A Bielefelder Thread !

[DMRippy]

Quote:
The guy that I got some from that was the only other breed he raised besides Eng Orps. He also said nothing eats like the orps. They eat 2x the feed of the Bieles.

 

[DMRippy]

I will say there could be a difference in how they are raised. His were penned and only FR every once in awhile. They might get bigger if they are FR and not penned.

 

[Ron Skekel]

I will say there could be a difference in how they are raised.  His were penned and only FR every once in awhile.   They might get bigger if they are FR and not penned.

Mine were free ranged everyday till The roosters of two breeds became sexually matured at the same age. now they are free ranged every other day. Pam

 

[Sylvester017]

You didn't see a big Eng Orpington. I have Eng Orps too and have seen grown Bielefelders and they are just not the same. Bieles might weigh more but Eng Orps will look bigger with all the FLUFF. A good Eng Orp is just HUGE. I have a big Cuckoo Marans and I had a HUGE GS Barred Rock and the ORPS LOOK bigger but just not as heavy as the other birds. The Biele I saw was only slightly larger than my Rhodebar. We will see how my little guys grow out.

There are a lot of fluffy breeds that LOOK bigger but aren't as heavy as a smoth feather bird the same size. A smooth feather bird will always weigh heavier than a fluffy breed of visually same size. People are amazed how lightweight my APA Ameraucana is but she is all down and feathers from her fluffy cheeks to her downy soft petticoats. I keep telling people not to mix the gentle non-combative EEs/Amers with 7-9 lb assertive dual-purpose breeds and they don't understand that those heavy 7-9 lb dual purpose are bullies toward the 5-6 lb non-combative breeds. They assume that the fluffy Ameraucana or EEs are just as heavy as the dual purpose but they're not. As active, kooky, spooky, and jumpy as the Amer/EEs are they prefer to flee than fight.

We have found our Ameraucana so gentle around our Silkie bantams that we have ordered another. Amazingly gentle and very accepting to take in new or injured birds or orphaned chicks into the flock without incident. Our bantam Silkies aren't even as gentle as the Ameraucana. My friend said her 1 Amer and 3 EEs are equally non-combative and she won't mix them into her dual purpose or Mediterranean breeds either.

 

[gnatbug]

I have two bielefelders and they are awesome. I got them from a guy on craigslist who ordered the eggs and hatched them, but wanted to downsize his flock. One of them was attacked by a raccoon as a chick and was nursed back to health. Now she's scissor beaked and missing an eye, but that doesn't slow her down at all. I have a tiny flock of four, and they definitely stick together. As far as temperament goes, they are goofy, sweet, pretty relaxed, and also kind of fearless. They're pretty huge as far as chickens go, almost twice the size of my plymouth rock (even though she is still the dominant hen and will drag them across the coop when she wants to prove a point). You can pick them up and they immediately settle, they eat a lot, they make interesting noises (kind of gurgley clucks), run right up to me and the dogs, and they're actually laying through the winter right now. Extra large brown eggs.

They're the two brown ones in front going after the pumpkin guts.


Not scared of the dogs at all. They even let them sniff their butts and just keep foraging.





Normal egg size and color. Sometimes they're a little speckled as well. It's december and I'm getting an egg a day from them.

 

[DesertChic]

I have two bielefelders and they are awesome. I got them from a guy on craigslist who ordered the eggs and hatched them, but wanted to downsize his flock. One of them was attacked by a raccoon as a chick and was nursed back to health. Now she's scissor beaked and missing an eye, but that doesn't slow her down at all. I have a tiny flock of four, and they definitely stick together. As far as temperament goes, they are goofy, sweet, pretty relaxed, and also kind of fearless. They're pretty huge as far as chickens go, almost twice the size of my plymouth rock (even though she is still the dominant hen and will drag them across the coop when she wants to prove a point). You can pick them up and they immediately settle, they eat a lot, they make interesting noises (kind of gurgley clucks), run right up to me and the dogs, and they're actually laying through the winter right now. Extra large brown eggs.

They're the two brown ones in front going after the pumpkin guts.


Not scared of the dogs at all. They even let them sniff their butts and just keep foraging.





Normal egg size and color. Sometimes they're a little speckled as well. It's december and I'm getting an egg a day from them.

Very nice! I sort of have my heart set on raising this breed but just lost a bid for some eggs on eBay, so it'll have to wait a while longer. I just got an incubator for Xmas and will be filling it with NN Turkens in the next few days. Once they are hatched and established I'll be turning my attention back to the majestic Bielefelder.

 

[Dull Hoe Farm]

You won't be disappointed DesertChic. I was skeptical at all the over-the-top reviews but once I got the breed I realized that they truly are the the embodiment of every characteristic I have ever wanted in a chicken. They are also much quieter than other breeds. They are difficult to spook and once you do, they immediately calm down again. Really an amazing breed. I am in the process of hatching more eggs and building my flock right now. I intend to replace all my breeds with Bielefelders. They're just that good. I am selling a few baby cockerels through Criagslist to thin down the roosters. The only thing I would change about this breed is to be able to use egg shell color to know if it will be a rooster or hen (to know whether to even incubate the egg). Now that may be a tall order since this doesn't exist with any breed, but that's the only thing I could possibly recommend. Everything else about this breed is pretty much perfection. And auto-sexing alone would be enough to use this breed.

 

[VA Raptor]

You won't be disappointed DesertChic. I was skeptical at all the over-the-top reviews but once I got the breed I realized that they truly are the the embodiment of every characteristic I have ever wanted in a chicken. They are also much quieter than other breeds. They are difficult to spook and once you do, they immediately calm down again. Really an amazing breed. I am in the process of hatching more eggs and building my flock right now. I intend to replace all my breeds with Bielefelders. They're just that good. I am selling a few baby cockerels through Criagslist to thin down the roosters. The only thing I would change about this breed is to be able to use egg shell color to know if it will be a rooster or hen (to know whether to even incubate the egg). Now that may be a tall order since this doesn't exist with any breed, but that's the only thing I could possibly recommend. Everything else about this breed is pretty much perfection. And auto-sexing alone would be enough to use this breed.

I know you weren't replying to me, but this is what I keep hearing. I keep wondering why they aren't more popular...they seem/sound almost perfect.

 

[Dull Hoe Farm]

I think people simply don't know they exist. I am the first person in my area to have them (as far as I know). Many people probably think the stellar reviews are just hype. But they aren't. I initially wanted them for the auto sexing feature (which is wonderful), but once they matured I realized that they embody every single characteristic I ever wanted in a chicken.

 

[speedy2020]

I think people simply don't know they exist. I am the first person in my area to have them (as far as I know). Many people probably think the stellar reviews are just hype. But they aren't. I initially wanted them for the auto sexing feature (which is wonderful), but once they matured I realized that they embody every single characteristic I ever wanted in a chicken.

I am building my block as well. Do you have 2011 or 2013 blood line?