A bag Full of Bielefelder questions!

[AZHomesteadPoultry]

I know there are several hyped up dual purpose breeds currently float around all the homestead channels on YouTube, intsa, Etc. So to do a little investigating of my own i got my hands on a small flock of Bielefelder's from a hatchery that shall remain nameless. I know hatchery birds are not a shining example of their breeds, but skimming through discussion pages here I've seen a lot of mixed reviews on the brood stock here in the US. I currently have around a half dozen hens and one Roo Bielefelder. I'd give my rooster a B- in overall shape body size weight Etc (A+ for personality), but my hens would all score a C- /D+ when it comes to bodyweight, carcass characteristics, Keels, hips and egg production. They are being out laid by my much heavier Delaware's.

Okay finally, here is my question. Does anyone have a good source for genetics? Has anyone have success in getting these birds to the German standard? I'm committed to finding the best genes I can, so I can finally have that big beefy Auto sexing chicken they should be.

 

[cavemanrich]

Beautiful Roo.
I cant help you, but I will tag @BlueBaby , She may have some answers for you.

WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,and

 

[BlueBaby]

I know there are several hyped up dual purpose breeds currently float around all the homestead channels on YouTube, intsa, Etc. So to do a little investigating of my own i got my hands on a small flock of Bielefelder's from a hatchery that shall remain nameless. I know hatchery birds are not a shining example of their breeds, but skimming through discussion pages here I've seen a lot of mixed reviews on the brood stock here in the US. I currently have around a half dozen hens and one Roo Bielefelder. I'd give my rooster a B- in overall shape body size weight Etc (A+ for personality), but my hens would all score a C- /D+ when it comes to bodyweight, carcass characteristics, Keels, hips and egg production. They are being out laid by my much heavier Delaware's.

Okay finally, here is my question. Does anyone have a good source for genetics? Has anyone have success in getting these birds to the German standard? I'm committed to finding the best genes I can, so I can finally have that big beefy Auto sexing chicken they should be.

Many people seem to be mixing them in having those mixed flocks right now. While other's who are trying to keep them pure are still trying to work out the kinks on that. If you have a copy of the German standard for them, you can work towards that yourself. I have 4 of those boy's over here and am still trying to decide what one to let go.

Edited to add that I noticed that you are in Arizona like me.

 

[AZHomesteadPoultry]

Many people seem to be mixing them in having those mixed flocks right now. While other's who are trying to keep them pure are still trying to work out the kinks on that. If you have a copy of the German standard for them, you can work towards that yourself. I have 4 of those boy's over here and am still trying to decide what one to let go.

Edited to add that I noticed that you are in Arizona like me.

Hey! Thanks for the reply! I dove into some of your posts. I see that you ordered hatching eggs from Skywalker off Ebay. I have some in the incubator right now. Only 5 our of the ten started developing. They should hatch next week. How did your birds from him turn out?

 

[BlueBaby]

Hey! Thanks for the reply! I dove into some of your posts. I see that you ordered hatching eggs from Skywalker off Ebay. I have some in the incubator right now. Only 5 our of the ten started developing. They should hatch next week. How did your birds from him turn out?

I ordered hatching eggs from him and other out of states people to try to get some gene diversity going on. I did not buy chicks from other places, only the hatching egg's. Sometimes shipped hatching egg's don't incubate well when they travel long distances, so some from each of those batches did hatch for me.

I am planning on using what I believe to be my best rooster and put him over my biggest hens in the spring.

Edited to add that some of yours that hatch could be cockerels. I kepted mine as growouts so I was sure not to eat or give away a good one. It's better to use for breeding.

 

[AZHomesteadPoultry]

I ordered hatching eggs from him and other out of states people to try to get some gene diversity going on. I did not buy chicks from other places, only the hatching egg's. Sometimes shipped hatching egg's don't incubate well when they travel long distances, so some from each of those batches did hatch for me.

I am planning on using what I believe to be my best rooster and put him over my biggest hens in the spring.

Cool! Well I'm Super excited for you, especially since your here in AZ. I plan on bringing in more genetics, maybe someday from you,

I ordered hatching eggs from him and other out of states people to try to get some gene diversity going on. I did not buy chicks from other places, only the hatching egg's. Sometimes shipped hatching egg's don't incubate well when they travel long distances, so some from each of those batches did hatch for me.

I am planning on using what I believe to be my best rooster and put him over my biggest hens in the spring.

Edited to add that some of yours that hatch could be cockerels. I kepted mine as growouts so I was sure not to eat or give away a good one. It's better to use for breeding.

I plan on keeping all that hatch, no one is safe in my flock unfortunately. I've culled quite a few Delaware's to get mine where they are at. It's tough, and slows things down, but I feel it's better to move slow and methodically then try to fix mistakes in the future. always room in the freezer, also it helps look more in-depth at carcass weights and bone structure.

 

[BlueBaby]

Cool! Well I'm Super excited for you, especially since your here in AZ. I plan on bringing in more genetics, maybe someday from you,

I plan on keeping all that hatch, no one is safe in my flock unfortunately. I've culled quite a few Delaware's to get mine where they are at. It's tough, and slows things down, but I feel it's better to move slow and methodically then try to fix mistakes in the future. always room in the freezer, also it helps look more in-depth at carcass weights and bone structure.

Yes, but as you grow them out, you can better see what you are dealing with. It helps to keep your best ones for future breeders.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I am planning on using what I believe to be my best rooster and put him over my biggest hens in the spring.

i got my hands on a small flock of Bielefelder's from a hatchery that shall remain nameless.

Mine came from Cackle and Greenfire Farms. They were fun birds to raise!

My problem wasn't size or growth rate (average 4# dressed @16 weeks for males).. but not truly decent egg laying.. making it not worth it to keep them as an alleged "dual purpose" breed. I wish someone would be breeding for better egg production so they could come close to what's claimed in that department.

Unfortunately.. I guess I care more about eggs and my feed bill then putting birds in the freezer.

Best wishes to you both, breeding toward what you desire!

 

[AZHomesteadPoultry]

Mine came from Cackle and Greenfire Farms. They were fun birds to raise!

My problem wasn't size or growth rate (average 4# dressed @16 weeks for males).. but not truly decent egg laying.. making it not worth it to keep them as an alleged "dual purpose" breed. I wish someone would be breeding for better egg production so they could come close to what's claimed in that department.

Unfortunately.. I guess I care more about eggs and my feed bill then putting birds in the freezer.

Best wishes to you both, breeding toward what you desire!

would you say the Cackle birds were larger or the greenfire?

 

[EggSighted4Life]

would you say the Cackle birds were larger or the greenfire?

Cackle were the only ones I dressed before selling them all off. And as far as I'm concerned (though I have no proof).. they got their birds from Greenfire.. hence the major difference in price, at least back then. Importing is a lot more expensive than buying from another hatchery.

All my birds are raised on 20% protein feed.. the lower the protein, the slower the growth in my experience. I did raise other breeding chickens (Silkies and Marans) on gamebird starter at 30% protein (due to also having poults at the time).. but it did not give me much (if any) better growth rate and it also decreased my hatch rate. 22% being optimum for breeders/hatching according to studies I read. That also used to be the standard (22%) for "starter" back when I first started keeping chickens (about 15 years ago).. now it seems some of the brands are at 18% and only the "meatbird starter" is running at 22%.. at least what I've seen in local feed stores. I know some other regions have "breeder" or "show" formulas that run in the 22% range.. and may not be "vegetarian" as *most* of what's available here (in my location) tends to be.