Any experience with bielefelders?

[Emily_loveschickens]

I'm wondering If anyone has any experience with bielefelders?
How are they in the cold, in the heat, lifespan? etc.

 

[All4Eggz]

I don’t have any, but I’ve heard that they are both cold and heat hardy.
Check out this article for more.
https://cs-tf.com/bielefelder-chicken/

@Sunshine Chick has a Bielefelder cockerel. Maybe she can tell you something?

 

[BlueBaby]

The Bielefelder's should be able to handle both cold and hot. The breed originated in Germany and it does get cold over there. I'm over here in the desert valley just south of Phoenix, and I have 11 Bielefelder's including 2 boy's. I'm also going to be starting a hatch of more of them soon from shipped egg's that are on the way to me right now.

I have no problem's with these 2 boy's that I have. One of them is already trying to breed the girl's and is crowing.

I'm thinking that one of my Bielefelder girl's is going broody. For the past 3 day's she's been sitting in the nesting box on the fake egg's. If one of the other girl's lay's an egg in the other nest box, then she moves to that box. I am able to pick her up and move her out of the boxes though without her pecking me, but when I leave she will go back to sitting in the nesting box.

 

[Sunshine Chick]

I don’t have any, but I’ve heard that they are both cold and heat hardy.
Check out this article for more.
https://cs-tf.com/bielefelder-chicken/

@Sunshine Chick has a Bielefelder cockerel. Maybe she can tell you something?

Yeah, he’s a really good rooster! Best I’ve had yet. He’s the strongest rooster, and the healthiest one. He’s good with the girls, and maintains order quite well. The girls are a lot calmer with him around. They bicker a lot less. He has been able to service around 20-24 hens, and most of the eggs I get are fertile. He’s 2 or 3 years old now, and he’s still going strong! As far as winter and heat hardiness goes, I’ve had no trouble with him. He seems to shake the heat and the cold off equally well. He hasn’t gotten sick, except for some scaly leg mite issues from his previous owner’s improper management. I can’t remember how light or how heavy his case of chicken lice was… but again, that was an issue that came from his previous owner. He hasn’t had much issue since I treated him with ivermectin last winter.

He doesn’t try to peck me, or charge at me… unless he thinks I’m hurting his hens! Then he has no trouble charging, pecking, or flogging me. He's very protective of them. He’ll even try pecking at me in the dark, if his hens get upset. Even when he can’t really see to aim properly, lol. He’s very alert, and is good at telling the hens when there’s a predator nearby. He’s attentive too, constantly offering little tidbits and tasty treats to his girls.

He’s not a lap bird, by any stretch, but if I can catch him he’s pretty chill being held for a bit. As long as his hens don’t need him for anything, of course.

I certainly like him! I don’t know how well they lay, or how quickly they mature. I got him as an adult, and I’ve never had any hens of his breed. I have 10 baby chicks from him this year, so I’ll see how they do! They’ll all be mixed breeds though, so I won’t be able to vouch for the bielefelder breed based solely on how they do.

I hope that was helpful: please feel free to ask me any questions you’d like!

 

[BlueBaby]

Yeah, he’s a really good rooster! Best I’ve had yet. He’s the strongest rooster, and the healthiest one. He’s good with the girls, and maintains order quite well. The girls are a lot calmer with him around. They bicker a lot less. He has been able to service around 20-24 hens, and most of the eggs I get are fertile. He’s 2 or 3 years old now, and he’s still going strong! As far as winter and heat hardiness goes, I’ve had no trouble with him. He seems to shake the heat and the cold off equally well. He hasn’t gotten sick, except for some scaly leg mite issues from his previous owner’s improper management. I can’t remember how light or how heavy his case of chicken lice was… but again, that was an issue that came from his previous owner. He hasn’t had much issue since I treated him with ivermectin last winter.

He doesn’t try to peck me, or charge at me… unless he thinks I’m hurting his hens! Then he has no trouble charging, pecking, or flogging me. He's very protective of them. He’ll even try pecking at me in the dark, if his hens get upset. Even when he can’t really see to aim properly, lol. He’s very alert, and is good at telling the hens when there’s a predator nearby. He’s attentive too, constantly offering little tidbits and tasty treats to his girls.

He’s not a lap bird, by any stretch, but if I can catch him he’s pretty chill being held for a bit. As long as his hens don’t need him for anything, of course.

I certainly like him! I don’t know how well they lay, or how quickly they mature. I got him as an adult, and I’ve never had any hens of his breed. I have 10 baby chicks from him this year, so I’ll see how they do! They’ll all be mixed breeds though, so I won’t be able to vouch for the bielefelder breed based solely on how they do.

I hope that was helpful: please feel free to ask me any questions you’d like!

Get some Bielefelder hen's for him too. You'll like them! They are friendly and the girl's that I have lay pretty well. There's someone on ebay in Wooster, Ohio that's selling Bielefelder hatching egg's. Mine from them should be here on Friday.

 

[Sunshine Chick]

Get some Bielefelder hen's for him too. You'll like them! They are friendly and the girl's that I have lay pretty well. There's someone on ebay in Wooster, Ohio that's selling Bielefelder hatching egg's. Mine from them should be here on Friday.

Thanks for the tip on a local breeder!

 

[BlueBaby]

Thanks for the tip on a local breeder!

Your welcome! Mine were supposed to be here on this Friday. but they came today instead. That was fast!

 

[Poodlemum]

We have two pullets, they’re very stable birds. Don’t take any fuss from the other birds, but not bullies. Showing no signs of heat stress even for a heavy bird. They’re 5 months and not laying yet, but look to be maturing steadily. Not cuddly yet, but don’t mind being held and enjoy being around us

 

[Tervuren]

I love my Bielefelder! She’s definitely very cold hardy. She’s about as heat hardy as my EE, they start panting at about the same point, mid 90s in the shade in my dry, desert heat. She definitely appreciates and needs the mister and fan. There’s been a noticeable drop in her egg laying once we hit 100F for multiple weeks now. Last winter she laid her first egg in November, and layed a month straight in December! She eats a lot but is a prolific egg layer when it isn’t too hot. Very friendly she follows me like a dog!

 

[BlueBaby]

I love my Bielefelder! She’s definitely very cold hardy. She’s about as heat hardy as my EE, they start panting at about the same point, mid 90s in the shade in my dry, desert heat. She definitely appreciates and needs the mister and fan. There’s been a noticeable drop in her egg laying once we hit 100F for multiple weeks now. Last winter she laid her first egg in November, and layed a month straight in December! She eats a lot but is a prolific egg layer when it isn’t too hot. Very friendly she follows me like a dog! View attachment 3194172View attachment 3194174View attachment 3194173

One of mine also lay's an egg like that one. Yes, I think that the higher heat can slow down the egg laying. If I remember right, the chicken's will be starting to molt soon, at least the one's that are old enough to. It's supposed to be 115-F. here tomorrow, so the mister's will have to be on again. They don't pant as hard and as loud as another hen that I have that is a different breed.