A Bielefelder Thread !

[LowerBamaMama]

Very interesting. Thanks for the insight.
I have another question. The breed standard says "preferably no shank showing" and "Shank: short; in large part hidden in side feathers" this seems odd and contradictory to what I see in the Biels* I have and the photos I have seen here.

 

[Red Banks]

The girls are getting big!

 

[Bine]

I couldn't get two pics with the same size, but maybe it is easyer, when we look a the ideal of breeds and see what the Standard says.

For the Bielefelder the shanks should be covered and we have a bird that stands deep on short legs.



While this bird is standing middle high on medium long legs, Showing the hock.. they are not covered by the side feathers.


while this birds stand very high, you see the legs and hock and the long streched thigh.

 

[Red Banks]

I couldn't get two pics with the same size, but maybe it is easyer, when we look a the ideal of breeds and see what the Standard says.

For the Bielefelder the shanks should be covered and we have a bird that stands on deep on short legs.



While this bird is standing middle hight on medium long legs, Showing the hock.. they are not covered by the side feathers.


while this birds stand very high, you see the legs and hock and the long streched thigh.

Very helpful Bine! Thanks.

 

[Red Banks]

Today the B la felders free ranged for the first time with the flock. I have had the 17 eight week old cream legbars out for a few days. The bielefelders are just about a week to a week and a half behind them. Two B pullets are a little older than the others. The cockerel is one of the youngest. He is a little smaller than the 8 week old CLs. One of the CLs challenged him at the feeder. He is not going to be pushed around. He stood his ground and ran off the bigger chick. I hope he lives up to the stories I have read about Bielefelder roos on this thread. I need a strong rooster. Today he was just cute!

 

[DesertChic]

Today the B la felders free ranged for the first time with the flock. I have had the 17 eight week old cream legbars out for a few days. The bielefelders are just about a week to a week and a half behind them. Two B pullets are a little older than the others. The cockerel is one of the youngest. He is a little smaller than the 8 week old CLs. One of the CLs challenged him at the feeder. He is not going to be pushed around. He stood his ground and ran off the bigger chick. I hope he lives up to the stories I have read about Bielefelder roos on this thread. I need a strong rooster. Today he was just cute!

I hope you have as much luck with your Biel rooster as I've had with mine.

 

[Eggscoozme]

Hi!

Would you tell me how you got the bones out? I tried crockpotting , but had a TON of little tiny bones - pieces of rib cage, neck vertebrae, etc....so many that I didn't feel it would be safe eating. Even tried straining, but still way too many bones. The broth was excellent, though! This was not a Biel, that I cooked, but it was a full size chicken.

At what age should we butcher for fried chicken vs stew chicken?

We really want to get this down as we are breeding Biels for meat & eggs.

 

[Eggscoozme]

Our flock of Biels and flock of CLBs we purchased together as chicks from GFF, last April. The Biels are the "new silkies" in my eyes less the broody factor. More gentle and calm than my silkies. Anyhow, the Biels and CLBs ate together, no prob. When the hormones kicked in, Big Roo (Biel Rooster) made it clear with Little Roo (CLB Rooster) that he gets whatever girls he wants, and that Little Roo can mate accordingly. I've seen my Biel Roo literally chasing our CLB Roo around the yard, but never attacking him. I've since sold off our CLB flock. (They have their attributes, but was disappointed not one blue egg - just green).
So, I'd say give it a little time, and see what happens when the hormones kick in.

 

[Faraday40]

Today the B la felders free ranged for the first time with the flock. I have had the 17 eight week old cream legbars out for a few days. The bielefelders are just about a week to a week and a half behind them. Two B pullets are a little older than the others. The cockerel is one of the youngest. He is a little smaller than the 8 week old CLs. One of the CLs challenged him at the feeder. He is not going to be pushed around. He stood his ground and ran off the bigger chick. I hope he lives up to the stories I have read about Bielefelder roos on this thread. I need a strong rooster. Today he was just cute!

My Biele roo had no desire to mate or even crow at 5.5 mo. He was larger than my orps but all his energy went into growing not mating or claiming rank. The 3 roos were always together since hatch, got along well, & even worked together to protect the girls. My head orp started crowing at only 3 mo & 2 weeks later he was mating the hens (not pullets his own age). I never had a roo mature so quickly! But, I've had several of the larger breeds mature slowly. Usually around 5-6 mo, their hormones turn on.

 

[Red Banks]

My Biele roo had no desire to mate or even crow at 5.5 mo. He was larger than my orps but all his energy went into growing not mating or claiming rank. The 3 roos were always together since hatch, got along well, & even worked together to protect the girls. My head orp started crowing at only 3 mo & 2 weeks later he was mating the hens (not pullets his own age). I never had a roo mature so quickly! But, I've had several of the larger breeds mature slowly. Usually around 5-6 mo, their hormones turn on.

Thanks.....the more I hear about B la felders..... the more I like them. I have two cockerels right now just coming into their own. An Ameraucana and a Splash Marans. Am is top dog. The Splash is agressive to the hens and doesn't display any leadership. I think he is still young. The Am is older and probably a quicker maturing breed.... at least that is my guess. The Am sort of challenged me this morning. I think it is just the way he begins his day. He runs around putting everyone in their place. He just stood by me but I got the impression he thought he was putting me in my place.

The B's and CL's cockerels are far behind these two.... 8 weeks and under. I will have time to sort it all out and plan on separating the flock. I think I will put the Am over my laying flock of Ams and Marans.