain that they are ok, and he runs up to separate any scuffles that break out between anyone! I couldn't believe it when I saw it for the first time - he literally pushed inbetween the two birds that were facing off and calmed the whole thing down!
He is also a wonderful influence on the two other roos in my flock (Black Copper Marans a few weeks younger than Ben). He tolerates them really well, and although he occasionally chases them off one of his favourite girls he never really does them any harm - just the odd peck to make certain they know who is boss!
Although he is still nervous of me (I was given Ben at 6 weeks old and he had never been handled before he joined my flock) he is getting better, and tolerates being stroked and handled at night. He has just started to eat out of my hand during the day - it's only taken 7 months! His mate, Chipmunk (not an original name I know, but she's the only female Bielfelder chick I've ever had!) was hatched by one of my broody hens, and I have handled her since day one, so she is much better. I can easily approach her and pick her up whenever I want to, although she has a habit of pecking at me if she thinks I want to touch her! It's not agressive, but just her way of saying 'I don't think I really want you to do that'. Once I pick her up she's fine - doesn't struggle at all, just waits patiently for me to do whatever I want to do and put her down again.
Ben, looking magnificent as usual
Chipmunk deciding (as usual) to photobomb my picture of Ben
Chippers looking at me suspiciously ("is she going to try and pick me up?")
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