Lakenvelders? Any thoughts?

[Chief]

My wife is now getting the chicken bug and wants to have "her own flock". She's looking for a breed that is less common and so far has shown real interest in the Lakenvelders. My question is are they REALLY that "wild" by nature and only do well free range? I have Standard OEG's and they are supposed to be hard to handle according to most people, but I have very little trouble with them.

Also she has found a breed called Twentse Fowl from the Netherlands any one know anything about them?

Thanks for any info.

 

[Ariel301]

I've never had Lakenvelders, but really want them. I think they are beautiful birds. I think their personality has a lot to do with their handling. If you handle them daily from the time you get them, they should be very friendly. They may not be "pick up and hold and pet" types, but they will at least be personable and want to spend time with you and eat from your hand.

 

[sunket77]

mine is not a "pick up and pet type" but once you catch her she is fine in your arms... they are pretty flighty though. I only have one and she is just beautiful but also for some reason the other chickens pick on her. What about Brahmas? they kind of have the same coloring and are good layers... unless she doesn't like feathered feet

 

[easttxchick]

I have 5 Silver Lakenvelder hens and a rooster. Mine do great free ranging-fantastic little foragers. Very economical eaters as well. My hens are really friendly, they aren't crazy about being held, but always come to visit when I go outside. My rooster, on the other hand, is the sweetest thing-best rooster I have(fierce little thing too when it comes to protecting his girls). They also lay white eggs if that is a factor. Everyone that sees my flock absolutely loves the Lakenvelders-they are gorgeous little things.
I can't recommend them highly enough!

ETA: So sorry-I misread one of your questions. Mine DO NOT like confinement. We have our run covered with shade cloth and when they want out, believe me they are coming out of that run!

 

[Henk69]

I am closer to the source here in Holland but I can confirm all this.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

We used to have a kreinkoppe (twentse fowl) hen. Aereo was a nice hen, but didn't much care for handling; she wasn't really flighty, though. She liked to roost WAY up high in the citrus trees.

 

[mopargal1972]

Here is a pic of my pair of Lakenvelders. They are flighty, but friendly. Very active. (I had to confine them in a dog crate to get a good picture!) Good foragers. And BEAUTIFUL

 

[easttxchick]

Quote:
That is hilarious, but so true of these little beauties. You're pair is lovely.

 

[The Chickens' Maid]

We have a Lakenvelder named Sally. She is a DOLL! She loves to be held and pet; she is fine with confinement, too. We got her mail-order as a day-old chick, and she is the most docile chicken in the coop (including the silkie). She even holds still sometimes so that I can pick her up.
As for flighty/energetic, she's active, but we have two leghorns who leave her in the dust!

Here she is with her friend.

 

[gryeyes]

I bought two, laying, Golden Lakenvelders from a BYC member a couple of months ago. They're gorgeous. They don't want to take treats from my hands, but they will push in close enough to get ANYTHING that falls to the ground as the rest of my flock are eating out of my hands. They're very calm when I reach under either of 'em to get eggs in the nest boxes. No pecking. They'll gather round when I sit in the plastic lawn chair I keep in the run for "Quality Chicken Time."

It took 'em a while to integrate with the flock, but now they each have a buddy pullet (other than each other) with whom they hang out in foraging around inside the run.