New Barnevelder Chicks! Wow!

i know that Shay20 has a couple. but i don't know if she will sell any eggs.

eta: she lives on the Mass border. so it is a loooong haul to go and pick up chicks

LOL, I have 5 Barnevelder chicks, about 2 months old, that a hatch-aholic good friend recently gave me... 4 males, 1 female!   I'll be rehoming at least two of the boys in the near future.  I kept hoping one of them was just a late blooming pullet, but no such luck. Congrats on getting the chicks!

Ideal would have shipped roosters if he has asked for them.  I was on the wait list with them for three months when they sent mine last fall.  I ordered 4 hens and 2 roosters and that's what they sent me.  I have since bought eggs from breeder stock and hatched 2 boys and 3 girls out of the first bunch, the second bunch I haven't been able to sex yet, but there are 9 of them so odd are there are a few roos in the bunch lol.  Wish I was closer to you.

I ordered 6 barnevelders, 6 welsummers and 3 blue silkies when I ordered, so I met the $25 minimum with that order.  while not show quality, I have been very pleased with the quality of the Ideal barnevelders and welsummers. I'm getting nice dark eggs and have had many compliments on the birds themselves.

I have Barnevelders but not from a hatchery.
I ordered 25 pullets from Ideal  but when they arrived I was disappointed and when they grew up I sold them all. I have a hen from the Kelly Cratty line that is okay but I have other girls from other unknown lines that are marvelous. I sold my Kelly Cratty roo and the lesser hen and decided to go with Johan's bloodlines. I like them to be a dual purpose bird as they were originally intended.
I recently lost my beloved Johan roo and am anxiously awaiting the hatches I have set for the next few weeks to grow out a replacement roo or one of my fantastic friends will let me have another quality man, if I need one much sooner.

There are very few dedicated Barnevelder breeders in the US but we are trying to build up the breed to be a good meat bird as well as have all the correct characteristics for the standard. It is going to be a long hard road. Our Barnies in the US do not lay a dark egg and we are very suspicious of any Barnies that do on this side of the big water.

Check out my website to see what I have now and what I used to have. And if you would like to meet other breeders please email me.

I just love my Barnevelders, but they also come from breeders not from a hatchery. I haven't tried any hatchery stock yet and from what I've seen the hatchery stock can vary a lot in color and type.  Be watchful for chicks that hatch out with Welsummer "V" head markings.  Barnevelders are such beautiful birds! Enjoy

Trisha

Oh, just to let you know the picture used in the ad you posted of the outstanding Barnevelder hen is from Outbackhens in Ireland.

There is a BYC'er with eggs for auction that goes off today.  Although I haven't incubated eggs before, I was thinking of trying it with the Barnevelder eggs, since I have heard that a lot of the hatcheries wind up sending Wellsummers instead of Barnevelder. My new babies are set to arrive the first week of May, so everyone would be close in age if everything works out. I understand from many people that the Barnevelder is an excellent layer, friendly, calm and quiet. If you already have them, would you also agree with that, and should they get along okay with the EE's and Silkies that are coming.
Thanks!!
Donna