A Bielefelder Thread !

[Ron Skekel]

Here's pics of one of my hens. Their has been some say these Bielefelders aren't as big as orpingtons . I don't have Orpingtons but my Bielefelders are the biggest chickens I've ever had. Here's pics at 7 1/2 months old.

 

[DMRippy]

They are not as big as my Eng Orps. I just packed some Eng Orps up today and WOW they are just HUGE birds..... solid too. ... well the girls are really sold the boys are a little more fluff LOL. He might have been younger. He took a whole box. I was not sure I would be able to get him in the box LOL.

 

[Cody A]

Both my hens are laying now. Yea!! Can't wait to hatch these beauties.

The dark brown ones are the Bielefelders. Those light brown ones are special too.The blue of course are legbars. Most of those are presold. Crossing my fingers I have a good hatch.

This guy is so handsome and sweet. Pam

Ok Ron I'm getting excited.

 

[Sylvester017]

I think it depends somewhat, i have Ameraucana and EE's in my yard(they were here first) and my bielefelders and Malines flock are under them. They don't house together so i will give that, but often they are in each other houses lol The Amera and EE's leave often though, they clear the 4ft fence... sadly the others cannot so remain yarded(big area but such is life)

My Amera and EE"s are indifferent to the silkies i do have a few of them who free range(roos), i personally wouldn't trust mine with my pullet or hen silkies much to small and these girls hold their own, even against the large ducks the free range with.

I think again it's all dynamics and bird personalities.

Everything I read on the Bielies seem to indicate gentle giants - sort of like Brahmas, Jersey Giants, Sussex, or Faverolles. I love gentle giants but know better than to try to mix them with my Silkies or Ameraucana. 8-9 lb Bielie hens could be intimidating toward my 2 and 5 lb breeds. I just don't tempt fate when there is that much weight difference. But the Bielies do interest me for their great temperament. In my senior years I have chosen lightweight feed-efficient breeds.

Bantams are a hoot. They defend their pecking order status regardless of their diminutive size but they can get hurt - our Silkies learned to fear the aggressive Leghorns after a couple of chasing events (we re-homed the Legs).

My Amer wanted to fly over the 2-foot rabbit fence into the veggie garden but after ushering her gently a couple of times she doesn't go in anymore. She can fly anywhere she wants but after she understands the "rules" she respects the barrier. She can fly to the roof of the coop also but after ushering her off a couple times she doesn't do it any more. She respects the Silkie alpha hen and just runs from her to avoid conflict or jumps over her to get out of her way. She has never retaliated chest bumping from either of the little Silkie hens. Wonderful intelligent breed if we can judge the breed by our Amer alone. Amers/EEs seem to only fight if cornered - otherwise they flee rather than confront.

What breed/s of ducks do you have mixed with your chickens?

 

[Stekewood]

Does anyone else have experience with Bielefelders reaching POL in the dead of winter? I am in the Northeast so the days are very short but getting a little longer each day. When do you think I can expect my 7 month olds hens to start laying? Thanks

 

[Odelia]

Well mine were hatched in April and just started laying 2 weeks ago. It will depend on how cold it is and if they get any supplemental lighting. Otherwise I would expect to wait until late Feb. when winter mellows out and days are a bit longer. The weather in Idaho had warmed up quite a bit and I had put a couple of strands of Christmas lights on my coop. My Bielefelders started laying and are now laying daily. My Jubilee Orpingtons gave a couple of eggs, but can't decide if they really want to start laying yet or not.

 

[Stekewood]

Thanks! I was out with them this morning and for the first time I saw one of the hens in one the nest boxes. My older laying hens (non-Bielefelders) have just started to pick back up in terms of egg production. I don't have any supplemental lighting in either coop so hopefully the same environmental stimulus that's got them going again will kick start the Bielefelders.

 

[DMRippy]

I GOT MY FIRST EGG! It was almost as big as my WL hen's egg. Excited about the size.

Now if I just had a cockerel for them

 

[Stekewood]

Just as an egg update. My eggs from Randy arrived in great condition. He did an awesome jod packing them with great care. Each egg was idividually wrapped in bubble wrap and snuggled in a nice nest of wood shavings. Tonight I get introduce my broody to these beautiful eggs.

Nice! For those with laying hens are these the typical color range that can be expected or is it more common to have mostly the darker or lighter color?

 

[Odelia]

Nice! For those with laying hens are these the typical color range that can be expected or is it more common to have mostly the darker or lighter color?

My girls lay the darker color. I think that they are lovely and was excited to see them. I had expected a lighter brown.