The Bielefelder Kennhuhn or Bielefelder is a German breed of domestic chicken. It was developed in the area of Bielefeld in the 1970s by Gerd Roth, who cross-bred birds of Malines and Welsumer stock with American Barred Rocks to create the breed.[4][9]: 95 [10]: 6 Like other breeds with Barred Rock parentage, it is auto-sexing – chicks of different sexes can be distinguished by their colour. There is a bantam version, the Bielefelder Zwerg-Kennhuhn.[5]
History
The concept of an auto-sexing chicken breed goes back to the work of Reginald Punnett in the 1920s and 1930s.[10]: 6
The Bielefelder was initially bred in one colour only, crele (German kennsperber) – the cuckoo pattern with black-breasted red colouring. A silver variety (German silber-kennsperber) was later created; it shows the same patterning as in the crele variety, but without any red or yellow colouration. It is a new colour, not seen in any other breed.[10]: 7
Like other breeds with Barred Rock parentage, the Bielefelder is an auto-sexing breed – chicks of different sexes can be distinguished by their colour.[10]: 6
Use
The Bielefelder is dual-purpose breed, well suited to extensive management. It is fast-growing and yields a good carcass.[9]: 96 Hens may give about 230 large brown eggs per year, with an average weight of about 60 g.[4]
Bantam hens may give about 160 eggs per year, with an average weight of 49 g.[5]
