I have 6 Barnies, they did start laying at about 28 weeks, but that is not an issue with me. Most of my poultry did. They don't lay the really dark eggs, but they are large, dark brown and some of them speckled, pretty just the same. I had 2 of them go broodie, I couldn't get her off the nest and thought she may die, so I gave her 2 chicks to raise. She has been a pretty good mom, a little to aloof at times, leaving them to go snack on a treat, she would call them, but at the same time left them by themselves. That worries me a tad when she is around the other hens. She also will back down if confronted to much. So she is a bit on the weaker side. But I can go and pick up the chicks w/o worrying she will attack me. My other one I gave some fertile eggs to, so we will see how she does with the chicks. They aren't super friendly, they will come when called or just when I go out, but dont get close enough to pick up, but I don't mind that. My Specks get under my feet so bad I've almost fell by them tripping me! This is a breed I am considering keeping, getting a rooster and raising just this breed(although I have to keep an EE or 2, just love them). They don't lay like a sexlink or other layer specific hen, but they are pretty consistent about every other day and sometimes daily. They don't seem to get as hot as my Specks or EE's. I live in Central TX and it gets hot. My EE's seem to suffer the most. So that is a plus for me. And being a fairly small backyard chicken home, I like the idea of nicer Roo's.
All in all they pretty much fit almost everything I am looking for.
All in all they pretty much fit almost everything I am looking for.