A Bielefelder Thread !

[Cynthia12]

Just an FYI that my two Bielefelder hens started laying much later than the other hens. I got them at the same time, and the same age in June 2015. Most of the flock was laying by October. One of the Bieles started laying in December and the other took her sweet time and didn't start until the end of January!

I think it might have something to do with size of the bird, but I'm not sure. Their eggs are much larger, and they really are sweet. Now I feel like I'm playing favorites! All my girls are sweet!

Going through that wait now! On a couple of EE's. They take their time too. Will be interesting to see who lays first..I'm seeing the bottom nest boxes being all messed up..they are never used. It's always the same one, just like many others that have hens do the same thing..WANT that same nest box. What's up with that?

 

[Sylvester017]

Going through that wait now! On a couple of EE's. They take their time too. Will be interesting to see who lays first..I'm seeing the bottom nest boxes being all messed up..they are never used. It's always the same one, just like many others that have hens do the same thing..WANT that same nest box. What's up with that?

All my different breeds of hens want the nestbox nearest the pop-door so they can see outside - sort of a Room With A View? Same with the roosting perches - they want to sit by the window.

 

[Red Banks]

Going through that wait now! On a couple of EE's. They take their time too. Will be interesting to see who lays first..I'm seeing the bottom nest boxes being all messed up..they are never used. It's always the same one, just like many others that have hens do the same thing..WANT that same nest box. What's up with that?

I have seen many articles, youtube etc about this. All say fake eggs or golf balls will spread the hens out. The theory is if one hen lays there they all think it is special.

 

[Coop de Grass]

I have seen many articles, youtube etc about this. All say fake eggs or golf balls will cure spread the hens out. The theory is if one hen lays there they all think it is special.

That might explain why my Schnitzel, my Biele hen who started laying last, and was being Broody until a month ago, has become broody again.

She was in that nest box for three days. I took her out this morning. The only egg in there was the very last fake egg remaining in the coop. At least now I know that if I harass her by taking her out of the nest constantly she will get the message. But really???

Do I put eggs under her? Last time I did try that, but by the time I did it, she was pretty inconsistent about staying on the nest.

Right now I am just muttering loudly that she will become Chicken Tikka if she doesn't straighten up and lay some eggs!

 

[DesertChic]

I have seen many articles, youtube etc about this. All say fake eggs or golf balls will spread the hens out. The theory is if one hen lays there they all think it is special.

Unless you have a really broody hen. One of my broodies collected all of the golf balls and fake eggs into one nesting box and tried very hard to hatch them. After four days of this I finally removed all of the fake eggs, thinking she might finally calm down a bit. Instead she crowded into a nesting box with a hen laying an egg and then scooter her out once the egg was available to her. Throughout the day she would collect as many other eggs from other nesting boxes as she could. Smart girl. Annoying...but smart.

Oh, and all of my girls favor golf balls over fake eggs. I don't know why, but they will completely ignore the boxes with fake eggs as soon as they find the golf ball in one, and then they all have to be in the 'golf ball box' at the same time.

 

[DesertChic]

That might explain why my Schnitzel, my Biele hen who started laying last, and was being Broody until a month ago, has become broody again.

She was in that nest box for three days. I took her out this morning. The only egg in there was the very last fake egg remaining in the coop. At least now I know that if I harass her by taking her out of the nest constantly she will get the message. But really???

Do I put eggs under her? Last time I did try that, but by the time I did it, she was pretty inconsistent about staying on the nest.

Right now I am just muttering loudly that she will become Chicken Tikka if she doesn't straighten up and lay some eggs!

I have lived this scenario so often I thought I had written your post while sleep typing.

Here's what's worked for me:
Set up a low nesting box with a fake egg in an isolated area. I used a low-walled cardboard box filled with wood shavings and a golf ball. Put your broody in that pen and watch to see if she takes to the nesting box. If she does and she stays in it overnight, give her some eggs. She's ready. And keep in mind, the longer she's been broody, the more likely she is to stay on the nest.

I have one White Rock hen, Lily, who consistently goes broody every 5-6 weeks and is currently raising her second clutch of chicks. Now her sister, Dolly, has gone broody and is a MEAN broody. Whereas Lily would take a break from the nest a couple times per day, Dolly went two days without even leaving the nest to poop. At least she finally stopped growling at me and trying to peck me when I place a small bowl of food in her nesting box.

Oh, and right now, I've got 8 broody hens.

 

[Coop de Grass]

I have lived this scenario so often I thought I had written your post while sleep typing.

Here's what's worked for me:
Set up a low nesting box with a fake egg in an isolated area. I used a low-walled cardboard box filled with wood shavings and a golf ball. Put your broody in that pen and watch to see if she takes to the nesting box. If she does and she stays in it overnight, give her some eggs. She's ready. And keep in mind, the longer she's been broody, the more likely she is to stay on the nest.

I have one White Rock hen, Lily, who consistently goes broody every 5-6 weeks and is currently raising her second clutch of chicks. Now her sister, Dolly, has gone broody and is a MEAN broody. Whereas Lily would take a break from the nest a couple times per day, Dolly went two days without even leaving the nest to poop. At least she finally stopped growling at me and trying to peck me when I place a small bowl of food in her nesting box.

Oh, and right now, I've got 8 broody hens.

It is sooooo nice to have company! I will try your idea of putting her in an isolated area - I'll have to figure that part out. I only have 2 Biele hens, so I hate to give up that second egg, but last time she didn't lay an egg for almost 2 months! Schnitzel does not peck at me, but she puts her feet out so that I can't pick her up easily. At least, now I know to hold onto her feet. You should see how she fits into the nest box:. These photos were taken some time in January. Now she really fills up the box! Plus she gets that Broody puffiness...

 

[DesertChic]

It is sooooo nice to have company! I will try your idea of putting her in an isolated area - I'll have to figure that part out. I only have 2 Biele hens, so I hate to give up that second egg, but last time she didn't lay an egg for almost 2 months! Schnitzel does not peck at me, but she puts her feet out so that I can't pick her up easily. At least, now I know to hold onto her feet. You should see how she fits into the nest box:. These photos were taken some time in January. Now she really fills up the box! Plus she gets that Broody puffiness...

LOL! I know what you mean! I have a Silkie/Barred Rock mix that somehow manages to puff up to 3x her normal size as soon as I try to remove her from her preferred nesting box. These girls are driving me crazy.

 

[Cynthia12]

I have seen many articles, youtube etc about this. All say fake eggs or golf balls will spread the hens out. The theory is if one hen lays there they all think it is special.

I have golf balls set out..in the middle box.. hoping the new girls will start using that one.

 

[Cynthia12]

That might explain why my Schnitzel, my Biele hen who started laying last, and was being Broody until a month ago, has become broody again.

She was in that nest box for three days. I took her out this morning. The only egg in there was the very last fake egg remaining in the coop. At least now I know that if I harass her by taking her out of the nest constantly she will get the message. But really???

Do I put eggs under her? Last time I did try that, but by the time I did it, she was pretty inconsistent about staying on the nest.

Right now I am just muttering loudly that she will become Chicken Tikka if she doesn't straighten up and lay some eggs!

Do these birds go broody often?