Like other varieties of domestic birds, the Bielefelder chicken breed has its characteristics in origin, appearance, conditions of keeping and breeding, and feeding. Let’s consider what advantages these individuals have, and why are they so popular in Russia.

Description and characteristics of the productivity of Bielefelder chickens

Like other varieties of domestic birds, the Bielefelder chicken breed has its characteristics in origin, appearance, conditions of keeping and breeding, and feeding. Let’s consider what advantages these individuals have, and why are they so popular in Russia.

Origin

The first Bielefelder chickens appeared in the seventies of the last century. Over the following years, thanks to their productivity, beauty, and unpretentiousness, they were loved by farmers in many countries, including Russia. The breed is of German origin and was bred by Herbert Roth. However, it was first presented only in 1976 at an exhibition in Hanover under the name “German Defined” (Kennhuhn). Two years later, the chickens were given the name Bielefelder, and two years later it was confirmed by members of the German Federation of Pedigree Poultry (BDRG) with the execution of a conclusion describing the breed. In 1984, the dwarf Bielefelder chicken breed was recognized.

The creator managed to achieve his goal of breeding a large, calm, beautiful, frost-resistant bird, which also has high egg production rates. To introduce such a conglomerate in one breed, the following breeds of chickens were used in selection: Amroks, Rhode Island, Malin, New Hampshire, and Welsummer. Each of them shared their best data with Bielefelder.

Description of the breed

The Bielefelder rooster has a large, elongated body with a slightly raised tail, a long back, a wide and deep chest, and medium-sized wings. The plumage fits tightly to the body. The head is medium in size, the earrings are oval and red. The comb is leaf-shaped. The eyes are reddish-orange. The neck is powerful, and well-feathered. The legs are strong, not feathered. The beak and metatarsus are yellow.

The body of hens is tilted slightly forward compared to roosters, the belly is slightly fuller and rounder than males, the chest is slightly wider. They belong to the meat-egg orientation. The plumage color is “krill” of two colors: golden-black-striped and silver-black-striped. The shell is brown and light brown.

Among the features of the description of the Bielefelder chicken breed, it is worth considering, first of all, its advantageous characteristics:

• the breed is autosexing, chicks can be distinguished at day old;
• Bielefelders grow quickly and gain weight rapidly;
• This meat and egg breed is characterized by good egg production rates. Moreover, reproduction begins at 5.5-6 months, and they lay eggs regularly;
• well-muscled carcass, white meat of the bird has excellent taste;
• low incidence rate;
• easy wintering is ensured by frost resistance down to -15 ⁰ C;
• The Bielefelder breed is unpretentious in feeding.

In addition, this breed of birds has a peaceful nature. They are not prone to fight even over food. They make concessions to each other at the feeders. Because of this, the owner should organize the feeding in such a way that there is enough food for everyone.

Productivity characteristics

Bielefelder chickens have a very enviable productivity. This breed is bred to obtain large eggs in large quantities, as well as high-quality meat. These chickens are capable of laying eggs almost constantly, producing more than 200 eggs weighing 60-70 grams per year.  Adult Bielefelder roosters typically weigh about 4.5 kg. For hens, this figure is at the level of 3.9 kg.

Considering that egg production begins at the age of six months, the maximum productivity of the Bielefelder chicken breed is reached in the second year of its existence. After a year, their egg production indicators increase, but not significantly. Only after three years, the productivity of Bielefelder chickens becomes worse.

Content

Among the features of keeping Bielefelder chickens are:

• Low, but fairly spacious rooms, without gaps through which drafts could seep.
• Multi-tiered perches should not be erected, as they can cause injury to large birds such as the Bielefelder.
• An open area (run), preferably with vegetation, is required, where the bird can obtain provisions (forage) during the warm season. This will reduce feed costs.
• Cleaning of the premises should be done at the beginning of spring. To do this, it is necessary to completely remove the droppings, and also to treat the feeders with hot water with the addition of caustic soda. At this time, the chickens should be transferred to a temporary structure.
• Chickens grow quickly and are not ready to go into conflict. To make them feel comfortable and to avoid threats to their health, it is worth keeping them in a separate area if there are other breeds of domestic birds in the poultry house. Otherwise, stronger individuals can peck these, although quite large, but still defenseless birds.
• If you need to catch a bird, you should do it carefully, without scaring the others. After all, in conditions of confusion, they will stop laying eggs.

Feeding

Bielefelder chickens are not picky about their diet, they can be fed the same way as other breeds. The diet should be varied, and balanced and contain all the necessary substances for full development:

• a variety of vegetables: from beets and cabbage to pumpkin, birds will not refuse corn, peas, soybeans;
• grain, bran, oats;
• green;
• fish and meat and bone meal;
• shell rock, crushed eggshells, chalk.

If the purpose of raising these chickens is not primarily meat, then there is no need to introduce special supplements for weight gain into the diet.

Young animals should receive enhanced protein nutrition: cottage cheese, grated eggs, and greens. From 1.5 months, ground barley and wheat, and boiled fish are added to the diet.

Adults are fed 3 times a day, in the morning and evening with dry food, and at lunchtime with mash and greens. Young grass is required, as well as inhabitants of the upper layers of the soil: worms, bugs, and others. In the summer, you can practically refuse compound feed. Most of the food is in the local area.

Breeding

The Bielefelder chicken breed is easy to breed. Anyone who has their incubator and experience in incubation can hatch young offspring from purchased or their eggs. Fertility is good, survival is high.

The sex of the bird is determined from the first days of life by the autosex color of the chickens. Cockerels are characterized by yellow fluff with a large light-colored spot on the head and pale brown stripes on the back. The hens have a darker color, with black stripes on the back and near the eyes.

However, those who do not want to spend a lot of time with this stage can immediately buy individuals who are already several months old. It is much easier in terms of caring for the birds to raise adult offspring from purchased Bielefelder chickens. They cause less trouble and take root well in a new place.

Thus, those who chose the Bielefelder chicken breed for breeding indicate in their reviews its adaptability to Russian conditions. The birds do not cause difficulties in their breeding, have a good return in the form of eggs and meat. They are convenient even for those owners who cannot constantly monitor the farm.