I strongly suspect that the two "Bielefelders" we bought are actually speckled sussex

[JustSarahThanks]

...which is fine, really, as from what I've read they have pretty similar breed characteristics as far as egg laying numbers and personality are concerned. And I absolutely love these birds to pieces so it really doesn't matter one way or another, merely an academic point more than anything else.

But what do you guys think?

I probably would have happily continued to coast along calling them Bielefelders for their entire natural lives but incidentally browsing on here I've seen a number of photos of some very familiar looking faces that are all labeled as speckled sussexes. For what it's worth the place where we bought these also had speckled sussexes available that same day, I wonder if they got their bin labeling confused or something.

 

[Rhodebar Lover]

Your suspicions are right, they're Speckled Sussex

 

[JustSarahThanks]

Your suspicions are right, they're Speckled Sussex

Thank you! That is validating to hear. I worry for any folks who also preordered Bielefelders and brought home what were supposed to be females with 99% confidence since Bielefelders are autosexing only to have speckled sussex cockerels emerge. I suppose we lucked out as far as that's concerned!

 

[Pretty Birds]

You're correct, they are Speckled Sussex.

 

[JustSarahThanks]

Your correct, they are Speckled Sussex.

Thank you for confirming! They're gorgeous, sweet girls either way.

 

[Pretty Birds]

Thank you for confirming! They're gorgeous, sweet girls either way.

I loved my Speckled Sussex. In my experience, they were very friendly birds.

 

[SBFChickenGirl]

I've got both Bielefelders and speckled Sussex. Those are definitely Sussex. Love my Sussex to pieces. She has such a personality and is one of the head hens! She's about 6 years old right now.

 

[SBFChickenGirl]

Here are some of my Bielefelders.

 

[JustSarahThanks]

Here are some of my Bielefelders.

They are gorgeous birds! Maybe when we're ready to expand our flock we'll try for Bielefelders again (and see if we wind up with a completely different breed).

 

[SBFChickenGirl]

They are gorgeous birds! Maybe when we're ready to expand our flock we'll try for Bielefelders again (and see if we wind up with a completely different breed).

I'm loving my biels! They haven't started laying yet at 5 months, but comb size has me thinking soon!! I can actually hear my one of my cockerels crowing right now, thinking he's such a hotshot XD.