Anyone have or had Barnevelders?

[chickerdoodle]

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Thanks for the info!!

 

[chickerdoodle]

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The color of the egg is not that important to me. I really am looking for the personality and gosh darn they are pretty!

Wellsummers are my alternative breed and the marans supposedly are not hand tame as easily so i am not intersted in them.

 

[chickerdoodle]

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Out of my 13 laying pullets (BRs, RIRs, WLHs, EEs, BSLs, & barnies), the 2 barnevelders were the only ones to go broody. Both of them went broody this last summer at 6 months of age - one of them even went broody a second time in the same summer (2 months later). One was a great broody and mother - the other wasn't.

These were both hatchery barnevelders - I have no idea if the breeder ones are as prone to broodiness.

Thanks for the info! Which hatchery did they come from? I heard (now I can't remember where) not to get hatchery Barnevelders. Sheesh, they aren't supposed to go broody often--wonder what happened?? Hope thats not a new trend!

 

[chickerdoodle]

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Hey thanks!! I wonder where in Washington State....

may have to look him up.

 

[ArizonaDesertChicks]

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Out of my 13 laying pullets (BRs, RIRs, WLHs, EEs, BSLs, & barnies), the 2 barnevelders were the only ones to go broody. Both of them went broody this last summer at 6 months of age - one of them even went broody a second time in the same summer (2 months later). One was a great broody and mother - the other wasn't.

These were both hatchery barnevelders - I have no idea if the breeder ones are as prone to broodiness.

Thanks for the info! Which hatchery did they come from? I heard (now I can't remember where) not to get hatchery Barnevelders. Sheesh, they aren't supposed to go broody often--wonder what happened?? Hope thats not a new trend!

Actually, I'm assuming they came from a hatchery. One of our local feedstores had placed an ad on craigslist saying they had barnevelders for sale. I went there and they had about 15 barnevelder chicks, but no other types of chicks. I have no idea where the chicks came from. They're not breeder quality - the legs started out yellow and still have some yellow, but they also have a grey wash on them. One of the hens has pretty lacing, while the other is pretty, but doesn't have barnevelder type lacing.

This is the same pullet as above (at only 10-11 weeks). Her legs started out with more yellow than they have now:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=19548-from-chicks-to-pullets-to-hens

As for going broody - I think I've heard that hatchery chickens have had more of the broodiness bred out of them (for more production) than breeder type chickens - I guess my barnevelders didn't read the bulletin.

 

[WestKnollAmy]

I swear, if mine do not decide to lay better I am going to sell out. I have several different bloodlines but with selling hatching eggs and raising them myself, it is ridiculous. I get maybe 100 eggs a year from each of them. I have some young girls now that should have been laying a month ago that refuse to start.
My DH says I feed them too well but they are not fat. They have grassy pens, a dry place to eat and drink and a nice nest box but they are not good layers at all. Not just in the fall but all year long these girls are constantly poor layers. I now understand why they are not so common in this country.
I have 2 flocks and love them for their color and personalities but all my other breeds beat them hands down on egg production.

 

[cubalaya]

some breeds are rare for a reason. the european chickens cant compete with the american breeds in my opinion.

 

[faykokoWV]

I just got some hatchery Barnevelders and Welsummers last week. so far the chicks are very friendly. I got them from Ideal. I just liked the nature of the breed and don't plan on starting a breeding program with them or anything so that was the best option for me.

 

[chickerdoodle]

ArizonaDesert chicks--thanks for the photo! Your hen is lovely! I now read on a breeders web page hers get broody too!

I checked your chickens on your web page --they are all so nice! I wonder if your red chest barnie is from a mix? She is a beautiful bird too!

 

[chickerdoodle]

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Holey moley!!Is it because they are they going broody? Show birds do not lay as well as utility birds. I am wondering if they are show birds--would you mind telling me where you got them?