A Bielefelder Thread !

[TNBielefelder]

Yes, white in the tailfeathers is typically bad and gets worse with each molt.

I've been searching the internet off and on for a German standard of perfection for the Bielefelders from a reliable source. I even contacted Green fire farms with no luck. Do you have a German standard you are going by I would love to read it and use it.

 

[ChickCrazed]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/727364/a-bielefelder-thread/1780#post_15417762

The white in the tail feathers is a disqualification in other similarly patterned birds (Crested Cream Legbars being one). And continues to spread and get worse with each molt. While we don't have a US standard yet, it is very likely that it will be a fault once we do.

 

[TNBielefelder]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/727364/a-bielefelder-thread/1780#post_15417762

The white in the tail feathers is a disqualification in other similarly patterned birds (Crested Cream Legbars being one). And continues to spread and get worse with each molt.  While we don't have a US standard yet, it is very likely that it will be a fault once we do.

Thanks for the info and link!!

 

[TNBielefelder]

Found this picture and this Cock appears to have a little white at the top of his tail feathers as well. Its amazing the color difference in this breed. I have one Cock that looks a lot like the one in this picture which has the silver and Jackson has more of the red. Will try and post some pictures of the other. The Standard I read says the red was more the original with the silver being a new color? Who knew? Would love to see others post pictures of their Roosters.

 

[DMRippy]

Quote: It is a common issue in chickens. Seems more common in patterned/barred birds.... except my barred rocks. It is a DQ in most breeds. It is something you want to breed AWAY from. No solid white patches on any feathers.

 

[TNBielefelder]

It is a common issue in chickens.  Seems more common in patterned/barred birds.... except my barred rocks.  It is a DQ in most breeds.  It is something you want to breed AWAY from.  No solid white patches on any feathers. 

It appears to be common in The Bielefelder roosters I have seen several roosters with it Here is an advertisement from Omega hills

 

[TNBielefelder]

wow even found this picture on the green fire farm site of one of their Roosters. Very common and this is the original importer of the breed.

 

[TNBielefelder]

here is another one from the green fire site and it seems to always be a single feather at the top of the tail.

 

[DMRippy]

Please understand that GFF is not a quality breeder, they are really just a high dollar hatchery. They work with what they have, like most backyard breeders. The GOAL with any breed is to make it the best quality it can be in every aspect. It is up to US to make them better than what we got. Cull hard and work forward every generation. Don't assume because you see it from a supplier that it is OK, it is not an OK thing to breed forward. If it is all you have work with it but make sure the hens don't have it and make sure your next cockerel doesn't have that trait THEN you are making progress.

 

[TNBielefelder]

Please understand that GFF is not a quality breeder, they are really just a high dollar hatchery.  They work with what they have, like most backyard breeders.  The GOAL with any breed is to make it the best quality it can be in every aspect.  It is up to US to make them better than what we got.  Cull hard and work forward every generation.  Don't assume because you see it from a supplier that it is OK, it is not an OK thing to breed forward.  If it is all you have work with it but make sure the hens don't have it and make sure your next cockerel doesn't have that trait THEN you are making progress.

The point I was trying to make is that the single white feather seems to be common in the Rooster not that it was desirable or that Greenfire held the best standard of quality. I just looked at their Bielefelders because they where the original importers and was curious about what theirs looked like. I would want to believe they had stock that meets the German standard since that is where they obtained their original flock. But who has seen an official German standard. I did look at the post on this thread that had information concerning the standard but where did it come from? I contacted APA and obvisiosly their is no standard because they do not recognize the breed but I did ask them if we could get the ball rolling toward getting a standard and getting the breed recognized and they told me to start working on it and they are sending me a breed application. Now who wants to be a part of writing the standard to be brought before the standard committee? This is a 5 year process so if we do not start working toward developing something now we will still be in the same boat 5 years from now. I contacted Greenfire to see if they have a written copy of an official German standard we could use about 2 weeks ago but still haven't heard back.