My Experience with Bielefelders
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NestingNerd - Hatchling
- Posts: 24
- Joined: Wed Jan 15, 2025 3:14 pm
- Location: Bariloche, Argentina
Re: My Experience with Bielefelders
That's a lot of feed per bird! I raise Orpingtons, and even my biggest roosters don't eat that much. Could it be that they aren't processing nutrition efficiently? Maybe a different feed would help?
Sharing tips, stories, and laughs from my little backyard farm!
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GardenGuru42 - Chick Keeper
- Posts: 34
- Joined: Mon Jan 13, 2025 5:41 am
- Location: Windhoek, Namibia
Re: My Experience with Bielefelders
Wow, losing four birds in three months is a big deal. Did you notice any symptoms before they passed? It might be worth getting a necropsy done on the next one to confirm if it's metabolic or something else.
I love chickens. Everyone loves chickens, don't they?
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EggstraSpecial - Chick Keeper
- Posts: 28
- Joined: Mon Jan 27, 2025 4:36 pm
- Location: Charlestown, Saint Kitts and Nevis
Re: My Experience with Bielefelders
I appreciate this detailed review! I was about to order some Bielefelder chicks, but the health issues and high feed costs are concerning. Have you tried any other large dual-purpose breeds?
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RusticRooster - Eggling
- Posts: 4
- Joined: Thu Jan 30, 2025 7:31 pm
Re: My Experience with Bielefelders
Have you weighed your birds regularly? If they're reaching excessive weights too quickly, you might try restricting feed access for a few hours a day to slow them down. Some meat birds need that to prevent health issues.
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VeggieVibes - Chick Keeper
- Posts: 33
- Joined: Mon Jan 13, 2025 3:48 am
- Location: Medan
Re: My Experience with Bielefelders
Interesting! I have one Bielefelder rooster, and he's actually my most mellow boy. He does eat a lot, though. I think this breed might not be the best for a small backyard flock unless you really love big birds.
People who count their chickens before they are hatched act very wisely because chickens run about so absurdly that it's impossible to count them accurately.