A Bielefelder Thread !

[mamidei]

Finally got my first bielefelder egg at 8 months old! Good thing it's BIG

that was a long wait.

 

[otakalhasas]

You know what they say - good things happen to he/she who waits! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

 

[Candy442]

27 weeks and we are still waiting for Biele eggs

 

[otakalhasas]

Fingers (or claws) crossed for your girls laying soon! BTW - how do you find the Cream Legbars vs the Bielefelders? These are the two breeds I'm considering adding to my flock. Thanks!

 

[Zinniah]

I feel like mine wont start laying until about 8 months. Oh well, its for their own good, their body knows whats best. I knew it would take longer, because i read that larger breeds usually take a lot longer. Still sucks waiting though, they are only 5 months, so still a while to wait.

 

[DesertChic]

Finally got my first bielefelder egg at 8 months old! Good thing it's BIG

that was a long wait.

Congratulations!

27 weeks and we are still waiting for Biele eggs

One of my girls started laying at 24 weeks and has now pretty much stopped. All three of my girls are now 8 months old and simply refuse to give me eggs.

It's a good thing they're so incredibly sweet and that I love them so much, because otherwise I'd probably be considering inviting them to dinner.

 

[TNBielefelder]

Congratulations!


One of my girls started laying at 24 weeks and has now pretty much stopped. All three of my girls are now 8 months old and simply refuse to give me eggs.

It's a good thing they're so incredibly sweet and that I love them so much, because otherwise I'd probably be considering inviting them to dinner.

I have heard that once Bielefelders start laying they will quit for a week and then restart. Do any experienced breeders want to give some insight on the laying patterns of Bielefelders? Given the season which brings short days and molt, I would question if it effects breeds of chickens that are not really egg "production" type breeds worse than say the sex links, leghorn and other breeds and hybrids known for year round laying? My 6 month old golden sex links are spitting out eggs like crazy everyday. Between the 10 they usually lay 5-9 eggs a day.

 

[Ron Skekel]

Fingers (or claws) crossed for your girls laying soon!  BTW - how do you find the Cream Legbars vs the Bielefelders?  These are the two breeds I'm considering adding to my flock.  Thanks!​

Carl Patten's photo.
I have both breeds. My Legbars are more consistent Layers. The eggs are smaller they start out med. size and become larger as they get older. They are sweet but prefer not to be handled but will follow you everywhere if you let them. What else do you want to know? Pam

 

[otakalhasas]

How are the roosters? I've heard Legbar roos can be a bit aggressive, but that Bieldefelder roos are friendly. Thanks!

 

[Faraday40]

I'm new to this breed & just found this thread.

Here are my Bielefelders:
They have finally started laying. I got 3 mini pullet eggs in the last 4 days. (have 3 biele pullets) They just turned 26 weeks. I'm guessing they're from the Bieles since my English Orp pullets will likely take 8 months or more.

BTW- I noticed that Bielefelders make all kinds of unique noises. Does anyone else have this? I swear one of the hens is growling at me. At least that's what it sounds like. Then there's another that "honks" at me. I believe the "Honking" is her way of announcing "Treats are comin!" or it's just her individual way of begging.


"Hen Solo" in a tree. Doesn't she know that she's not supposed to fly?


"Chew-BAWK-a" looking cute...... trying to convince me it was her digging in my strawberry patch. (notice the muddy beak)



The roo has only crowed a handful of times. The hens make a lot more noise. The orp roos seem to take care of most of the crowing & mating. The Biele roo's pretty smart, though.

Each night I take the boys off the roost & put them to bed in the garage. That way they can crow away & no one will hear them until I let them out. Anyway, the biele doesn't like being carried. When he sees his brothers being carried away, he usually jumps off the roost. (Makes it easier for me to bend down & pick him up off the ground, rather than reach up & take him down. Because I find it helpful, he tends to get moved last.) Last night I finished the chicken count & moved the 2 orps, but Biele was no where to be seen. I checked both runs & the coop. Then I saw him in the garage. He walked all the way over to the "rooster box" & was waiting to be put inside.



When I compare the roo to his orpington brothers, he's definitely slower to mature & more timid. (He'll come near for treats, but won't take from my hands.) The orps & bieles were all hatched together, so no fighting. Biele roo's got no problem with size! He's just lower in the pecking order than the other 2. The Biele girls, however, like to boss the other pullets around. They act like queens -almost rooster-like. Everything belongs to them. I have a mixed flock with older hens. The Biele pullets will bully younger pullets, but leave the hens alone. Are bieles usually at the top of the pecking order?

Also, mine were broody raised. They are finally getting more relaxed. Do most tend to become lap chickens like orpingtons?