Barnevelder

The Barnvelders are a little skittish until they get use to you. Then they become mildly skittish. However this breed is as lovable as any other breed. They are great foragers and don't mind being confined if needed.The rooster is one of the prettiest birds I think I have ever seen. With copper and black mix the predominant colors several other colors can be seen when in the sun. I think i have counted about seven different colors on my rooster when he is in the sun. I haven't had the pleasure of having a hen hatch eggs and raise the chicks but I have heard that they are good mothers. I would recommend this breed to anyone as long as you can find them. Their not always that easy to find.

I have 2 11 week old Barnevelders. My first of this breed. So far they are a little skittish, but getting better. I have hand raised them from day 2. They are really quick to learn. beautiful coloring and a rare breed that needs help.

I've had two of these girls for a year now. Got them when they were a few months old. They were my first chickens. They adjusted well to their new home and have been excellent egg producers. By excellent I mean an egg a day or every other day. They did good all winter as well and I do not supplement light. It got pretty cold here in KY this winter, and they did great. Was a hot summer as well and they did fantastic. They molted a little late, I was afraid they'd get cold. One of my hens got broody for a few weeks and I thought I was going to lose her. But she made it! Then she did it again... grr... and molted. I thought she was a gonner for sure all naked and skinny. But once again, with some tough love, she pulled through and hasn't done it since!

Barnevelders are great chickens to get for a backyard flock. They do best in free-range situations as they have tendencies of getting fat. Barnevelders are usually fairly good layers and a lovely looking birds. They are somewhat docile, they are commonly listed for a good pet breed. They are very rare though, they're one of those breeds that needs help! Barnevelders are a very new breed, which is why they're rare. Barnevelders are a nice breed.

Barnevelders are great to look at, but not all that great for someone who wants friendly birds.

They're really, really skittish. I never once mistreated mine, hand raised them, yet any time I would go to the coop or walk up to them while free ranging they would run screaming from me. Have nary a clue why, other than that's just the way the breed is. Also, they're really, really loud.

However, they're great layers. But, their eggs are neither particularly large or particularly dark. They're also hardy birds, but seem to do better in winter than summer. My birds were fine in KY winters but tanked a bit in the sweltering and humid heat.

I had 3roosters and 3hens and they never fought. These birds would let me pick them up and hold them and they would also fly on my lap and sleep their. They were always very good birds. They amazed me how friendly they were because whenever I called them they would run right over and come visit. I would recommend this breed to anyone beginners or experts they are just wonderful birds all around. I also have had Rhode Island Reds which I had always swore by because they weren't a nasty breed compared to others that I have had but barnevelders I think are my number one now.

They are good pets. Friendly and docile and lays pretty well. Only problem is they tend get sick alot. They are also a good rare breed to sell in the market.

We have kept these birds for a year now, and they are very nice. Their eggs are not as dark as advertised, and they are not excellent layers. They are beautiful birds, perfect for childeren, and very friendly. Ours always come to greet us when we visit their pen, and look for treats. A novice could keep them without problems.

i rescued a pair of Barnvelders I would guess they were about 8 weeks old, they were so tiny.

Anyway they are now about 15 weeks and are now in the run with my other girls. They don't stand any nonsense from the other hens and will fight their corner but know when to back away, they will I think, turn out to be quite dominant as and when they fully mature.

We have named them Milly and Molly, they go and do everything together and are inseparable, so cute.

Looking forward to next February when hopefully we will get some lovely dark brown eggs.

I have one Barnevelder, named Chestnut in a medium sized flock, she is a standout chicken.
My Barnevelder is incredibly intelligent, learning how to cross the plank of wood over the ditch that separates the chickens paddock and our house, she often hides her eggs in large clutches, and when she isn't perched next to her best friend, Harriet the Orpington, she discovered an excellent way to throw the submissive hens off the roost - peck and grab at their feet.
Overall, Chestnut is a clever and endearing hen, quick to alert the flock at the sign of predators, and most of the time doesn't bother picking on chickens lower down the pecking order. The problem is trying to find her gorgeous dark speckled eggs! She's onto me in ways none of the other girls could dream of, the smartest chicken I've owned.

Barnevelders are by far the best breed I have ever kept. They are relaxed and calm. Their eggs are a lovely chocolate brown colour and they do lay loads of them. The double laced variety are very decorative and nice to look at. They are good at foraging and love to be kept on grass.

I love my Barnvelders. I used to have 2 double-laced hens and a rooster and absolutely would recommend these birds to anyone. They are beautiful, their dark, mahogany brown plumage laced in cobwebs of black lacing that shines iridescent green in the sunlight. The hens are good layers, averaging about 4 eggs per week. The eggs are big and brown with a peach tint to them. They are friendly, and very curious. They really don't let you pick them up though. They might come over to you, but in my experience they do not let you pick them up. Period. They will run away from you if you reach over to pet them or pick them up. My Rooster was really sweet, and has never flogged me. They also tend to be low on the totem pole. They do not make great table birds, since their frame is rather thin. I would recommend these birds to any one who doesn't need their birds to be terribly friendly, has a flock with a loose pecking order, wants a good layer, and wants a nice rooster!

Honestly, they are great birds. We have 2 boys freeranging together and neither one has ever gotten the least bit aggressive with us and they are very polite to their girls as well. No missing feathers at all from mating. They dance and if the girl doesn't crouch they just go away and look for another girl. The dominant doesn't like the other one mating his women, but there has never been any blood. The girls are sweet but don't really enjoy being picked up and coddled too much. but they are friendly enough on the ground. I had a pair go broody and gave them some eggs and they did fine with them and teamed up to raise the chicks...They did develop a bit more of a backbone when protecting the chicks against the other hens but always allowed me to reach in and inspect them with complaint but no serious pecking.

I have hatched out about a dozen of them and they have been vigorous, healthy chicks that hatched a day early with good fertility. But my girls are from a completely different line than my boys so might have more hybrid vigor going on. my adults have been healthy as well. (knock wood)

Mine don't weigh enough to make a decent table bird, but seriously: who would want to eat them???

I have 6 Barnies, they did start laying at about 28 weeks, but that is not an issue with me. Most of my poultry did. They don't lay the really dark eggs, but they are large, dark brown and some of them speckled, pretty just the same. I had 2 of them go broodie, I couldn't get her off the nest and thought she may die, so I gave her 2 chicks to raise. She has been a pretty good mom, a little to aloof at times, leaving them to go snack on a treat, she would call them, but at the same time left them by themselves. That worries me a tad when she is around the other hens. She also will back down if confronted to much. So she is a bit on the weaker side. But I can go and pick up the chicks w/o worrying she will attack me. My other one I gave some fertile eggs to, so we will see how she does with the chicks. They aren't super friendly, they will come when called or just when I go out, but dont get close enough to pick up, but I don't mind that. My Specks get under my feet so bad I've almost fell by them tripping me! This is a breed I am considering keeping, getting a rooster and raising just this breed(although I have to keep an EE or 2, just love them). They don't lay like a sexlink or other layer specific hen, but they are pretty consistent about every other day and sometimes daily. They don't seem to get as hot as my Specks or EE's. I live in Central TX and it gets hot. My EE's seem to suffer the most. So that is a plus for me. And being a fairly small backyard chicken home, I like the idea of nicer Roo's.
All in all they pretty much fit almost everything I am looking for.

I started out with two Barnevelder hens and the next year ordered a third, which was supposed to be a roo. Surprise! He's now laying too.

One of my girls went broody three times her first year, and layed sporadically until winter. Her sister layed somewhat more frequently the first year, but this year both of them are laying a large egg almost every day.

The girls are chatty, friendly and love to have their backs rubbed. A sweet addition to the flock.

I have one hen in a mixed flock of seven chickens, and my aunt has her sister. Before I got my rooster, my Barnevelder hen was the boss lady. Yes, they seem to be "softer" and non-agressive, however mine for whatever reason took the top spot on the pecking order and would lead the others around the yard when out free ranging. Very friendly bird, lets me pick her up and handle her. Lovely soft vocals, and never a loud or obnoxious "egg song". Her eggs are not the sought after dark brown eggs, but they are instead light brown with beautiful dark speckles. Nonetheless, they are HUGE eggs and I get complements on them when I give away eggs.

I have 4 Barnvelder's in with my mixed flock of 30 & they do very well. Slightly smaller & more compact in the body that most of my other breeds, but I have been impressed with their great personalities, mine are very self contained & independent. They are not as social as my Delawares & don't like to be handled. But I love them for their dark eggs & GORGEOUS plumage. I have several different breeds, having had Delaware's for several years now, but have Welsumer's, EE's & Cuckoo Maran's. Have decided to focus on the Barnvelder's.

PLEASE REMOVE THIS RATING. I NO LONGER HAVE THESE BIRDS AND CAN'T DELETE THIS REVIEW

Still chicks will update asap

Sweet calm bird that is very pretty. Slow to mature but eggs are worth the wait