A Bielefelder Thread !

[estamets]

Yay, I get to join the club!!! I've been wanting a Bielefelder since I learned about the breed. I picked up a pullet and two roos from my favorite breeder. The pullet is for keeping, the roos are for meat. I wish I could do some breeding, but we can't have any crowing in our city neighborhood.

Gratuitous chick pics:








Biele (left) with a Rhodebar pullet (right).

 

[DesertChic]

I always put a cover on my brooder so they don't do this. I don't enjoy all of the poop that lands outside of the brooder box.

Yeah, I had to move them into the "cage" out into our garage so they can continue to roost on the edge of the brooder without escaping to soil everything else. I tried putting them out in my mini-run today but even though they seemed to enjoy it, they're so small that they still fit through the bars. One of the girls got out, but couldn't get back in. *Sigh* Okay...one more week...maybe two.

 

[kittydoc]

Another snowy morning here in PA. Quick question. Will the sex-link trait pass from a Biel rooster to a Wyandotte hen ? Meaning will the Wyandotte hen's chicks have the sex-link visible ?
Thank you

Actually, Bielefelders do not have a sex-linked trait that only works for one generation like a lot of hybrids, it is autosomal (on a non-sex chromosome). I know what you mean, though--you are talking about their auto-sexing trait. However, when crossed to anything but another autosomal auto-sexing bird, you won't get it in the offspring. I see a lot of people crossing Bielefelders to Isbars, for example, which are another autosomally auto-sexing breed. I think the same would be true with Rhodebars, etc. Anything that has the same barring trait built-in bred to another of the same type, though not necessarily the same breed, will give you chicks that you can sex on Day 1. If you had a barred or cuckoo Wyandotte (I don't think they come this way, but maybe someone is working on it), I wonder if it might possibly work, but I am not an expert in all aspects of chicken genetics. I think there is a bit more to it than just the barring, though it is essential for telling the chicks apart. I am certain it won't work if you use a typical laced Wyandotte of any color (silver laced, gold laced, red laced blue, etc.).

Someone please correct me if I am wrong.

 

[Sill]

Can anyone point me to a Bielefelder SOP? What is a roo's comb supposed to look like? My cockerel's comb is growing and he's only around four months old but it's looking a little strange. Maybe it's just because he's young?

 

[elizmartin]

Am not sure there is a U.S., SOP since it is a rather newer import in the US….but on the page prior to this one Chickielady has some pictures of hers, both sexes and if you were to go to www.feathersite.com and look under chicken, then under B for Bielefelder, You will see may bird pictures that can give more visual information.

 

[Cody A]

^ There's also quite a few German made videos of Bieles on youtube.

 

[Cody A]

I do cody and they venture far from the coop sometimes I have to go get them because they go to far in the neighbors property instead of the pasture and woods. I will say when the roo was young he would run from other hens and roos but not anymore. I have a juvinal trio that are dying to get out the run they are from my Dec 10 hatch.Pam

Yesterday I coerced all the teenage chicks out of the coop into the run and shut them out of the coop. They freaked out for a little while and piled up by the door. I coaxed them deeper into the run with scratch and sat with them for a couple hours. They thoroughly enjoyed themselves except when a few vultures flew over, and a legitimate scare when there actually was a hawk. They have over 2000sqft of covered run to be in and today they were going to the end of the run. I was so glad to see them finally out by themselves. All it took was me making them go.

 

[DesertChic]

Yesterday I coerced all the teenage chicks out of the coop into the run and shut them out of the coop. They freaked out for a little while and piled up by the door. I coaxed them deeper into the run with scratch and sat with them for a couple hours. They thoroughly enjoyed themselves except when a few vultures flew over, and a legitimate scare when there actually was a hawk. They have over 2000sqft of covered run to be in and today they were going to the end of the run. I was so glad to see them finally out by themselves. All it took was me making them go.

Sounds like a healthy dose of "tough love" was the perfect prescription. Well done!

 

[Ron Skekel]

Yesterday I coerced all the teenage chicks out of the coop into the run and shut them out of the coop. They freaked out for a little while and piled up by the door. I coaxed them deeper into the run with scratch and sat with them for a couple hours. They thoroughly enjoyed themselves except when a few vultures flew over, and a legitimate scare when there actually was a hawk. They have over 2000sqft of covered run to be in and today they were going to the end of the run. I was so glad to see them finally out by themselves. All it took was me making them go.  

That makes sence your momma Bielefelder. You hatched them and they imprinted on you. Pam

 

[Ron Skekel]

Can anyone point me to a Bielefelder SOP?  What is a roo's comb supposed to look like?  My cockerel's comb is growing and he's only around four months old but it's looking a little strange.  Maybe it's just because he's young?

Are you refering to the side growth no their comb? It's the first breed I've had that has it.

It's hard to see but thats side growth on both sides of the comb. Pam