Bielefelder at a glance
| Egg production | 200–230 eggs/year |
|---|---|
| Egg color | brown |
| Size | large; hen weight 6.5–8 lb |
| Temperament summary | Calm, gentle, friendly |
| Housing class | large chicken |
Strongest documented traits
Temperament
Very calm and easy to handle
calm, docile, friendly
Source confidence: High
Cold tolerance
Excellent cold tolerance
cold hardy
Source confidence: High
Dual-purpose value
Excellent dual-purpose breed
large productive dual-purpose table and egg breed
Source confidence: High
Beginner friendliness
Excellent for first-time keepers
calm, easy-keeping temperament
Source confidence: Medium
Egg production
Strong egg production
about 200–230 eggs/year
Source confidence: High
Heat tolerance
Very good heat tolerance
listed as heat hardy by Hoover's Hatchery
Source confidence: Medium
Things to consider
These are traits that may be a drawback depending on what you want from your flock. Individual birds can vary.
Broodiness
Rarely broody
rarely broody
Source confidence: High
How the planner uses this breed
The flock planner does not rank Bielefelder from a single overall score stored in the database. Instead, it weights individual traits differently for each household. Cold hardiness matters more in harsh winters; heat tolerance matters more in hot climates; docility receives additional weight when children will handle the birds; and housing size can prevent a breed mix from being recommended even when its preference score is strong.
Sources used for this record
Last database review: 2026-10-04. Trait values are normalized to a 1–5 planning scale; see the methodology for how uncertainty is handled.