A Bielefelder Thread !

[DesertChic]

Wow, never thought abou that! Have done it with dogs but didn't even think about chickens - what an interesting idea!

We had a huge discussion about the process on the Breeding for Production thread. I'd logged off for one whole day and came back to find the entire thread loaded with 'chicken porn'.

I had no idea there were so many videos about how to perform A.I. on chickens.

 

[ChickenGoesRuff]

I know with breeding silkies some people will trim the feathers around the cloaca on both parents, but I don't know if it would help with bieles. I don't know if I'd ever attempt AI with my chickens, but that would definitely help figure out if one of your birds is infertile. I've heard some people who separate the roosters for a week to let them "recharge" and had luck with that after seemingly infertile roosters... Good luck!

 

[Faraday40]

"chicken porn"

I found a great (very old, canvas covered) b/w print book from a library. In it, there were pics of how to vent sex diff types of poultry, which was the reason I had checked it out. However, I found myself reading the history of ancient civ & types of poultry kept as well as a section on artificial insemination. It was from the late 1940s or 50s & even discussed how to select & breed for sexlinks as well. All these ideas were completely new to me at the time. I only wish I could have remembered the title.

 

[otakalhasas]

We had a huge discussion about the process on the Breeding for Production thread. I'd logged off for one whole day and came back to find the entire thread loaded with 'chicken porn'.

I had no idea there were so many videos about how to perform A.I. on chickens.

I gotta check that out - thanks!

 

[Eggscoozme]

I know with breeding silkies some people will trim the feathers around the cloaca on both parents, but I don't know if it would help with bieles. I don't know if I'd ever attempt AI with my chickens, but that would definitely help figure out if one of your birds is infertile. I've heard some people who separate the roosters for a week to let them "recharge" and had luck with that after seemingly infertile roosters... Good luck!

I had an ad in the paper to sell my Silver Laced Orpington flock that was 11+ months old as I did not have fertile eggs. Certainly the rooster was sterile, right? WRONG! .........I'm very glad I decided not to sell my flock. Someone on BYC mentioned to trim the hiney feathers, and someone even mentioned plucking (ouch!).

Well let me tell you! I cut the feathers on the backside off all my girls and my roo. Two weeks later I checked for fertility and what'd ya know! Bingo! See pic below:



And I've hatched more before this bunch. Yeah!

As far as Biels go, I've never had to help them make a connection. They ALWAYS did just fine on their own, and early. The Roos would be mating at 4+ months and the hens would be laying fertile eggs shortly after they started laying. Never a problem with my Biels. Maybe the 2013 line are having problems, but that's a whole nother story I'd like to forget about.

 

[ChickenGoesRuff]

@Eggscoozme
Adorable chicks!

 

[PirateGirl]

Since you seem to be Bielefelder owners and lovers I will ask you... is my little peeper in fact a Bielefelder? I was told she was when I picked her up, but someone else saw her picture and has caused me to doubt her heritage... she could be a mix, but there aren't many, if any, other breeds on the farm she could possibly be with this coloring... she's about 7 weeks old and larger than all my other chicks of different breeds of the same age/hatch date, as long as she lays she will stay in my flock, she is good with all the others and lets the smallest sleep under her when it's cold.

 

[otakalhasas]

Since you seem to be Bielefelder owners and lovers I will ask you... is my little peeper in fact a Bielefelder? I was told she was when I picked her up, but someone else saw her picture and has caused me to doubt her heritage... she could be a mix, but there aren't many, if any, other breeds on the farm she could possibly be with this coloring... she's about 7 weeks old and larger than all my other chicks of different breeds of the same age/hatch date, as long as she lays she will stay in my flock, she is good with all the others and lets the smallest sleep under her when it's cold.

It's kind of hard to say, but I'd bet good money she's got Biel in her! Your description also sounds like Biel but the coloration looks just a bit off. But that could be the line she comes from. Time will tell and she'd a doll one way or the other!

 

[PirateGirl]

She's a keeper either way because she is so nice, and I'm pretty sure it's a "she"

 

[otakalhasas]

She's a keeper either way because she is so nice, and I'm pretty sure it's a "she"

Good! Whether pure Biel or just part, I think you'll find that the Biels are EXCELLENT pets! I can pick up most of mine any time I want and they just settle in for a big cuddle. And my roo is such a gentleman, good to me, very good to his ladies. Just keep them as cool as you can in the heat of summer - IMO that is the ONLY drawback of this lovely breed!