Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[Bridebeliever]

Had a few loses last night. A coyote chewed through a corner of my wood shed/coop. The critters must be getting desperate. 

Awful!! So sorry! I'm hoping my local predators will be happy with the unending supply of mice, pack rats and squirrels that are ALL OVER our property. Fingers crossed.
How many did you lose?

 

[Leigti]

ChickieLady,
You REALLY need to stop insulting your Bielefelders. It's like low self esteem that is plaguing them! They hear what you are saying!

My Biels are friendly, calm, and adventurous. I admit they can be chow hounds- but after all- how does one feed those big, gorgeous bodies? Mine were laying 6 eggs a week, like my white leghorns, until a few weeks ago when they decided to take their first break. (they laid all the the first winter, when no one else was laying!).

It's a good thing we've incorporated some of my Bielefelder brains into your batch (wink, wink!), but they are never going to amount to anything if you don't start giving them some self esteem. Praise those big beautiful egg layers!

if you don't stop , I might have to come over there and give your Biels some counseling one day !

RainMom
Chicken social worker

I actually looked up the types of chickens she was talking about, found a place in Florida that breeds them. I almost dropped my phone when I saw the prices! Do people really pay $50-$150 per chick? For some of these rare breeds? And $35 per chick shipping cost? I know I am new to chickens but this is insane!! They are pretty chickens though but wow. My wyandottes are pretty also and they cost me three dollars apiece

 

[junebuggena]

Found one barred Rock just outside of the hole, partially eaten. A few chunks of feathers with a bit of skin attached from one of my Easter Eggers. No idea if she is injured and hiding or if she was carried off.

 

[Chickielady]

I have no idea what a Biel chicken is, but I laughed at your review of them. You might be able to sell a few more if you would lie a little bit about them though you're not so glowing review probably won't make some people happy. But I guess everybody has their favorite breed. It is kind of too bad that they are stupid however, makes you wonder if they were bred for looks instead of function. But I guess that's something us humans have done with many animals.
I'm pretty new at having chickens so I just have your basic normal every day breeds but as I gain more experience I keep finding new ones that I would like to have. But I will only get ones that are good for this area and don't need heat or light for winter. I'm going to go look up those types of chickens now.

Bielefelders...Biels for short

 

[Chickielady]

Am I remembering incorrectly, or didn't you post recently about how you loved your Biels? Maybe I'm mis-remembering, but I had been thinking I wanted to get some.

I do like them, they are beautiful, but not very smart at all !
They do lay huge eggs, and do not forage very well...spoiled Divas is what they are !
Self esteem my fanny !
They are very well aware that they are all GODDESSES !!

No I would not buy them again !
I have been working at this flock for 3 years now...2 purchases from 2 lines and most recently got 2 cockerels from RainMom...and those 2 boys are so super sweet !

In the last 3 days my main Biel Cock (2 years old) has developed BAD frostbite & is very sedentary...I suspect this cold is kicking his fanny...his comb looks very fried & he does not look very well at all.

ALL the other Cocks & cockerels on the place are fine...so this is just another weird thing I have found about this breed.......not cold hardy...the hens seem fine, but the males have an issue with cold & frostbite.
My Marans, Sulmtalers & Orpingtons have Standard combs that are equal in size & yet they have no frostbite issue...how very strange ?!?!

 

[Chickielady]

ChickieLady,
You REALLY need to stop insulting your Bielefelders. It's like low self esteem that is plaguing them! They hear what you are saying!

My Biels are friendly, calm, and adventurous. I admit they can be chow hounds- but after all- how does one feed those big, gorgeous bodies? Mine were laying 6 eggs a week, like my white leghorns, until a few weeks ago when they decided to take their first break. (they laid all the the first winter, when no one else was laying!).

It's a good thing we've incorporated some of my Bielefelder brains into your batch (wink, wink!), but they are never going to amount to anything if you don't start giving them some self esteem. Praise those big beautiful egg layers!

if you don't stop , I might have to come over there and give your Biels some counseling one day !

RainMom
Chicken social worker

I have been telling everyone you are in MV !!

 

[Chickielady]

Had a few loses last night. A coyote chewed through a corner of my wood shed/coop. The critters must be getting desperate.

Yes they are, just like the owl attacks in the coop yesterday ! The native food animals are gone or in hibernation...pickins are slim !

We have had 3-4 possums on our back porch every night for a week...I am feeling kinda sad for them, so I am going to give them a loaf of bread tonight.
Poor freezing critters...not like a possum has alot of hair either !

Birdies are looking for food every where too..if you can toss some bread out (away from your coops to prevent disease or mite infestations) please do, think about the wild critters !

 

[Chickielady]

I actually looked up the types of chickens she was talking about, found a place in Florida that breeds them. I almost dropped my phone when I saw the prices! Do people really pay $50-$150 per chick? For some of these rare breeds? And $35 per chick shipping cost? I know I am new to chickens but this is insane!! They are pretty chickens though but wow. My wyandottes are pretty also and they cost me three dollars apiece

YES.
YES and
Yes...and what you say is also true, there is many beautiful breeds out there. Biels are recently imported to the USA, and that costs ALOT of money to do, hence the prices.
That said, they were imported quite a few years ago, so GFF prices should have dropped by now...since so many People have them now.

I do not sell eggs/chicks for that much !
Neither does RainMom
So don't let that drive you away from the breed.

 

[Chickielady]

Found one barred Rock just outside of the hole, partially eaten. A few chunks of feathers with a bit of skin attached from one of my Easter Eggers. No idea if she is injured and hiding or if she was carried off.

So sad !
Hopefully she is hiding & comes back !

 

[Chickielady]

I let the Biels out to graze the garden area this sunny day...so far, a few came out of their (giant grassy) pen & looked around & then went right back in to their pen again.
Guess I'll go let the Sulmtalers out instead....they (the Sulmtalers) forage & scratch & roll in the dry dirt & sunbathe...

Blackeyed Peas & cornbread with Chicken Rustler's Honey last night......

Tacos tonight !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!