A Bielefelder Thread !

[Faraday40]

My poor chickens had another sweltering day. I suppose 95'F doesn't sound too bad to most, but the humidity was terrible too! We rarely go above 85 in June. There's always a few 95-100'F days each summer (usually in early August), but June is not supposed to be this hot. My flock is mostly Orpingtons, but the biele pullet looked miserable.

The pic below says it all. I set up fans again in the coop /run. I also gave them "sav-a-chick" & periodic ice cubes in the water. A few even got some baths. The orps have a lot of butt fluff, so baths &/or feather trims are just needed from time to time. Tonight we'll go back down to mid 60s & tomorrow's high is only 74'F

 

[DesertChic]

Our beautiful Biel roo just attacked our 6 year old... She told me he did it yesterday too- I didn't believe her and had her go in the run where he couldn't see me. He's only 4 months old, with no spurs yet. He indeed came around the run, right for her, with his hackle feathers puffed and his chest out. I had always said I'd have a no tolerance policy... He's so gorgeous, but not more than our little girl. I told her I was so sorry I didn't believe her and that Big Handsome would be gone by morning

Oh no! That is so sad. But you're obviously making the right decision. Even in the sweetest breeds there's always a chance of getting a less-than-ideal rooster. I'm so sorry your daughter had to endure those attacks.

 

[DesertChic]

My poor chickens had another sweltering day. I suppose 95'F doesn't sound too bad to most, but the humidity was terrible too! We rarely go above 85 in June. There's always a few 95-100'F days each summer (usually in early August), but June is not supposed to be this hot. My flock is mostly Orpingtons, but the biele pullet looked miserable.

The pic below says it all. I set up fans again in the coop /run. I also gave them "sav-a-chick" & periodic ice cubes in the water. A few even got some baths. The orps have a lot of butt fluff, so baths &/or feather trims are just needed from time to time. Tonight we'll go back down to mid 60s & tomorrow's high is only 74'F

Oh, that humidity is a real killer. My Biels can tolerate 95* out here only when the humidity is nice and low, and even then they're not happy. Heck, even when it was only in the 80s here they seemed irritated by the heat. Poor babies. They're definitely cool weather birds. Your girl is lovely though.

 

[gotro17]

Oh no! That is so sad. But you're obviously making the right decision. Even in the sweetest breeds there's always a chance of getting a less-than-ideal rooster. I'm so sorry your daughter had to endure those attacks.

Thanks- I'm not happy, but, if he's like this now, we all know it'll only get worse. On the contrary, our #2 guy, a gorgeous BCM roo is sweet and has a raspy warble crow. "Ringo" has always been friendly and follows me around in the mornings, "chatting" with me. I hope he'll never change so we can at least have one roo for our girls.

 

[jophus]

Didn't have tremendous luck with my Bielefelder eggs, but wound up with 2 boys and 3 girls, plus a little New Hampshire chick from eggs the guy threw in. That should get me started.

 

[DesertChic]

Thanks- I'm not happy, but, if he's like this now, we all know it'll only get worse. On the contrary, our #2 guy, a gorgeous BCM roo is sweet and has a raspy warble crow. "Ringo" has always been friendly and follows me around in the mornings, "chatting" with me. I hope he'll never change so we can at least have one roo for our girls.

He's lovely! Isn't it funny how we develop either an affinity or a distaste for the sound of a single bird's crow? I still have one gorgeous NN cockerel that I've seriously considered culling just because his crow is AWFUL. He sounds more like he's screaming than crowing and I just shake my head every time I hear him. I already culled on boy with a crow that sounded like screeching tires on hot pavement, and another one that I swear was cursing every time he crowed. Every time my boys start reaching crowing age, I plead with my favorites to please have a beautiful crow that I can stand to listen to, or I may have to invite them to dinner.

Here's my pretty boy with the scream:

 

[DesertChic]

Didn't have tremendous luck with my Bielefelder eggs, but wound up with 2 boys and 3 girls, plus a little New Hampshire chick from eggs the guy threw in. That should get me started.

For some reason Bielefelder eggs just seem to be harder to hatch. Your little starter flock there is adorable!

 

[jophus]

For some reason Bielefelder eggs just seem to be harder to hatch. Your little starter flock there is adorable! 

Thanks. The chicks are big and beautiful, particularly the little roos. Most of my losses were early on with infertiles and quitters. Still, $25 for a pair and a trio of Bieles isn't bad.

I hatched all 5 that made it to day 18.

 

[gotro17]

He's lovely! Isn't it funny how we develop either an affinity or a distaste for the sound of a single bird's crow? I still have one gorgeous NN cockerel that I've seriously considered culling just because his crow is AWFUL. He sounds more like he's screaming than crowing and I just shake my head every time I hear him. I already culled on boy with a crow that sounded like screeching tires on hot pavement, and another one that I swear was cursing every time he crowed. Every time my boys start reaching crowing age, I plead with my favorites to please have a beautiful crow that I can stand to listen to, or I may have to invite them to dinner. Here's my pretty boy with the scream:

Yes! Every morning it sounded like a child screaming, I'm sure my neighbors hated me... All better now

 

[Faraday40]

I enjoy hearing the starter crows. We had one sound like the cartoon character Homer Simpson shouting, "WooHoooo!"
His adult crow was not loud, low-pitched, & infrequent. (He literally only crowed for about 10 min in the morning.) He was even a perfect gentleman to the hens. Too bad he got a god-complex around 8 mo & at 11mo. began random attacks. He didn't make it to one.