I have only one Barnevalder, adopted her at 1 year old. She had not been handled much. But from the start she was very calm, sweet, and hardly ever runs away. She lays every other day if not every day, very consistent layer.
I have a Barnie, too. And Speckled Sussex. I wanted the Barnies because the breed is calm, friendly and good foragers. Unfortunately she was not hand raised and had a rough start so she is timid. She lays nice eggs but only about 3 - 4 a week. I think that's more about her getting easily unsettled than it is her breed.