A Bielefelder Thread !

[Odelia]

Just curious, What type of file would a person use, sand paper, nail file, small metal file? This is very interesting, because a person can easly see where to stop filing after reading several posts before yours.

Sand paper or a nail file both work. I would personally not use a metal file. I would use a pair of nail clippers first and then smooth and shape the beak with a nail file.

 

[Cody A]

You definitely need to file down those beaks! Chickens typically wear down that tip by wiping their beaks against the ground and other things in their environment. For whatever reason, your birds haven't found the necessary "tools" to do this naturally, so you need to do it for them or they won't be able to eat properly and could starve to death. After filing down their beak you may even notice increased vigor and more of a willingness to leave the coop. Maybe?

Edit: The good news is that it's not a genetic or disease issue, but a management one, and therefore easily dealt with and corrected.

Desertchic, I don't think your right about this.
Honestly I don't understand how this could be management or the birds not wearing them down themselves. Since these two birds were small chicks they've had longer bills than the others. I have 11 pullets and 11 cockerels all from the same hatch, all from the same brooder, all the same age. The birds aren't lacking vigor, they're scared.

 

[Sylvester017]

Anyone have Bieles with a very long and curved upper bill? I've got two pullets with this trait. The bills are long enough to get hooked on something like wire. It's happened a couple times now and they kinda freak out when they try to pull their head back and can't. I don't think this is good trait to have. I watched one try to pick up seeds. It would give up and go to the next nearest one and so on.

Someone suggested to me using an electric dognail file or Dremel (Drexel?) fine-filing electric tool to file down the beaks or toenails. Hope it's not scissors-beak you're talking about.

 

[Sylvester017]

Desertchic, I don't think your right about this.
Honestly I don't understand how this could be management or the birds not wearing them down themselves. Since these two birds were small chicks they've had longer bills than the others. I have 11 pullets and 11 cockerels all from the same hatch, all from the same brooder, all the same age. The birds aren't lacking vigor, they're scared.

Hi Cody A - If your two birds have unusually long beaks be sure you don't use them in a breeding project to possibly pass on that undesirable trait to future generations but you probably already know that

 

[Cody A]

Thanks Sylvester, I may try nail clippers and an emery board. I was reading here on the forum and found where others had birds with this issue. They could actually break their beak and injure themselves if not trimmed. Definitely won't be breeding these girls with the long beaks.

 

[Sylvester017]

Thanks Sylvester, I may try nail clippers and an emery board. I was reading here on the forum and found where others had birds with this issue. They could actually break their beak and injure themselves if not trimmed. Definitely won't be breeding these girls with the long beaks.

Every hen seems to have some sort of minor issue -- fluffy butts that need frequent shampooing, or nails/beaks that need frequent trimming, or feathered feet that require maintenance, roos that need spur maintenance, OCD hens that break toenails while scratching in a nestbox and need plexiglass bottoms to keep from snagging toenails, frostbite combs, etc etc. Every one of my chickens has some sort of minor issue we have to keep on top of but no different than having any other kind of pet in the family!

 

[DesertChic]

Thanks for the info about management vs genetic, but it still has to be the birds management rather than us doing it. I only thought what i did since it was 2 out out of her group that had this…slow learners ????

I apologize if my post came across as if I was suggesting "mismanagement". That was not my intent. I was merely trying to point out that it can be easily rectified through changes in management to keep the birds alive and healthy...whether by filing the beaks a single time or offering something like a seed block that may tempt them sufficiently to help them wear their beaks down naturally.

As far as breeding is concerned, having not experienced this problem myself, I can only share what I've heard others say, which is usually the suggestion of a "slow learner", a trait many chose not to risk perpetuating but others aren't bothered by. I've never come across anything in my research and reading to suggest that this is some sort of genetic defect in and of itself, but merely one of behavior. Whether or not to breed these birds is, as far as I know, a personal choice.

 

[hereorthere]

Hi Everyone! So quick question.....I was told that Bielfelder eggs are similar to Welsummer eggs in that they start out a lighter brown and then get darker. Is that true?

 

[RFR of CA]

They have a wide color range. Mine go from a light pinky brown to a dark brown that matches my lighter marans eggs.

 

[Odelia]

Hi Everyone! So quick question.....I was told that Bielfelder eggs are similar to Welsummer eggs in that they start out a lighter brown and then get darker. Is that true?

I believe the first eggs they laid this season were darker than they are now. I Mine are getting lighter the longer they lay which is how it usually works. I also didn't know that about Welsummer eggs.