Bielefelder Chickens Breed Guide

Bielefelder chickens are a productive dual-purpose breed that’s docile, hardy, and easy to raise.  They lay large light brown eggs with a pink tint, and are commonly used in crosses to create “olive egger” chickens that lay rare green eggs.  They’re a great addition to any backyard flock, and the most challenging thing is simply learning to pronounce their name!

This year we decided to add more egg colors into our basket from our backyard chickens.  My daughter absolutely loves chickens that lay colorful, rainbow eggs and I started researching how chicken egg colors are formed.

I quickly learned that there are no single pure breeds of chicken that lay green eggs, and to get “olive eggers” as they’re called, you have to breed a brown egg laying chicken with a blue egg laying chicken.  Blue egg layers are easy enough, as Ameraucana chickens are well known for their bright blue eggs and we had already decided on those.

With a bit of research, I learned that the most popular choice for roosters in “rainbow egg” flocks are Bielefelder roosters.  I’d never heard of them, but they’re incredibly friendly and personable, and the hens lay big brown eggs with a pink tint.

In most breed guides, you’ll read that they lay brown eggs, and they do. They’re a light brown, often with a pink tint and a few speckles.

When you mix a Bielefelder with a blue egg laying chicken, you get a soft green egg in the next generation.

Knowing that, I added them to our flock and I’ve been amazed at how gentle and friendly this breed really is.  The roosters are my daughter’s favorite, and they actually rub against her leg like cats for snuggles.  I’ve never met a kinder chicken.

Their friendliness makes them not particularly predator aware, though. My kids loved the roosters and picked them up and snuggled them, but they weren’t the best flock guardians. If you’re looking for a kind rooster that still gives you fertile eggs, they’re a good choice, but they aren’t going to keep your ladies safe from hawks or herd them away from danger. At least, that’s been my experience. If predator awareness matters more to you, our Ameraucanas have always been the ones left standing after a predator visit.

What Are Bielefelder Chickens?

The Bielefelder breed has been around since the 1970s. It was then that German chicken breeder, Gerd Roth, created them by combining breeds such as the New Hampshire, Wyandotte, Cuckoo Malines, and Amrock. The Bielefelder arrived in the United States in 2011 and has since gained great popularity.

These birds offer magnificent color with red combs, earlobes, and wattles. Their feather coloring includes orange, gray, black, white, and brown, with pink tinges, which help them blend into their surroundings as a kind of camouflage. And coloring plays a significant role, even in chicks.

They are auto-sexing, which means you can tell the males and females apart as soon as they hatch. That’s more reliable than the head spot method used on Barred Rock chicks. Then, as they mature, their complex, spotted patterns emerge, helping them blend into the landscape to avoid predators.

Bielefelder Chicken Characteristics

Known as gentle giants with a docile disposition, Bielefelders often seek human companionship and are easy to raise. You’ll find that the roosters are willing to cuddle with their humans.

They’re plump and round, revered as dual-purpose birds, which means you can raise them for both eggs and meat. Roosters weigh about 8 to 9 pounds when grown, and hens about 6 to 7 pounds. They tolerate heat and cold well and aren’t likely to slow egg production when the temperatures drop.

• Breed Name: Bielefelder Kennhuhn (pronounced bee-lay-felder)
• Breed Type: Standard for eggs, meat, and ornamental purposes
• Temperament: Gentle and docile
• Size: Large. Hens weigh about 6 to 7 pounds, and roosters about 8 to 9 pounds
• Eggs Per Year: 200 to 230
• Egg Size: Large
• Egg Color: Light brown, often with a pink tint
• Lifespan: 7 to 10 years
• Time To Maturity: 6 to 8 months

Bielefelder Breed Standard

You’ll be able to tell the male Bielefelder chicks from the females right after hatching. At just a day old, the pullets will have a dark “chipmunk” stripe down their backs, while the males are lighter and show a white speck on top of the head.

Once mature, females have a brown feather color with white and gray bars as an overlay, but males are more orange, with black tails and breasts that are barred. Since this is a heritage breed, these colors will continue to breed true.

As you research the coloring, you’ll hear about the cuckoo pattern, featuring black breasts with red color, and the Silver, which is missing the red and yellow feather variations seen in some birds. Their legs are yellow, without feathers, and they have a single comb.

Temperament

If you’re looking for a chicken that doubles as a pet, Bielefelders are an excellent choice. They are quiet, curious, and tend to prefer human companionship, with a friendly, docile demeanor. If you have young children, this is a good choice for a front yard free ranger, much like an Orpington. Roosters follow this standard temperament, especially if you treat them well and socialize with them often.

Roosters are often seen calling their girls to food during foraging. If you find your Bielefelder roo is more aggressive than it should be, even after taking all the precautions, consider removing him from the flock in favor of a more personable fellow.

Hardiness

No matter which geographic location you live in, Bielefelders are a hardy choice. These birds handle cold winters and dry summers well. In extremes, however, they take the brutal cold better than sweltering heat.

However, they still require a coop and environment that keeps them safe and comfortable.

Egg Production

Bielefelder hens lay about 200 to 230 large to extra-large eggs a year, and some hatcheries report up to 280 in good conditions.

Unlike some other breeds, Bielefelders continue to lay year-round, including colder, darker winter months, when most stop laying. For good egg production, offer high-quality feed that meets all their nutritional needs.

They also take a little longer to start producing because of their size and classification as dual-purpose birds.

Egg Color

Bielefelders are brown egg laying chickens. Their eggs are large and light brown, often with pink undertones and a few speckles. For a dark brown egg, look at Marans or Welsummers.

Crossed with a blue egg layer, they give you “olive egger” chickens that lay green eggs. The lighter the brown, the lighter the green, so a Bielefelder cross lays a softer shade than a Marans cross.

Meat

As a dual-purpose breed, they’re just as popular for their meat as their eggs. The meat is juicy and delicious, and you get more of it per chicken than other breeds, making it a worthy investment.

Broodiness

Most Bielefelder owners report little to no broodiness in this breed, even with a whole clutch of eggs. But it’s also noted that these hens are fantastic mothers once chicks hatch.

Foraging Ability

Bielefelders are fantastic foragers, with quick reflexes to keep their area insect-free.

Cross Breeds

To create the Bielefelder, Gerd Roth crossed Malines, New Hampshire Reds, and Amrock, although there has been some debate about the specific breeds used. You may also hear about two different crosses known as Crele and Silver. Silvers are rare because they were bred out early in the process. However, some heritage farms are bringing them back.

Bielefelder roosters are commonly crossbred with blue egg laying Ameraucana hens to create green egg laying “olive egger” chickens in the next generation.  There are no true green egg laying breeds, and in order to have green eggs in your basket, you must cross breed a brown egg laying chicken with a blue egg laying chicken.

Common Health Issues

There are no known health issues that are specific to this chicken breed. However, proper care, nutrition, and the environment help ensure they live up to this potential.

Pros and Cons of Bielefelder Chickens

In my mind, the pros outweigh the cons, but I’ll let you decide.

Pros

• Friendly and docile
• Good for families with small children
• Excellent egg production
• Winter egg layers
• Autosexing
• Cold hardy
• Flavorful, nutritious meat

Cons

• Relatively expensive chicks, since few hatcheries have them
• Slow weight gain for meat use
• Eats a lot of food if foraging isn’t an option
• Late to start laying eggs, since they’re large dual-purpose birds
• Not very predator aware

Tips for Raising Bielefelder Chickens

All chicken breeds require proper nourishment and living conditions, so this is a great place to start. But because Bielefelders are a large breed, with roosters reaching 8 to 9 pounds, they eat a lot of food. Even as chicks, their feed needs are higher than others, so ensure they get the right amount.

Foraging, with fresh fruit, veggie, and grain scraps from the house, helps offset the cost, but they need about 20% of their daily intake to be quality protein.

These chickens love to forage and wander, so allow them plenty of space to explore. They won’t do as well in small enclosures. Also, be sure to clean coops and nest boxes often. They’re known to sleep in their nest boxes, which can lead to ill health if left dirty.

Bielefelder Chicken FAQ

Here are quick answers to the most common questions about raising Bielefelder chickens.

Chicken Breed Guides

Looking for more chicken breed guides? Each one covers temperament, egg laying, hardiness, and the breed standard.

Still choosing a breed? Start with the list of 50+ chicken breeds from A to Z, or narrow it down with egg laying chickens for beginners, cold hardy chicken breeds, or heat tolerant chicken breeds.

• Ameraucana Chickens
• Barnevelder Chickens
• Barred Rock Chickens
• Brahma Chickens
• Cochin Chickens
• Isbar Chickens
• Jersey Giant Chickens
• Marans Chickens
• Orpington Chickens
• Salmon Faverolle Chickens
• Serama Chickens
• Silkie Chickens
• Welsummer Chickens
• White Leghorn Chickens

Raising Backyard Chickens

Learn more about raising your own chickens at home!

• How to Raise Chickens
• Beginner’s Guide to Chicken Egg Colors
• Which Chickens Lay White Eggs?
• Which Chickens Lay Green Eggs? (Olive Eggers)
• Which Chickens Lay Pink Eggs?
• What’s the Difference Between a Duck Egg and a Chicken Egg?