A Bielefelder Thread !

[opossum04]

My Biels started laying between 7-8 months.

 

[shoresofOK]

Mine started to lay at 7 months and that was the middle of winter

 

[fasschicks]

I have three 7-week-old pullets that I got from Coastline Poultry as day-olds. They are growing really fast and are definitely big birds. Can you tell me approximately how many eggs they lay each week and what color? I was thinking they were light brown, but not 100% sure. Do they lay well in the winter? Mine will be 7 months old come early November. I didn't plan on getting any of these, but due to them not having another breed hatch well, I got these instead.

Would love to hear your thoughts. I have a real mixed flock as you can see from my signature line. Just wanting to learn more about what to expect without reading through almost 200 pages. Thanks!

 

[Cody A]

Hi fasschicks. I have a flock of 28 Bieles. About 3/4 of them are from Coastline also. They're about 4 months old, so I can't answer your question on how many they lay a week but here is a pic of the eggs they came from. So far I'm really enjoying this breed, but, I'm a newbie chook keeper so really have no other breed to compare them to.

All the brown eggs are Bielefelder.

 

[fasschicks]

Thanks, Cody A! Those are beautiful eggs. I am pretty happy so far with them. All the chicks I have been to be pretty skiddish, but I made a point last night to hold 2 of the 3 and after that, they seemed okay with me extending my hand to them. I am sure they will mellow out as time goes on. Thank you for the egg pictures. Can't wait to see how these girls turn out.

 

[Cody A]

Your welcome

My first hatch of Bieles were skittish also. It was like they thought I was going to kill them or something. Now that they're older they're like puppies. It took them forever before they would leave the safety of the coop even though they had a big run to explore. I began to get a little worried about how well they'd free range but now they pretty much stay out all day. They only come back into the run and coop to drink, eat, and then to roost in the evenings. The eggs in the pic was not a great hatch so Stephanie at Coastline sent me more at a cheaper price. It was great doing business with her. I've got both imports and plan to raise them as my primary breed for meat and eggs. I may have to supplement with meat birds for a faster turnover rate but we'll see.

 

[kittydoc]

I just love my Biele babies! They are about 7 weeks old and so much smarter than my Orps. Teaching them to walk up a tall ladder to get into the coop went fast, led by the cockerels. I just taught them to roost, and by day 3 all 9 were roosting. They are a little shy til I pick them up, then they chill out quickly. Thanks again to ChickCrazed for the hatching eggs. Can't wait them next year!

Who has 2013 imports for reasonable prices?

 

[fasschicks]

Thanks, Cody, that is great to hear. All of my chicks seem to be the same way. I have been trying to handle them more, so hopefully that will help. They really seem like a cool breed.

 

[DesertChic]

Thanks, Cody, that is great to hear. All of my chicks seem to be the same way. I have been trying to handle them more, so hopefully that will help. They really seem like a cool breed.

It's not uncommon for chicks to be a bit skittish until 3-5 weeks of age, but I feel quite confident in saying that your Biels WILL grow friendlier. I've got six cockerels and three pullets, all 13 weeks old, and all of them are snugglers. Even the least social of my Biel cockerels will hop up onto my lap to be pet. This is my husband's favorite breed as he has little time to interact with our chickens and yet the Biels are thrilled to be handled and held by him. I hope you grow to enjoy yours as much as I have mine.

 

[texas75563]

That link doesn't seem totally credible as Greenfire states that "cuckoo Malines (also imported by Greenfire Farms), Amrock, Wyandotte, and the New Hampshire." were used to create them and legbar is a breed not a color! But as most of us don't know German who can say.  

Depending on what website you look at, I've read at least 4 different combinations. Brussbar is in one of those combinations. The truth, we may never know?