A Bielefelder Thread !

[OHfarmerswife]

We're all Biel lovers here because this breed is very easy to love. Have you checked out the breed review page? 

https://www.backyardchickens.com/products/bielefelder

Thanks chic

 

[Cynthia12]

Oh, I wasn't aware that they don't handle heat well..it's gotten into the 90's here this week, non of mine are liking it..wings spread out. I did notice that the little pullet Bie was panting. Went out and wet things down for them...where they like to dust bathe.

 

[DesertChic]

Oh, I wasn't aware that they don't handle heat well..it's gotten into the 90's here this week, non of mine are liking it..wings spread out. I did notice that the little pullet Bie was panting. Went out and wet things down for them...where they like to dust bathe.

Wetting the ground for them helps A LOT. Mine have adapted sufficiently to handle temps up to about 95 if the humidity is low, but the higher the humidity climbs the lower the temp needs to be for them to avoid heat stroke. Once it hits 100 I have to take major steps to keep my Biels from dying from heat stroke, and already lost my favorite hen to 110+ temperatures this summer.

If I had known they would struggle this much with the heat I probably would never had tried out the breed, but I'm so fond of my little flock that I go to great lengths to keep them alive. I just won't breed for pure Biels or purchase any more from here on out. If I can cross breed to maintain their good characteristics while improving heat tolerance I will, but I think it would be cruel of me to subject more pure Biels to our extreme heat.

 

[Kathyb2]

I am in South Georgia. I really like mine but I would not have gotten them had I known the heat would bother them as much as it does. They have a mister and a fan, big pen with plenty of shade and they stil look miserable from about 12-6 and it's only June.

 

[Red Banks]

I am in South Georgia. I really like mine but I would not have gotten them had I known the heat would bother them as much as it does. They have a mister and a fan, big pen with plenty of shade and they stil look miserable from about 12-6 and it's only June.

Hi Kathyb2, I am in North Florida, about a mile and 1/2 from the Georgia line. My Biels are panting but..... all of my birds are panting. They stay in the shade and are mostly active morning and evening although all the egg laying nonsense (songs and looking for the best nest) continues regardless of the temperature. Where in S GA?

 

[otakalhasas]

Well, I lost my absolute favorite hen, my Bielefelder girl named Gretel, to heat stroke today. We went to dinner with some family, and when we got home rigor had already set in. I'm feeling like a pretty awful chicken mommy right now.

Oh Desert Chic, I am so, so sorry. Of all my birds, my Biels are by far my favorites and, yes, I also have a favorite of my favorites. Fly high, sweet Gretel...

 

[Faraday40]

x2
So sorry to hear the news about your sweet Gretel.

 

[Red Banks]

x2
So sorry to hear the news about your sweet Gretel.

Me too! So sorry...... some of them are so special, they steal our hearts.

 

[DesertChic]

The ironic thing about having lost Gretel is that her sister, Gidget, seems to have assumed Gretel's "duties". Gretel was the protector of my little Buff Silkie hen, and also was the "talker" in the flock, always making funny noises, greeting me with a particular series of sounds, and literally responding to me when I spoke to her. Gidget never made a sound....until now. Suddenly she's the one to run up and greet me with nearly identical sounds to what Gretel used to say, comes to sit on my lap and hold conversations with me, and has taken over the responsibility of shielding my Silkie from the meaner hens and all amorous boys except my Biel roosters. The only thing she does differently is roost at night instead of laying on the floor with the Silkie and the Frizzled EEs. It's been an interesting dynamic to observe.

Chickens never cease to impress, astound, educate and amuse me.

 

[otakalhasas]

The ironic thing about having lost Gretel is that her sister, Gidget, seems to have assumed Gretel's "duties". Gretel was the protector of my little Buff Silkie hen, and also was the "talker" in the flock, always making funny noises, greeting me with a particular series of sounds, and literally responding to me when I spoke to her. Gidget never made a sound....until now. Suddenly she's the one to run up and greet me with nearly identical sounds to what Gretel used to say, comes to sit on my lap and hold conversations with me, and has taken over the responsibility of shielding my Silkie from the meaner hens and all amorous boys except my Biel roosters. The only thing she does differently is roost at night instead of laying on the floor with the Silkie and the Frizzled EEs. It's been an interesting dynamic to observe.

Chickens never cease to impress, astound, educate and amuse me.

Oh what we could learn from the animal kingdom, if only we would listen!