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barnevelders

Barnevelders

Most lines of Barnevelder seem to produce male and female chicks that are difficult or impossible to reliably distinguish from one another at hatching. However, BYC member TLS_ranch has a line of Barnevelders that can be sexed reliably on down plumage, as illustrated below. Note that this feature will probably not be useful with most lines of Barnevelders, but the fact that it's possible without compromising the quality of the grown bird (see here for a photo of some stunning TLS hens at 15 weeks) might provide some incentive to anyone trying to establish breeding lines of this bird. It may be possible to use speed of feathering to sex some other lines of Barnies (females feathering up more quickly than males), but this feature also seems unlikely to be reliable across the board. More general differences between males and females include head gear (differences from around 4 weeks) plumage shape (including saddle hackles and tail, probably noticeable from around 8-10 weeks), and plumage colouration (also probably 8-10 weeks, though I need to see more photos of males to confirm this!).

 

1 day

10 days

2 weeks

18 days

24 days

4 weeks

6 weeks

16 weeks

 

1 day

 

posted by  tls_ranch Northern California, USA

TLS_ranch has a line of Barnevelders that can be sexed reliably on down plumage, as illustrated below. Note that this feature will probably not be useful with most lines of Barnevelders, but the fact that it's possible without compromising the quality of the grown bird (see here for a photo of some stunning TLS hens at 15 weeks) might provide some incentive to anyone trying to establish breeding lines of this bird.


As day-olds: dark breast= girl, light= boy
Girl, Boy, Girl, Boy
http://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/30473_chickens_217.jpg

 

2 day old chicks from the TLS_ranch line posted by  enggass

Two females:

http://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/50610_barnie4.jpg
http://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/50610_barnie3.jpg

and boy here
http://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/50610_barnie5.jpg

 

10 days

 

posted 16/3/2010 by  tls_ranch Northern California, USA

female and male

Pullet chick= longer wing feathers at 10 days.

http://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/30473_barnie_female_chick.jpg


Cockerel chick= short even wing feathers at 10 days.

http://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/30473_cropped_10_day_old_chick.jpg


BUT:

On the other hand, the Julie Gabbard (Kelly Cratty) line I have was all over the place. Some pullets feathered very slow and some cockerels feathered fast. There was one cockerel that feathered so fast I would of sworn it was a girl. hu

 

2 weeks

 

posted 16/5/2011 by  tls_ranch Northern California, USA

female and male

At around 2 weeks:
Pullet= longer wings almost to tail or past, back feathers starting to come in, longer tail feathers, thin legs.
Roo= short stubby wings, almost no tail, very few back feathers, thicker legs. Maybe already some comb development showing (if you look closely)
Pullet left, Roo right
http://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/30473_blues_064.jpg

 

 

female

BYC member: mother o' chicks72

Portland, Oregon, USA

posted 5/5/11

this is agnes, our barnevelder that we are fostering for a friend
http://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/83336_4.jpg
http://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/83336_3.jpg
http://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/83336_barnev2.jpg
http://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/83336_barnev1.jpg

 

18 days

female

posted by  Direchicken Cork, Ireland

Ember

http://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/102688_ember_18_days.jpg

 

24 days

female

posted by  Direchicken Cork, Ireland

Ember

http://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/102688_ember_24_days.jpg

 

4 weeks

BYC member:  tls_ranch

Northern California, USA

posted 16/5/2011

At 4+ weeks:
Roos= upright stance, larger thicker body and legs, color/size showing on comb/wattles, less feathering overall (back, wings, tail, breast)
http://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/30473_chickens_556.jpg
http://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/30473_chickens_570.jpg

Pullets= almost feathered, longer slender body/legs, no comb or wattles.
http://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/30473_chickens_560.jpg
http://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/30473_chickens_578.jpg

 

 

 

 

posted by  enggass

on 16/5/2011

females (TLS_ranch line)

http://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/50610_barnie_02.jpg
http://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/50610_barnie_01.jpg

 

 

6 weeks

posted by:  nzchicke

posted on 5/5/2011

male with e+ feathering, checking with poster that this bird is in fact 6 weeks old (looks a smidgeon older)


http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/cc509/barneymad1/broodbl.jpg

 

female

posted by  Direchicken Cork, Ireland

Ember, 44 days

http://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/102688_ember_44days.jpg

Ember, 45 days

http://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/102688_ember_45days.jpg

 

16 weeks

These hens are actually 15 weeks, photos taken in late July 2011. TLS_ranch line

posted by  enggass

http://homepage.mac.com/enggass/ChickPix/Barnies%201.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/enggass/ChickPix/Barnies%202.jpg

 

posted on 13/1/2011 BigIslandChicks

 

female

http://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/71606_p1090315.jpg

 

posted on 15/4/2010 by  Jenandnaomi

 

male

http://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/54383_side_rooster.jpg
http://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/54383_top_view_rooster.jpg





Comments (4)

I just love Barnevelders, and am breeeding them down here in Dunedin, NZ. Beautiful birds, and good layers over winter, plus a good dual-purpose bird. Their plumage is just lovely.
Beautiful birds, just placed 18 eggs in to my incubator today.
i have two barnevelder roosters
Our barnies and barnie crosses are just on a month old (first one hatched Jan 30th) and I'm starting to see gender differences. It's fun to play "pick the roo!" I've got 17 birds all all - all barnies and barnie crosses, except for one rhode island red.
Must post photos!
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