A Bielefelder Thread !

[Coop de Grass]

Congratulations!

 

[DesertChic]

may I ask what protein level you are feeding at? And age of these roos?

I start all of my chicks on 20-22% protein for the first couple weeks, then drop them down to 18% protein until right around week 10, which is when I see their growth rates drop off. From that point on they receive 16% layer feed, though if I separate out my cockerels from my pullets for butchering, I will often mix scratch grains (never corn or soy) into their fermented feed. Oh...and all of their feed is always fermented.

I typically butcher all of my extra cockerels between 18 and 24 weeks. That age results in nice, meaty carcasses without too much toughness.

 

[UGLYFOOT]

Hooray for baby Biele's!!! Congratulations! e:

 

[Saris]

I have 5 chicks out! 2 boys and 3 girls and 4 pipped eggs in the 'bator.


One of my girls has a tiny bit of down on her legs.....

 

[UGLYFOOT]

Quote:
Yay! except.... down??? not a Biele trait???

 

[Saris]

Quote: I know, she is from a different breeder than the rest, the other four are from Papa's Poultry.

 

[Saris]

Here's the odd girl out

 

[UGLYFOOT]

I think I have the smallest Bielefelder in the world. Is there a bantam version? I bought two different breeders auctions on Rarebreedauctions.com that are about a week or so apart, at most 3 weeks depending on whether the second breeder sent me chicks that were starters as he said or day olds. The first batch are growing nicely and seem to be normal size, but this little girl was the lone survivor of a disastrous shipping. She should be at least double in size. Do you think that the trauma may have stunted her growth? She eats and drinks and is normal in all ways, just really small for her age. I am estimating her hatch date around November 23rd to the 30th at latest according to the breeder. That would put her at 3 1/2 moths old. He sent me more again in January that are doing ok and are catching up to this girl pretty quick.
Any thought??

 

[Bine]

Congrats to your hatch. Hope the odd girl found her feed. Sometimes they need sometime to get up. Sometime the legs are a little crocked, Try to give her food and water and if you suspect that the one leg is not strait, try vet tape. I think somewhere on the forum is a tutorium for correcting chick legs.

And yes, we have a bantam version here. But I think they were never imported to the US, so maybe a "natural" Bantam or a visit from a strange rooster with her mama.

 

[UGLYFOOT]

Quote:
She was talking about the feathers on her legs.. My girls...She looks perfect in every way but her size. I am guessing she is just a "runt" and that is okay because I gave her to my sister who was the one to pick up the box from the sorting facility, only to find they were all dead but her. VERY traumatic experience for her and the chick. She will be a pampered girl in the Serama and Silkie pen maybe..