The Bielefelder, also known as the “über chicken”, was developed in Bielefeld, Germany by Gerd Roth in the early 1970s. Included in the development of the Bielefelder chicken breed are the Cuckoo Malines, Amrock (Barred Rocks), Wyandotte, and the New Hampshire.

This breed is known for its large bodies for meat, large eggs, and beautiful feathers. They are also sexed based on their color. The pullets have a “chipmunk” stripe on their backs and the cockerels are lighter in color and have a yellow spot on their heads. These chicks grow fast. When fully grown the roosters are known to weight on the upwards of 10-12 pounds. The hens start laying at a young age and consistently lay around 200 eggs a year that are brown with a pink undertone.

Bielefelder chickens have all the characteristics that you will want for your backyard coop. They are extremely gentle, not flighty, love human interaction, are color sexable, large-bodied, and are a large egg producer. All of these traits combined are why they have the nickname über chicken. This chicken is one of the most dual-purpose birds you can purchase today.