Barnevelder Egg Laying Question

[Kansaseq]

Arizonadesertchick,
How are your Barnes laying now? I currently have a flock of 5 that are about 2 months old, and I'm wondering how well they'll lay when they reach 27 weeks. They were a gift from a friend, so kind of a 'surprise' breed for me

 

[nzchick]

I have a barnevelder and she gives me a light/med brown egg. She is a single laced barny and I wondered if maybe that had something to do with it? I too was looking forward to the dark brown egg, but my brown hens lay darker eggs than she does. Could just be breeding? Perhaps they get darker with age? My girl is about 1/2 way through her first season.

 

[Kansaseq]

nz, how many eggs a week do you get from your Barne?

 

[ArizonaDesertChicks]

Quote:
They're both about 1 year old now.

This one here, Penny, lays more than every other day - I haven't actually been keeping track, but notice more days than not, that she has laid an egg for me (I can tell her eggs from the others).

She went broody over the summer and did a great job hatching her eggs and raising her chicks!

This one, Lacy (poor barnevelder coloring), hasn't laid for months. She went broody twice - the first time, she cracked or broke almost all of the eggs and never got a chance to be a mother. The second time, I broke her of it the week after I discovered her broodiness. She still isn't laying

 

[mediazeal]

I wonder if your Barnevelder is laying a 'tan' egg.

 

[Kansaseq]

Thanks, Arizonadesertchick,
Penny is beautiful! Mine come from stock that look more like her, and I hope they lay as well.

 

[nzchick]

Hi, she lays at least 5 times a week, very consistent.

 

[cwhit590]

Nice pics AZDesertChicks! Barnevelders are beautiful birds...love the lacing.
To me, your Lacy almost looks more like a Welsummer....

SussexInSeattle, good luck w/ your Barne.

 

[ArizonaDesertChicks]

Quote:
That's a good idea, but I really don't think she is laying. She did lay a lighter egg than Penny when she was laying, but I haven't even seen her on the nests (or even near them waiting) for a very long time - I see Penny in the nestbox quite often. Lacy's comb & wattles are smaller and light pink (instead of red, like Penny's) - not sure if that means anything.

 

[ArizonaDesertChicks]

Quote:
Thanks - I agree, the barnevelders are very beautiful. Lacy does look quite different, but she was sold to me as a barnevelder and there wasn't much difference when they were little. I think it's just the hatchery quality shining through

This is their pic at 8-9 weeks old (Lacy is in the back - you can see her red chest, which Penny did not have)

I have more pics of them at different stages here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=19548-from-chicks-to-pullets-to-hens

Looking back over my old pics on my BYC page - Lacy always did have a smaller comb - hmmm.