Barnevelder

Barnevelder Chicken

The Barnevelder chicken hails from the Barneveld region in the Netherlands, celebrated for its dark brown eggs. This striking bird features a single comb, is known for its resilience, quiet temperament, and adaptability to confinement. The breed was officially recognized by the American Standard of Perfection in 1991. The Chicken Coop Company’s Barnevelders breeding stock offers a range of feather patterns, including partridge single laced and the sought-after double laced. Each breeding season, our goal is to enhance the prevalence of the double laced pattern.

What really made the breed stand out was their beautiful, double laced plumage and their brown eggs which quickly became known as “chocolate eggs”. Today Barnevelders are loved for their egg production but also for their gentle nature making them perfect for backyard flocks.

Barnevelders are a medium size breed with hens weighing around 5.5 to 6 pounds and roosters a bit larger at 7-8 pounds. They have a single comb, red earlobes and those famous double laced feathers that give off beautiful hues of iridescent green, violet and bronze. Georgia, my Barnevelder hen, is gorgeous with her dark brown feathers.

Barnevelders are known for being gentle, active and quiet and aren’t usually at the top of the pecking order. My Georgia is happy to keep to herself and hangs out with the lower ranking hens. They are winter hardy and can tolerate summer heat. While they do go broody they are generally easy to break from it if you need to.

Egg Production and Personality

The Barnevelder hen is a great layer producing around 180-200 dark brown eggs a year. Their chocolate eggs are one of the reasons they are so popular in backyard flocks. Their calm and friendly nature make them easy to handle and they are known to be nurturing even with young chicks. Barnevelder roosters are also gentle with many being known to help raise chicks—a rarity among chicken breeds!

Why You Should Get Barnevelders for Your Flock

If you want a breed that is gentle, great for eggs, and beautiful, I can’t recommend Barnevelders enough. They are calm, family-friendly, and add a unique color to the flock. Plus their dark brown eggs are a bonus! For me the egg basket full of various colors is one of the joys of raising chickens but the snuggles with my sweet Georgia make it all even better.

Life is Better with Chickens

Raising backyard chickens is so much fun and having multiple breeds just makes it even more so. When the backyard is full of chickens of every color life is complete. Our egg basket is beautiful full of colors and I love knowing we are feeding ourselves healthy food. Life is good – chickens make it better!

Are Barnevelder chickens reliable egg layers?
Barnevelder hens may not be the most prolific egg producers, but they are steady layers. They typically produce between 150 to 200 medium to large brown eggs annually. While this is less than what you might get from dedicated laying breeds like Leghorns or Anconas, it's a solid output for a breed valued for both eggs and meat.

What color eggs do Barnevelder hens produce?
Barnevelder hens lay a distinctive darker brown egg, making them a standout addition to any flock. These chickens are not only beautiful with their unique plumage but also have a calm and gentle demeanor, making them a great choice for families with children.

How long do Barnevelder chickens live?
Barnevelder chickens generally have a lifespan ranging from 6 to 12 years. They are cherished across the globe for their consistent egg-laying, good-quality meat, and striking appearance.

Are Barnevelder hens prone to aggression?
Barnevelder hens are known for their easygoing, friendly nature. They are so relaxed that some might consider them a bit lazy. However, this laid-back attitude is what makes them ideal backyard chickens, perfect for a stress-free environment.

Which chicken breed lays the largest eggs?
While Barnevelders are medium-sized birds weighing around 4.5 to 5 pounds at maturity, they are not the top layer of large eggs. The title for the largest eggs goes to the Minorca breed. However, Barnevelders still produce a good-sized egg, making them a versatile addition to any flock.

Is the Barnevelder considered a heritage breed?
Yes, the Barnevelder is indeed a heritage breed, prized for its lovely brown eggs and unique double-laced plumage with a beetle-green sheen. These hardy birds are excellent foragers and adapt well to confinement, though they thrive in free-range environments. They are a quiet, manageable breed, making them a valuable part of any preservation efforts.

Barnevelder Facts

• Poultry Show Class: Continental Class
  
• Weights: Hen—–6 lbs
  
• Rooster——7 lbs
  
• Pullet—-5 lbs
  
• Cockerel—–6 lbs
  
• Purpose and Type: Egg Laying; Exhibition
  
• Egg Shell Color: Dark Brown
  
• Egg Production: 150-200 eggs per year (estimates only, see FAQ)
  
• Egg Size: Large
  
• Temperament: Active
  
• Gender Accuracy: 80-85%
  
• Fertility Percentage: 65-80%
  
• Broody: Non Setter
  
• Mating Ratio: 7 Females to 1 Male
  
• Roost Height: 2 to 4 feet
  
• Country of Origin: Holland
  
• APA: Yes, Recognized by the American Standard of Perfection
  
• TLC: Not Listed
  
• BREEDER FARM SOURCE: Poultry Breeding Farm has been developing our bloodline/strain of pure Barnevelder chickens since 2008.