Barnvelder Blues... death rates in chicks

[KybraBoss]

I seem to have a problem with Barnvelders, not a super common breed here but not rare, I really like them but they don't seem to like me

, I've tried buying adult birds and the foxes bypassed every other bird in the coop to eat the barneys

, we tried day olds and have a higher than fifty percent loss rate within the first two weeks of getting them home, which gets expensive at $15-00 each. It is very hard to get older birds as most sell as day olds.

So what I would like to know is this breed harder to keep alive, I have tried a few diferent breeders but seem to have a problem with the breed, wether it is just a small bloodline base here I don't know, so I would like to does anyone have the same problems or no problems at all any little tips or tricks with this breed

 

[chickens_rock]

Sorry about your losses, and I understand your great desire to want to add some Barneys to your flock.

I came across them quite by accident - a lady nearby raises them and had advertised on Craigslist. I had never heard of Barnevelders, but in doing some research, I fell in love with their chocolate brown eggs and just had to have some. Bought them straight-run because she doesn't have a dependable way of sexing the breed as chicks. I wanted one girl, so I bought three, hoping to play the odds. Only had to pay $3 each, but that's because she does not feel right about charging the "going rate" for these birds.

We got them as one-week olds, and today they are 5-weeks. We have raised them in the brooder with 10 other chicks - a variety of breeds and mutts, and they all seem to be doing well. I must say that the Barnevelders do seem to be more "timid" than the rest of my flock. For instance, when I put treats in the brooder, they're always the ones standing in the background watching the frenzy of the other 10. I try to give the Barneys a little extra TLC every day - nothing any worse than a chicken with a low self esteem : )

None of the other birds seem to be picking on them, but if we end up with two girls, I'll probably keep them both because they seem to need each other. Sorry I can't give you some great advice, and I wish you lived closer because it appears that one of our little girls is turning into a boy! We live in town and can't keep a roo. I may try, though until someone complains. Wish there was a way to de-cock-a-doodle-do them, because Barnevelder roosters are so beautiful. Good luck to you!