Niederrheiner Thread! All Colors!

[UberchicRanch]

@mandelyn

Yes the Mechelen are Malines. Same ones used for the Bielefelder. Are you sure 7 to 9 lbs because Greenfire is claiming 10 to 12lbs and hens 8 to 10 lbs. The Niederrheiner is available in Bantam size as well, just not in the US. And as far as colors, there is also a Crele version but some claim the Crele is the Bielefelder. There needs to be clarification with this as I've heard two different stories.

 

[mandelyn]

For males everything I was seeing was stating 3.5-4kg. Just relaying what I saw! On the same page it had also mentioned a bantam variety separately. Still waiting on any further details that may be found. I couldn't dig up much.

 

[Vorksigan]

Thank you and your friend for the research, hopefully something will turn up. We do. Have a back up plan just in case.

 

[StephWind]

GFF usually overstates the qualities of the birds they are selling. Read about their Lyonnaise. Nowhere do they tell you that these beautiful birds only get to about 2 to 3 pounds at most... :-/

 

[Vorksigan]

I feel we should press forward with developing our own standards. We have group members checking the German websites so far not finding a standard. The APA has checked the British and Irish Standards without luck. I have contacted the hatcheries that I obtained eggs and chicks from (Greenfire, Brinkhaven, and My Pet Chicken) and only Greenfire responded that they do not have a contact for a standard. I for these reason feel we should press forward.

I want to thank Greenfire for all their help in helping me get this process started!

One of our members is currently working to develop a draft standard for us. Only group members will have input to submit characteristics inputs to the draft standards. In order to not overwhelm our drafter with inputs please email them to me. I will consolidate them and pass them along. Our drafter will contact you if clarification is needed. She may be done with the draft before you have a chance to send in your inputs. No worries we will have time to review and debate the draft before we submit to the APA.

How to become a member? Please email me at [email protected] with your contact information, experience with breeding and showing Neiderrheiners. I will also need your permission to release your email to our members. This will occur when I send out the draft standards. I will not release anyone's phone numbers. You can do that through emails of your own if you desire.

If you have my phone number and try to call me leave a message. I will return your call.

This is last last posting until I post the standards. I will email the standards to our members first. Once you receive the draft and we all have discussed and agreed on our standards then I will post here. If you do not get a draft email by the end of the month it may be that I missed your email.

Your actions in the meantime:
A. Join the APA, we need at least 7 APA members that are committed to breeding these birds for 5 years
B. Keep records of your dates such as when you first obtained stock, breeding, what characteristics you look for in your birds. ONCE THE STANDARDS ARE AGREED UPON WE MUST ALL BRED TO THOSE STANDARDS!!! THE BREED WILL BE JUDGED TO THAT STANDARD.
C. We will need enough people showing to have about 40 birds in the two required shows. APA will tell us which shows will be required to get the breed recognized.

Also you can find all the requirements on the Americana Poultry Association website.

Johnny

 

[Sylvester017]

GFF usually overstates the qualities of the birds they are selling. Read about their Lyonnaise. Nowhere do they tell you that these beautiful birds only get to about 2 to 3 pounds at most... :-/

GFF can be cryptic in their descriptions for things we really want to know about a breed. However, I am still very grateful to them for bringing in rare breeds to save them. It's up to breeders to improve the "saved" breeds that are imported. I am forever grateful to GFF for importing the BBS Breda -- they weren't ideal when first brought here but I'm getting some good birds from breeders that have been breeding them for hardiness. It takes time and a real love for a breed to improve it and get it APA registered. I am not zoned for roos or breeding so I bless the dedicated breeders who can!

 

[StephWind]

Oh I agree and I love my GFF birds! I have just learned (at some expense) to read between the lines of their descriptions... LOL

 

[UberchicRanch]

Fascinating. I did not know Greenfire falsely advertises. I'd like to share that considering that was the presumed status, that my birds are larger than some of the other named farms due to the fact that I thought I was adhering to a breed standard (10-12lbs roos and 8-10lbs hens). With that being said, I'm going to get a digital scale just for weighing live birds to see our improvements over the years. This may also add a curveball into the supposed "Standard."

Also, on Standards, I was under the impression that the Bielefelder and Niederrheiner is in the European Standard. I'd like to also point out that we cannot assume a Standard isn't out there on the internet. The reality is, you need to be searching in German to find those results, as English searches will yield a different result. Additionally, search engines are now designed to pull searches based on local trends, so that the results can be skewed even more which, in theory, can allude us of where to find the official Standard of these breeds.

With all that being said, I'll work on hunting connections as well. I do have multiple European / German contacts. I'll continue doing research on the matter. It would be wise to make sure we have all the facts verified before taking any further action, for the sake of the breed.

 

[Vorksigan]

I said I wouln's post until we have a draft but I see we have our first standard issue.

I will weigh some of mine tomorrow but my roosters are large, I would guess 9 to 10 pounds and hens around 8 maybe a little more.

If others can weigh their adult stock then we should get a good idea of the Neiderrheiners weight.

In order to get this breed approved it must vary from all others by 3 characteristics.

I have also heard that there is a bantam version of the LCNs, but I can't remember where I heard that.

We do actually, have a couple of German Speakers searching the Internet and hopefully they will find something. If anyone else can look that is great but when I tried I failed.

I did find out from one of our searchers that you must be a member of the German Association to view their website.

After checking with other hatcheries, I found out that they get their stock from Greenfire and they all should be advertising the same characteristics, I would think?

 

[UberchicRanch]

Sounds like a plan. Yes there are bantam Niederrheiners as well as Bielefelders in different colors. I didn't know there were any hatcheries that carried Niederrheiners. Which ones are you referring to?