A Bielefelder Thread !

[treefarmer42]

Good Morning.
I just received my first eggs this week from my 6 month old flock. I have a strange question to ask. Why am I receiving double yokes from 1 hen that's such a young/new layer. She's giving me double yokes every 2 days for the past 6 days. If never seen this before. Any thoughts?
Thanks

 

[estamets]

Good Morning.
I just received my first eggs this week from my 6 month old flock. I have a strange question to ask. Why am I receiving double yokes from 1 hen that's such a young/new layer. She's giving me double yokes every 2 days for the past 6 days. If never seen this before. Any thoughts?
Thanks

That's common in young layers until their system regulates itself. Puberty is hard!

 

[Odelia]

Good Morning.
I just received my first eggs this week from my 6 month old flock. I have a strange question to ask. Why am I receiving double yokes from 1 hen that's such a young/new layer. She's giving me double yokes every 2 days for the past 6 days. If never seen this before. Any thoughts?
Thanks

My Bielefelder pullets also started out giving me double yolkers. With in a couple of weeks it was only every few eggs were doubles and now I almost never get them. It takes a bit of practice for young pullets to work out laying. It is more common for the first eggs to be small and or missing their shells. Just give them a bit of time and you will get the eggs you want.

 

[Chickielady]

Mine were in a smaller pen and still laying HUGE eggs. I now have them in a pen 2 times as big and they stopped laying LOL. But if those egg get much bigger I don't think they will be viable for hatching.... I just have not seen HUGE eggs hatch well.

Maybe you better move them back !

 

[Chickielady]

Good Morning.
I just received my first eggs this week from my 6 month old flock. I have a strange question to ask. Why am I receiving double yokes from 1 hen that's such a young/new layer. She's giving me double yokes every 2 days for the past 6 days. If never seen this before. Any thoughts?
Thanks

Mine did that too...and with the HUGE Jumbo eggs....sometimes I think these hens are shooting stars....and maybe prone to burning themselves out at a young age !
As they say, "A hen only has so many ova"...so using up 2 at a time is worrying me.
Hopefully they do not fade out fast, but live long & healthy laying lives.
As mine approached about 7 mo of age, the double yolks stopped.

 

[DMRippy]

Quote:
They stopped laying in the other pen too..... so just thought might as well move them now!

 

[Chickielady]

They stopped laying in the other pen too..... so just thought might as well move them now!

So they laid all winter & stopped in spring ?
That is backwards !

 

[DMRippy]

Quote:
I have found with almost ALL my breeds they will lay really well for a few weeks when they start and then stop for a few weeks and pick back up. Marans do that all the time. I see that pattern with them more. they are like on a 2-3 month on and off cycle. These girls only laid for about 2 months and have stopped. I put a new roo in with them so maybe that had something to do with it.

 

[DesertChic]

I've noted very strongly- that Bielefelders prefer to free range, and their egg size will go down if they are combined in minimum-size pens without greens. I feed very high quality non-GMO, corn and soy free feed, but if I have to lock my Bielefelders up, they begin producing smaller eggs after a few days. They do not cope with the "4 sq feet of space per bird" rule- they require 6-8 feet, due to their size. They don't like to be crowded. When mine have to be penned up for some reason, I pull weeds and grass and give them a pile to sort thru. I've never lost one to owls, hawks or eagles- (maybe because they are bigger than birds of prey?) but I have lost a few leghorns to hawks.

Mine are nice calm birds- I would not call them dumb, just calm. I might have a smarter group than Chickie Lady's ?

My rooster is a great flock protector, but calm enough that I can pick him up anytime. I've never had any problems with my birds and they are most definitely my all-around favorite for egg production/personality. I think the leghorns and production reds are more likely feed economical, and sex links are great producers, but I sure love my Bielefelders.

Mine are no where near laying age yet, but they are definitely smart birds that I've found to be highly trainable, and the definitely LOVE fresh greens. I have my chicks in a mini-run that I relocate to grassy areas in my yard as they eat down each area. They're the best lawnmowers I've ever owned! And they go nuts for kale and Swiss chard. I wish my husband and son loved fresh greens that much.

 

[treefarmer42]

I thank you all for the feedback. I'm hoping it's just as you say "puberty" . Comments are correct the eggs are very long shaped. Double yokes are great for the Dinner table but the last thing I want is table food from a "great breed" at this stage of the game. Thank you for the feedback. I'll share my conclusion with the forum as it progresses.
Treefarmer.