A Bielefelder Thread !

[CatalanState]

My new pair of Biel's, 5/6 weeks old

 

[otakalhasas]

My new pair of Biel's, 5/6 weeks old

How beautiful! ENJOY!!!!!!!!

 

[summerb123]

Hen Contest #3!

 

[Aziara]

So, I'm getting fed up with my biel boy. He's been giving me way too many dirty looks, getting in my way when I walk, hollering at me when I touch his girls, etc. Two days ago was the clencher though--my 2 year old spooked his hens and he body-slammed her and knocked her flat on her butt! So he's got to go.
Honestly, I was hoping that bielefelders would be friendlier... They've always been very standoffish. They really hate being touched.
My mom just bought some silkie chicks (impulse buy at a chicken swap, she didn't even know what a silkie was!), and they are so very sweet and they really like being cuddled. I think silkies are the chicken for me.
So could anyone tell me how much I should sell my roo and 3 hens for? They're about 27 weeks old, not laying yet but should be really soon.

 

[Eggscoozme]

So, I'm getting fed up with my biel boy. He's been giving me way too many dirty looks, getting in my way when I walk, hollering at me when I touch his girls, etc. Two days ago was the clencher though--my 2 year old spooked his hens and he body-slammed her and knocked her flat on her butt! So he's got to go.
Honestly, I was hoping that bielefelders would be friendlier... They've always been very standoffish. They really hate being touched.
My mom just bought some silkie chicks (impulse buy at a chicken swap, she didn't even know what a silkie was!), and they are so very sweet and they really like being cuddled. I think silkies are the chicken for me.
So could anyone tell me how much I should sell my roo and 3 hens for? They're about 27 weeks old, not laying yet but should be really soon.

WOW! I'm very surprised to hear that your Roo went after your 2yr old. Hope she's okay!

I've been raising Bielefelders for several years now, and have NEVER had a Roo attack ANY of us. I frequently will have more than 1 Roo at a time, too. That is definitely out of character for a Bielefelder. Sorry to hear about your situation. I've had mean Roos just last year. Super Blue Egg Layers from MPC. They would chase me down, and then started on my 12yr old. They're gone.

Anyhow, I would like to make a comment about Silkies: I put an ad on the web stating I would take any unwanted HEALTHY birds. Got a call about some Showgirl chickens. Well, I was ignorant, and thought I was getting lucky - free Show Quality chickens, right? Wrong. I received 3 silkies one of which was a showgirl (very weird looking.). Two months later found out at least 2 were roosters. The meanest I've ever had! As soon as I walked into their huge run they would attack me! EVERY time! Got rid of them. Not long after, I thought this weird looking Showgirl thingy of a chicken should go to. It didn't crow, didn't lay an egg. Probably a boy too, huh? Well, I decided to get rid of it as well, and the day it was to go bye-bye, "IT" laid an egg!!

Well, that softened my heart, so of course we had to keep her. Now, 3 yrs later, our "Lil Mama" as we call her, has mothered too many chicks (and ducklings) to count. She is the BEST chicken ever, and when I thought I lost her to a predator, I balled my eyes out. My eldest stood outside looking for her, that day, and stopped dead in her tracks. She said, " Mom? Remember Lil Mama's smart, right?" and I knew what she was getting at----sure enough, there was our "Lil Mama" hidden behind some garden tools keeping herself safe from an aerial predator. Our "Freebie Showgirl Silkie" has been such a blessing!

So, to wrap up this long post, I'd say female silkies have been a delight (even other kinds of silkies we had just not boys)

Our Bielefelders are gentle giants, who never lost one of their girls to a predator, and never attacked us.

 

[Red Banks]

So, I'm getting fed up with my biel boy. He's been giving me way too many dirty looks, getting in my way when I walk, hollering at me when I touch his girls, etc. Two days ago was the clencher though--my 2 year old spooked his hens and he body-slammed her and knocked her flat on her butt! So he's got to go.
Honestly, I was hoping that bielefelders would be friendlier... They've always been very standoffish. They really hate being touched.
My mom just bought some silkie chicks (impulse buy at a chicken swap, she didn't even know what a silkie was!), and they are so very sweet and they really like being cuddled. I think silkies are the chicken for me.
So could anyone tell me how much I should sell my roo and 3 hens for? They're about 27 weeks old, not laying yet but should be really soon.

I sold my hens for $20 each. They were just at POL. Gave them the rooster. That seems standard around here.

 

[Eggscoozme]

I sold my hens for $20 each. They were just at POL. Give them the rooster. That seems standard around here.

I sold my hens for $20 each. They were just at POL. Give them the rooster. That seems standard around here.

So, I'm getting fed up with my biel boy. He's been giving me way too many dirty looks, getting in my way when I walk, hollering at me when I touch his girls, etc. Two days ago was the clencher though--my 2 year old spooked his hens and he body-slammed her and knocked her flat on her butt! So he's got to go.
Honestly, I was hoping that bielefelders would be friendlier... They've always been very standoffish. They really hate being touched.
My mom just bought some silkie chicks (impulse buy at a chicken swap, she didn't even know what a silkie was!), and they are so very sweet and they really like being cuddled. I think silkies are the chicken for me.
So could anyone tell me how much I should sell my roo and 3 hens for? They're about 27 weeks old, not laying yet but should be really soon.

I sell my small flocks for $85-$100. POL's I don't sell, but if I did, would sell a small flock for $150-$150+

 

[chickendreams24]

So, I'm getting fed up with my biel boy. He's been giving me way too many dirty looks, getting in my way when I walk, hollering at me when I touch his girls, etc. Two days ago was the clencher though--my 2 year old spooked his hens and he body-slammed her and knocked her flat on her butt! So he's got to go.
Honestly, I was hoping that bielefelders would be friendlier... They've always been very standoffish. They really hate being touched.
My mom just bought some silkie chicks (impulse buy at a chicken swap, she didn't even know what a silkie was!), and they are so very sweet and they really like being cuddled. I think silkies are the chicken for me. 
So could anyone tell me how much I should sell my roo and 3 hens for? They're about 27 weeks old, not laying yet but should be really soon.

WOW!  I'm very surprised to hear that your Roo went after your 2yr old.  Hope she's okay!

I've been raising Bielefelders for several years now, and have NEVER had a Roo attack ANY of us.  I frequently will have  more than 1 Roo at a time, too.  That is definitely out of character for a Bielefelder.  Sorry to hear about your situation.  I've had mean Roos just last year.  Super Blue Egg Layers from MPC.  They would chase me down, and then started on my 12yr old. They're gone.

Anyhow, I would like to make a comment about Silkies:   I put an ad on the web stating I would take any unwanted HEALTHY birds.  Got a call about some Showgirl chickens.  Well, I was ignorant, and thought I was getting lucky - free Show Quality chickens, right?  Wrong.  I received 3 silkies one of which was a showgirl (very weird looking.).  Two months later found out at least 2 were roosters.  The meanest   I've ever had!  As soon as I walked into their huge run they would attack me!  EVERY time!  Got rid of them.  Not long after, I thought this weird looking Showgirl thingy of a chicken should go to.  It didn't crow, didn't lay an egg.   Probably a boy too, huh?  Well, I decided to get rid of it as well, and the day it was to go bye-bye, "IT" laid an egg!!       Well, that softened my heart, so of course we had to keep her.  Now, 3 yrs later, our "Lil Mama" as we call her, has mothered too many chicks (and ducklings) to count.  She is the BEST chicken ever, and when I thought I lost her to a predator, I balled my eyes out.  My eldest stood outside looking for her, that day, and stopped dead in her tracks.  She said, " Mom?  Remember Lil Mama's smart, right?"  and I knew what she was getting at----sure enough, there was  our "Lil Mama" hidden behind some garden tools keeping herself safe from an aerial predator.  Our "Freebie Showgirl Silkie" has been such a blessing!

So, to wrap up this long post, I'd say female silkies have been a delight (even other kinds of silkies we had just not boys)

Our Bielefelders are gentle giants, who never lost one of their girls to a predator, and never attacked us. 

Well I have to say I haven't had bielefelders yet but we want to try them. We have however had quite a few silkies. I think just like any breed it's all about the strain. For instance we had one boy that was extremely docile and sweet. Once when he got into some bird netting and was all tangled up he was super calm and let me untangle him. He also adopted some chicks after his favorite girl and our favorite silkie was killed by a predator. He never attacked or anything. He was a complete gentleman sadly a few weeks later he gave his life protecting a buff Orpington from the same predator that had taken his girl Ginger. His hatch mate on the other hand did test me a few times when he matured but never did any damage and was put in his place. He was later rehomed BC he was fighting with our other boy over the girls and went to a home where he became bffs with a young girl and he has never done anything in his new home.

We now have two confirmed silkie cockerals and two more that may be. None of these boys have ever shown any aggressive behavior towards anyone. So don't give up on silkie cockerals we have had some amazing silkie pullets and hens we have also had one girl that when broody was very rough. It all depends on the individual birds and their line. We won't breed aggressive roos so as to not pass it on. Of any breed. We have a large mixed flock that contains multiple roos/cockerals including Orpington, silkie, Oegb, silver laced wyandotte, cream legbar, and a few mixes. While we are working to decrease male numbers all the boys get along and are good to the girls. They all free range and live together peacefully. Very seldom do they ever challenge each other and there is almost never any fights just posturing. While we do plan to separate them for breeding pure breeds the rest of the time they live together and this is how we want it. We won't breed cocks that are too rough on the girls(although we do give them a grace period to learn after maturing) or that are too aggressive to other cocks, and of course to people or our dogs. I believe it is because of the temperaments we strive for that our flock is as peaceful as it is. We also have never had any trouble with cannibalism even if a bird was molting or injured in some way. They are very accepting of new flock members and chicks although we do take precautions just in case. IE the look but don't touch method of introduction.

We now have too many cockerals and are processing a bunch from last year that were hatched for that purpose so they are separate so as to not overwhelm the girls. However before they all matured last summer we had at one time about 30 young cockerals free ranging with our flock and our nature OEGB(yet another breed that I think line and temperaments greatly matter) roo kept them all in line. Lol

 

[Red Banks]

Quote:
Is a small flock a trio? Greenfire farms is very close to me. I got my Bielefelders from a woman that had GFF birds. She sold pullets for $20 but if you took a cockerel too then you paid $10 for both. I always took the 2 for $10 deal! LOL I have been told that all the breeds are less expensive around here.

 

[Eggscoozme]

Well I have to say I haven't had bielefelders yet but we want to try them. We have however had quite a few silkies. I think just like any breed it's all about the strain. For instance we had one boy that was extremely docile and sweet. Once when he got into some bird netting and was all tangled up he was super calm and let me untangle him. He also adopted some chicks after his favorite girl and our favorite silkie was killed by a predator. He never attacked or anything. He was a complete gentleman sadly a few weeks later he gave his life protecting a buff Orpington from the same predator that had taken his girl Ginger. His hatch mate on the other hand did test me a few times when he matured but never did any damage and was put in his place. He was later rehomed BC he was fighting with our other boy over the girls and went to a home where he became bffs with a young girl and he has never done anything in his new home.

We now have two confirmed silkie cockerals and two more that may be. None of these boys have ever shown any aggressive behavior towards anyone. So don't give up on silkie cockerals we have had some amazing silkie pullets and hens we have also had one girl that when broody was very rough. It all depends on the individual birds and their line. We won't breed aggressive roos so as to not pass it on. Of any breed. We have a large mixed flock that contains multiple roos/cockerals including Orpington, silkie, Oegb, silver laced wyandotte, cream legbar, and a few mixes. While we are working to decrease male numbers all the boys get along and are good to the girls. They all free range and live together peacefully. Very seldom do they ever challenge each other and there is almost never any fights just posturing. While we do plan to separate them for breeding pure breeds the rest of the time they live together and this is how we want it. We won't breed cocks that are too rough on the girls(although we do give them a grace period to learn after maturing) or that are too aggressive to other cocks, and of course to people or our dogs. I believe it is because of the temperaments we strive for that our flock is as peaceful as it is. We also have never had any trouble with cannibalism even if a bird was molting or injured in some way. They are very accepting of new flock members and chicks although we do take precautions just in case. IE the look but don't touch method of introduction.

We now have too many cockerals and are processing a bunch from last year that were hatched for that purpose so they are separate so as to not overwhelm the girls. However before they all matured last summer we had at one time about 30 young cockerals free ranging with our flock and our nature OEGB(yet another breed that I think line and temperaments greatly matter) roo kept them all in line. Lol

That gives me hope should I decide to get back into Silkies. I did love watching the little balls of fluff in the yard. I especially liked the partridge color.

Thank you for the informative post! I want to live on your farm!