Calling all pictures of Barnevelders

[ArizonaDesertChicks]

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"Show Quality" Barnevelders in the USA tend to be very dark colored at this time. Good Barnevelders are still very rare here most likely because the original import flocks died out or were replaced by Welsummers and Marans which lay much darker eggs. Lots of "Barnevelders" here also seem to show signs of being crossed with Welsummer and they have way to much red and very poor messed up lacing.

Your roo looks pretty much like the pictures I've seen of Australian and New Zealand Barnevelders. His tail should be fuller, but like you said he lost feathers and may just be young. My current cockerel has ONE tail feather thanks to moult and some jealous girls :rolleyes

Here's an example of the red chest you're talking about (my two came from the feed store - 1 had the red chest, the other had nice dark coloring, but neither of them had the bright yellow legs).

About 8-9 weeks old - you can see the redder chest on the chick in the back

An example of the red Welsummer type chest --

even though she doesn't have the correct barnevelder coloring, she was very pretty:

Penny, the darker hen

Both went broody each summer and made good mamas

 

[Cowgirlgrace]

I was told by a Barnevelder breeder that the Barnie eggs are the darkest when the hen is three years old. Has anyone else heard that or found it to be true? or have you had dark eggs from the pullets? I have beautiful hens but am working on egg color (would love some of JamesA eggs as those are the darkest I have seen) and sell the hens that lay light eggs or put them in my laying flock. Hate to wait 3 years to cull a hen for laying light eggs. Any info would be great. Thanks

 

[Kansaseq]

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I've never heard that, and it goes against everything I've learned about egg color here on BYC. A hen's eggs are supposed to be their darkest at the beginning of her laying cycle, getting lighter as the season goes on. Then when she takes a break and starts laying again, they are back to being dark.

 

[Cowgirlgrace]

I knew thats how it worked with the Marans but didn't know if the same genetics appplied to the Barnevelder egg. I've had 2 year old Barnie hens whos eggs were always the same, beginning to end but they also started out light.

 

[Jared77]

Who's got the darkest eggs in your flock? Keep those hens to take to your roo and hatch 'em. Proper type, coloration, etc. plus a dark egg. Chicks (both hens and roos) hatched from dark eggs should carry the trait darker egg color. Just a matter of selecting for that trait. Just don't sacrifice the rest of the bird to get a dark egg. Works for the Marans and Wellie breeders why not the Barnies?

 

[Cowgirlgrace]

Well, thats what I have been doing but was confused when I heard that about hens eggs darkening with age so didn't know at what age I should cull. Do all the 'dark egg breeds' coat their eggs with the pigment and lighten as the pigment gets used up? Do Barnies do the same thing as Marans? If so then it must not be true about them darkening with age. Maybe got some misinformation.

 

[tracyork]

Got my first eggs this week! They are small, and not terribly dark, but I think they have potential. The pullets are about 26 or 27 weeks. Unfortunately, neither of them felt the need to use the nest box! They have been in there excavating and such, but in the end the grass and the dirt run were more attractive. Either that or they were caught off guard and just laid the wherever they were at the moment.

Interestingly, the eggs are very close in size, although the color is different. They are pictured with an egg from my black sexlink and an egg from my Welsummer (she is getting ready to molt so her eggs have been less dark than usual).

 

[tammyd57]

Have you all heard that Greenfire Farms is going to be importing Blue Double Laced Barnevelders?
I imagine they will be quite expensive at first, but hatching eggs might be reasonable after a year or two.
I know after I get a flock of Barnevelders started next year, that I will be looking to add the Blue ones also

http://greenfirefarms.com/new/

 

[V Comb]

The Barnevelder seems to be a beautiful chicken breed, one of which I wouldn't mind owning... (just like d'anvers, d'uccles, frizzled polish, sultans, araucanas etc...)

I would certainly consider getting birds from here: http://jirahpastoral.webs.com/

(they have blue laced, buff laced and silver laced aswell as double laced)

 

[tammyd57]

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Yes, they have a lot of nice varieties. But they're in Australia! Hmm....is it easier or cheaper to import from Australia than Europe? Probably not............