A Bielefelder Thread !

[DesertChic]

Just watch them. My cream legbars were beating up on my bieles for a long time, and they still do it from time to time, despite the huge difference in size. After a winter together, they seem to get along pretty well, but the legbars still get the food first and the best spots on the roost.

This is good to know! Thanks! I've been contemplating added some Cream Legbars to my flock but wondered over how everyone cohabitate.

 

[treefarmer42]

I don't know if I am okay posting this here or of it should be on the buy/sell page. I am in need of a young roo. I purchased some Beilefelders off rare breed auctions in November. I got 2 roos and 6 pullets. Well I guess even with a heat lamp on them they weren't warm enough. I lost a roo in February and the second one yesterday morning. They were all huddled together on the corner of my grow out pen with the hens standing on the body of the dead roo.

So long I am looking for any roo for sale. It would be great if it is close to the same age as the hens(18 weeks)

Thank you.

Steve,
I can help you out. I have 3 Roosters in need of a home. They are approx. 20 weeks old. You just need to drive to Reading, PA

 

[mrosspitt]

What's the proper pronunciation of Bielefelder?

 

[Cody A]

^Beelfelder

With a German accent

 

[steve horner]

Steve,
  I can help you out.  I have 3 Roosters in need of a home.  They are approx. 20 weeks old.  You just need to drive to Reading, PA

Treefarmer42 THANK YOU.
I will be in Harrisburg on April 1st for a food show at the farm show complex. Would that day work for you? If not let me know what does. Thank you again.

 

[RFR of CA]

Getting ready to load up my new cabinet incubator...the third and half the fourth rack back are all Bielefelders

 

[Sylvester017]

Just watch them. My cream legbars were beating up on my bieles for a long time, and they still do it from time to time, despite the huge difference in size. After a winter together, they seem to get along pretty well, but the legbars still get the food first and the best spots on the roost.

This is JMHO and a little experience too - Leghorns of any variety are no shrinking violets despite their smaller size/weight and some can get very cannibalistic by chewing other breeds' combs, pulling out feathers, claw-attacking, nestbox-bumping, outright bullying/chasing, etc. Buff Legs were cross-bred w/Buff Rocks and other gentle Buff breeds but the assertive Leghorn attitude is still very dominant. Since Legbars have the Leghorn breed history I chose not to get Cream Legbars. It's always "iffy" when Leghorns are cross-bred -- sometimes it works to calm the Leghorn temperament (like CA Grays, etc) but other times the Leghorn assertiveness can come out in the cross-breeds. It's one of the reasons I don't get BRs anymore and stick w/ the Dominiques that haven't had Malay or Indian Game (Cornish) bred into them like the BRs have in their distant history which made the BRs more dual purpose/less broody. Occasionally the honery Malay or Game temperament can surface in a BR that I don't care for. Some say it depends on the breeder but some traits surface no matter how careful a breeder selects for good attitude in their breeding stock.

I just play it safe for my present gentle flock. In future if I have Legs again I want every color variety including the Legbars but only Legs in the flock because they will be on an equal temperament with each other whereas putting them in a mixed gentle flock will be asking for trouble IMO. Our yard is too small for all the breeds to break up in separate little cliques to stay away from each other so for now we don't have Legs of any kind to avoid bullying.

 

[Ron Skekel]

I have biele's and cream legbars and other rare breeds plus a mixed flock of various breeds.My oldest legbar roo is easy going gets along with everyone. Will not tolerate others trying to mount his hens other than that they are great on picking on others. Then I added a new line of legbars this roo is out of here he was alright at first now tries to fight with both of my other roo's. He is leaving friday. He is also hard on the hens. My other one perfect gentil roo. The hens are all low on the totum pole to my older laying flock of various breeds head hen is gold laced wayendotte. Pam

 

[texasmomma]

I have biele's and cream legbars and other rare breeds plus a mixed flock of various breeds.My oldest legbar roo is easy going gets along with everyone. Will not tolerate others trying to mount his hens other than that they are great on picking on others. Then I added a new line of legbars this roo is out of here he was alright at first now tries to fight with both of my other roo's. He is leaving friday. He is also hard on the hens. My other one perfect gentil roo. The hens are all low on the totum pole to my older laying flock of various breeds head hen is gold laced wayendotte. Pam

I do think that some of the issue is that the legbars were here first. Plus, the roo likes the biele girls more than the legbars. It will be interesting to see what happens when some of the chicks I have grow out a little bit more and I integrate into the flock. There are a couple bieles, but most are a hybrid between the two.

 

[steve horner]

...

Anyone Biel owners living near Steve who can help him out?

I'm sorry I don't live closer to you, Steve. My Biel cockerels are younger than what you're looking for, but they're very healthy and I've got quite a few of them. I would've loved to re-home one, but I'm not comfortable shipping chicks through the mail. I hope someone here can prove of greater help to you. 
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DesertChic.....just wanted to say thanks for your help