A Bielefelder Thread !

[Coop de Grass]

I can't help but wonder if she's not still feeling some of the effects of having been sick, perhaps now with balance problems. I don't know of chickens experience symptoms similar to humans, but when my ears are stuffed up badly I have balance issues. Or maybe she's just still feeling a bit weak.

I do, however, have one Biel girl who really struggles to roost because she's so darn big and has taken to sleeping on the floor at night with my Silkie and Frizzled EEs.

Thank you for the reassurance. Hopefully things will be calm in the coop in the morning.

 

[Sylvester017]

Hello all

We have survived the respiratory infection and I have an appointment to take one of the Bielefelders to the avian vet tomorrow - it took her the longest to recover. The purpose is to have her tested so that we know what they got. In the interim, she was being attacked by the flock (5 hens and 8 (3 month old) pullets. I have had her separated in a crate in our family room. She has regained her strength and I have taken her out for walks. I thought that she was fine until today - I built a pen inside the run, with a roost and a nest box. She didn't show any interest in the roost, and when I put her in the nest box she came straight out. I was thinking about bringing her to the house, but she walked up the ramp and through the pop door to the coop. I watched her try to jump to the intermediate roost twice. Each time she slipped off. I finally went in and placed her on a roost and turned off the lights. She stayed on the roost for 10 minutes, but then she started to stand up and fell off.

Has anyone encountered this? She seems to walk alright, if not super fast. She has always been passive... usually the last to notice that everyone has moved on. When she was attacked, she did nothing but lie there.

I will have an answer from the vet tomorrow afternoon, and will share what I find out.

With problems I can't diagnose (which is most of the time) I value my vet's input. Glad to hear you have a vet to check out your sick one! Here's hoping she gets well soon

 

[Coop de Grass]

With problems I can't diagnose (which is most of the time) I value my vet's input. Glad to hear you have a vet to check out your sick one! Here's hoping she gets well soon

I am glad that I took her to the vet even though she couldn't tell me very much right there and then. I know that most of her sinus issues are gone, but that her crop and abdomen are "pouchy" They drew blood and are testing her stool because she cooperated by making a deposit on the floor. Her wing is not broken but she is weaker on the left side - both wing and foot.ll

Now we wait for the test results, in the mean time I'm to start another series of Tylan 50. Funny thing, the vet uses the powder TYlan, but she said that the powder is expensive - not sure exactly how much. I'm sticking with the injections, at least I know that she will get the meds.

Most of today she has been in with the flock, sometimes tap dancing around the other girls. She gave my little roo what for when he got too frisky!

The vet approved all the meds that I've given our hens, she asked if I had them for eggs, and asked if I knew not to eat them.

All in all, an informative visit.

She also gave me a form to take straight to the state lab if we lose another chicken - said it was cheaper to go straight to the lab!

 

[Sylvester017]

I am glad that I took her to the vet even though she couldn't tell me very much right there and then. I know that most of her sinus issues are gone, but that her crop and abdomen are "pouchy" They drew blood and are testing her stool because she cooperated by making a deposit on the floor. Her wing is not broken but she is weaker on the left side - both wing and foot.ll

Now we wait for the test results, in the mean time I'm to start another series of Tylan 50. Funny thing, the vet uses the powder TYlan, but she said that the powder is expensive - not sure exactly how much. I'm sticking with the injections, at least I know that she will get the meds.

Most of today she has been in with the flock, sometimes tap dancing around the other girls. She gave my little roo what for when he got too frisky!

The vet approved all the meds that I've given our hens, she asked if I had them for eggs, and asked if I knew not to eat them.

All in all, an informative visit.

She also gave me a form to take straight to the state lab if we lose another chicken - said it was cheaper to go straight to the lab!

I like the sound of your vet. I've had mine for almost 5 yrs -- nearly fainted when he did nasal surgery on my tiny 2-lb Silkie but the little bird always displays CRD symptoms at least once every year and each time it's different -- either heavy wheezing, nasal blockage, or head-shaking, etc. Vet wants me to have the hens on vitamins but I already do vitamins, supplements, routine worming, and once a month Poultry Protector for lice/mite prevention but the little Silkie is just prone to showing the symptoms. He said the other hens obviously have CRD because of being around her but they are healthier to not succumb to the symptoms. 95% of backyard flocks have CRD but never display symptoms. I'm just the lucky one(?) to have one susceptible hen to CRD displays. I've already euthanized one pullet for a different issue this past year and I don't relish putting down another pet.

 

[Coop de Grass]

I like the sound of your vet. I've had mine for almost 5 yrs -- nearly fainted when he did nasal surgery on my tiny 2-lb Silkie but the little bird always displays CRD symptoms at least once every year and each time it's different -- either heavy wheezing, nasal blockage, or head-shaking, etc. Vet wants me to have the hens on vitamins but I already do vitamins, supplements, routine worming, and once a month Poultry Protector for lice/mite prevention but the little Silkie is just prone to showing the symptoms. He said the other hens obviously have CRD because of being around her but they are healthier to not succumb to the symptoms. 95% of backyard flocks have CRD but never display symptoms. I'm just the lucky one(?) to have one susceptible hen to CRD displays. I've already euthanized one pullet for a different issue this past year and I don't relish putting down another pet.

Sorry about your pullet. I had to put down a 5 week old chick that was the size of a 2 day old chick. I did it myself because I knew if I chose to keep chickens and hatch them, I woulf have to deal with it. Can't have DH do all of the hard stuff.

It is so hard when you have attachments to chickens. Schnitzel is one of my first girls, and they are different from the rest of the flock. Right now, she tends to avoid me when before, she would charge at me with all the rest of my girls. This morning, I gave her shot all by myself! The biggest part of it was believing that I could do it, and that I wouldn't hurt her. I tucked her under my left arm, belly up, and with her head behind my armpit. I could hold her feet with my left hand. Parting her feathers was a bit tricky, but I got it done. Then I fussed after her for a long time and fed her mealy worms before I put her down.

I really liked this vet! I've gone to one closer to my house for my cats and dog, but from now on, I may make the 20 minute drive.
Edinburg Animal Hospital in West Windsor, NJ. Jennifer Fanders DVM

 

[ChickenLady2014]

I was at the breeders meeting today, and they told me that this trait comes from the Malines heritage of the Bielefelder. Coucou de Malines were used in the creation of the Bielefelder for better meat and barred feathers... so your chick may have it's greatgrandmom's legs. 

I am so glad that I came across this post. I've beeb searching on this very thing. I was sure I got taken by the breeder I got the trio from. Still doesn't make me happy that the feathers are there though. Still feel a little taken

 

[Faraday40]

Been away for a while & finally caught up skimming through the posts.
Coop de Grass - so sorry about your recent flock struggles.

I may have mentioned before that my beloved Cuddles fell ill last Sept. She recovered, molted, had a few normal months, then relapsed in Feb, We decided that chicken hospice was our plan. (ovarian issues) My sweet hen died in my arms Sat night. More about it below.
Cuddles. The BEST chicken in the world to me.
April 23, 2014 - May 14, 2016
She died in my arms a few moments ago. Sadness beyond words....






A few days later I wrote this:
To those of you who remember Cuddles, she was a special girl. I had wanted a lav orp for a long time & finally could afford 4 eggs. From those 4 shipped eggs, we hatched 2 chicks: Cuddles & Tank. Cuddles loved to sit on my lap & watch TV. She was always spoiled, but also gave back to me in many ways. I worked with her so she came running & responded to her name (not just the :Ch Ch Chicken call) She followed basic commands like "Go coop" ;"Go run", "Go crate" (travel cage), "up" = jump in my lap. The fun part was when I trained her to peck at targets. I would write words on cards & she would select the card with a tiny red dot. I could ask her the most complicated questions & she always got the answer correct! (to the amazement of many middle school students! LOL) We then went one step further & I taught her to peck at only the Queen of Hearts. As long as I did my part correctly & forced the volunteer to select Q-hearts, Cuddles (my physic chicken) could read their minds & peck at the card they randomly chose. It was so precious to see Cuddles think. She would look back & forth between cards often tilting her head to view at different angles before making her selection. Cuddles often appeared in the local papers & even received "thank you" letters from kids. My DD then decided to work with Cuddles. She tried agility training & got Cuddles to walk through a hoop. That was about it. Let's face it, Orps are not made for agility, but dear Cuddles tried her best to please us.

Cuddles loved the attention. She was fearless of visitors & would let anyone pet & hold her - in hopes that some sort of treat would be given. She loved her treats! Even without food, she jumped up into my lap for attention or simply followed me around the yard - "chatting the entire time.". Our backyard seems so empty & quiet now. I miss my Cuddles.

Back in early Sept, she had some type of severe illness & stopped eating. I dewormed, gave Corid, and even learned how to tube feed so Cuddles would not starve to death. She lived! I followed up with yogurt & ACV. Never sure exactly what it was, but she molted & life went back to normal for a while. In March, Cuddles had a mild relapse. Her abdomen felt swollen & hard. I knew she had something serious. It seemed like her poop was being blocked & her crop was slow. The digestive & poop issues cleared, but the firm abdomen remained. My guess is that she was internally laying or had tumors. We decided that chicken hospice was our plan. It continued to grow, but even when ill, Cuddles was the 1st to greet me every morning. DD & I were away on Sat. When we returned to lock up the flock, Cuddles looked weak. I planned to bring her inside for the night due to the cold. I sat on the sofa with Cuddles in my lap. She briefly seized, then placed her head in the palm of my hand. She looked up at me a drew her last few breaths. It seems that she waited for me to hold her one last time before letting go.

I have other chickens, even other lav orps, but sometimes the brightest stars burn out the fastest. Cuddles was MY chicken, my favorite, my companion, my comforter, & my friend. She was so much more than "a chicken". I guess I'm writing all this because only those who have fallen in love with a chicken can understand how sad I feel right now. RIP my dear, sweet Cuddles.

 

[Faraday40]

Meanwhile, I've been trying to keep myself busy.

My hopes of getting another bielefelder roo didn't work out. I did however hatch a pretty biele pullet.....and several mixes. I sold the mixes but held on to the biele pullet. Here she is next to Spitzhauben hatchmates. Since she's my only biele, I'm probably going to name her Hen Solo. (Already have a Darth Layer, Princess Lay-a, & ChewBAWKa)


My friends always laugh when I tell them about my trained chickens, so I made a short video showing how I move the chicks from place to place. In the beginning I walk with them & drop a random treat along the route. A kid walks behind us (with swishing arms) to make sure they walk together as a group. After 2 days, they just follow me & I give them the treats when they all get inside. With about a week of training, they start to run ahead of me - knowing that a big treat awaits them in their destination. (That's where we are in the video.) In about 1 more week, all will be inside before I even walk 1/2 way. I use this to keep the chicks safe from hawks. When they get to be full sized & hang out with the adults, I simply leave the door open so they may free range or run inside for food/safety.

The training is also nice because when I need to put the flock away in the middle of the afternoon, they all come running. (adults included) I simply call & say/point to where I want them to go.

 

[Coop de Grass]

@Faraday40 Your chicks are so cute running back and forth, even my DH was laughing.

Great choice of music too! I will have to try that with my little ones. How old were they when you started?

Hen Solo, Darth Layer and Princess Lay-a???

ChewBawka!

Thanks for the giggles!

 

[Faraday40]

You're very welcome. I knew other chicken people would get it!


I moved the chicks into the coop (but inside a rabbit cage) at about 2-3 weeks. When weather was warm enough, I carried them to the run & back for daily grass time. (Took too much time!) Around 6 weeks old, I carried 1-2 chicks & made the others walk. I also dropped tiny treats to keep them near me along the way. After a few days, they got the idea & I just gave them a reward at the end. After a week, they pretty much have it. (Sometimes they have trouble finding the door because the tractor moves daily.) What I didn't show is what happens when I move the tractor to a whole different area of the yard. They arrive at the old spot and start running in circles, bumping into one another, until the new location of the tractor is spotted.