A Bielefelder Thread !

[jbkirk]

Now for more Questions. At what age do they start to lay? Can you candle the eggs very well?
Please answer with your own experience even if someone else has already answered!!!!!!
Thanks MK

Now for yet another question, How much do Bielefelders eat in comparison to dual breeds?
Edit: for example: australorps

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

I have to say so far I am really happy with my pair. Calm birds, friendly. Pullet has laid a few eggs, and I see growth every day I look at them. Roo is still, well, a big wimp. His lady is the boss so far! So I may remove him, give him some docile hens (BO probably) and let him mature a bit. I am not seeing the red tint on the legs mature roos get on him yet, and his hen is almost bullying him right now.
Both are large birds compared to my other breeds. My pullet is a food hound, but every day I look at her she is bigger. The cockerel is just a doll. Love this guy!

 

[RFR of CA]

Mine don't seem to eat as much as my piggy Black Copper Marans! Of course the marans lay more per week so that is probably the difference.

 

[Sylvester017]

Mine don't seem to eat as much as my piggy Black Copper Marans! Of course the marans lay more per week so that is probably the difference.

My friend and I had 2 varieties of Marans (Cuckoo & BCM) and they were the laziest foragers in the flock but ate layer pellets like crazy. My hen gave me 2-3 eggs/week and my friend got 3 only/week. We agreed the eggs were never the dark kind you see on internet photos whether it was the 1st egg of their cycle or not. We gave the Marans away since they were snippy and mean to their flockmates too. The Bielies sound like a kinder breed. I prefer good-tempered non-combative breeds over a snippity combative breed.

 

[jbkirk]

I have to say so far I am really happy with my pair. Calm birds, friendly. Pullet has laid a few eggs, and I see growth every day I look at them. Roo is still, well, a big wimp. His lady is the boss so far! So I may remove him, give him some docile hens (BO probably) and let him mature a bit. I am not seeing the red tint on the legs mature roos get on him yet, and his hen is almost bullying him right now.
Both are large birds compared to my other breeds. My pullet is a food hound, but every day I look at her she is bigger. The cockerel is just a doll. Love this guy!

How much does your pullet eat in comparison to your other breeds?

 

[elizmartin]

My friend and I had 2 varieties of Marans (Cuckoo & BCM) and they were the laziest foragers in the flock but ate layer pellets like crazy. My hen gave me 2-3 eggs/week and my friend got 3 only/week. We agreed the eggs were never the dark kind you see on internet photos whether it was the 1st egg of their cycle or not. We gave the Marans away since they were snippy and mean to their flockmates too. The Bielies sound like a kinder breed. I prefer good-tempered non-combative breeds over a snippity combative breed.

This *may* not be typical of this particular bird but more the breeding since its popularity. never know….I have some Faverolles that are supposed to be very laid back but one group i had was definently more aggressive in nature. Sometimes folks forget there is more to breeding than for physical characteristics.

 

[Ron Skekel]

Now for yet another question, How much do Bielefelders eat in comparison to dual breeds?
Edit: for example: australorps

I got mine at 31/2 months old and they ate the same as my others. I feed fermented which may fill them up sooner than dry feed. They also free range. Now I hatched my first chicks they are with other breeds in the brooder they are pigs. I'm just starting them on the fermented so we'll see if that fills them up. Pam

 

[Ron Skekel]

My friend and I had 2 varieties of Marans (Cuckoo & BCM) and they were the laziest foragers in the flock but ate layer pellets like crazy.  My hen gave me 2-3 eggs/week and my friend got 3 only/week.  We agreed the eggs were never the dark kind you see on internet photos whether it was the 1st egg of their cycle or not.  We gave the Marans away since they were snippy and mean to their flockmates too.  The Bielies sound like a kinder breed.  I prefer good-tempered non-combative breeds over a snippity combative breed.

Me too and I just got FBCM they will go if that's the case but I am handeling them a lot. So far my Biele's are the friendliest breed I have and easy to Handel . Pam

 

[appleturnover]

my bielefelder hens are sweethearts, they like to ask my tall girl for a cuddle before they go up to roost. one started laying at 7 months, the other just now at 8 months. they lay HUGE eggs and did right from the beginning. i give them fermented feed and i don't notice that they eat any more, but they are excellent foragers, the first to eat up a worm or even a small tadpole! like the orpingtons they are amazing with children.

what i'd LOVE to know is what would a bielefelder/black orpington cross be like?

elisa

 

[SwampChicks]

Has anybody here crossed a bielefelder with any of these breeds? If so, I'd love to hear about it, and see any photos. TIA

(PS the whole genetics thing... seriously makes my head spin. don't laugh at me. i really can't figure out even the easiest genetics concepts. my brain hurts just thinking about thinking about it.)


- blue splash wheaten ameraucana cock (auto sexing, right? and should produce an olive egger, right?)
- langshan cock (any sexing possible? should produce a brown egg with possible pink bloom?)
- black copper marans cock (auto sexing, right? dark brown egg, maybe pinkish bloom?)