A Bielefelder Thread !

[gunslinger33]

@TSP I currently have two broody Biel hens , in fact they share the same nest box. When they go broody it shuts all my other hens down from laying. I have at least two of my current 5 Biel hens go broody multiple times a year. They will sit continuously for weeks , with our without eggs under them. I hatched several last season with my Biel and Orp hens.

Not sure if this answers your question

 

[Clayton 1974]

A few pictures of my Bielefelder chicks that are a little over 12 weeks old.

 

[Clayton 1974]

 

[Faraday40]

 

[Mtn Homestead]

Does anyone have any thoughts on Cackle Hatchery's Bielefelders? Murray McMurray? Other? Does one have a reputation for better Biels than the others? Are any known for having major flaws or subpar birds?

My budget won't allow starting a flock from a breeder, but I'd like to start with the best quality hatchery birds I can get & maybe buy some nicer roosters from a breeder in the future to improve our flock.

 

[Faraday40]

My 1st Bieles were from the 2011 imports. (Breeder paid a fortune to get them directly from Greenfire Farm) Those were big, cuddly, but took forever to reach adulthood. In 2015 I hatched a few eggs from someone with the newer batch of imports (2013 I think). That one was slightly smaller, but matured faster and was a better layer. Then... my sweet Biele rooster died, so I sold all the Biele hens and moved to Orpingtons. LOL

By now, I doubt there's a distinction between the 2 groups of imports. (I liked the bigger meaty girls.)

 

[Faraday40]

Just hatched some Bieles for a friend. I moved these into the brooder (so far):

2 males

4 females

(I think) 4 females. The stripes are so dark and look so different from the 2 boys. Although there's a small bit of head-spot on 2, I still think female for these four.

 

[Clayton 1974]

My Bielefelder at 15 weeks old, very happy in how they are growing out.

 

[HomesteadNowhere]

Hello! I'm new here and looking into Bielefelders for our homestead here in north Idaho. They look like a very promising dual-purpose breed from what I can find online. I'd like to know about how old Biels have to get to weigh in the 5 lb range. I've found a couple weights for 12 & 13 week Biels from much earlier in this thread that lead me to believe they might average 5 lbs live weight at about 18 weeks, but I'd like to know from someone who has them if possible!

Does anyone have 16-20 week weight averages for Bielefelders? Thanks!

At 11wks my cockeral was 4.74#. He was the extra chick from mcmurray. Took me til this month to figure out what breed he was. He's staying on for my breeding project and I'm considering getting a few more to have.

 

[Tervuren]

Love my Bielefelder girl, Ada. She is just over 3 months, about 13 weeks. And her wattles are just barely beginning to show up. Very pretty, though she’s going through chicken puberty and she sounds like a honking goose right now. I’ve been worried about her in this crazy heat, but she’s been handling it very well!