Barnevelder

Very pretty Breed, calm gets along with other breeds. Will be at the bottom of picking order.

The Barnvelders are a little skittish until they get use to you. Then they become mildly skittish. However this breed is as lovable as any other breed. They are great foragers and don't mind being confined if needed.The rooster is one of the prettiest birds I think I have ever seen. With copper and black mix the predominant colors several other colors can be seen when in the sun. I think i have counted about seven different colors on my rooster when he is in the sun. I haven't had the pleasure of having a hen hatch eggs and raise the chicks but I have heard that they are good mothers. I would recommend this breed to anyone as long as you can find them. Their not always that easy to find.

The best thing about Barnevelders may be the roosters. They are friendly to people, pets, etc. and to each other. I keep them in pairs or trios, they like each other; no fighting. The are also pretty easy on the hens; they don't mess up their feathers and they will help raise the young. The hens are great mothers and lay eggs nearly all winter long. Overall, the breed is docile, you will even notice that they are calmer then other breeds even as chicks. This makes them a great choice for families with children.

i really want this chicken

I had 3roosters and 3hens and they never fought. These birds would let me pick them up and hold them and they would also fly on my lap and sleep their. They were always very good birds. They amazed me how friendly they were because whenever I called them they would run right over and come visit. I would recommend this breed to anyone beginners or experts they are just wonderful birds all around. I also have had Rhode Island Reds which I had always swore by because they weren't a nasty breed compared to others that I have had but barnevelders I think are my number one now.

They are amazingly beautiful and great layers, they are the most friendly and tame birds I have, and my two are the best! Will be breeding some in the summer and will post pics of the adorable chicks!!

The two hens I had were purchased from a local lady that was moving house (England). They were 2 and a half years old, and in need of a new home. She had alot of other breeds, but these were so beautiful that they stole my vote immediately. Stunning lacing, yellow legs and very large and heavy. They are about the same size as my Brahma's. By far the most friendly hens and this surprised me, as they have come from a massive free range flock. I guess I have been used to raising flighty breeds, so it was a nice change.
I also liked the way they have there own sort of noice. Not a standard chicken noice. They are very verbal.
I also liked how brave they were when being introduced to my large flock, and how quickly they intergrated compared to the two Brahma's that I picked up at the same time.
All in all, very fun, friendly birds. If you have a family and want a big beautiful cuddley pet, two of these girls would set your backyard alight.

We have a small flock of 4 Barnvelder bantam girls (plus roosters that live elsewhere) that we adore. I've noticed several people mention that the Barneveders are not friendly but ours follow us around like puppies and are generally ok with being handled. I suppose I enjoy watching them more than handling them so maybe it's just perspective...

The girls have just started laying and I'm impressed that the eggs are already averaging 37g. Compared to larger breeds I find these birds to be very attractive, sweet, quiet, clean, easy on my yard and fun to be around. They really are beautiful and have been an excellent addition to our home. The 4 hens should reduce (but not entirely eliminate) our need for organic store bought eggs.

These are currently rare in the US and as such are expensive as well as hard to get. The effort and expense were well worth it for us though. We plan on expanding the flock and sticking with this lovely little breed once we move out of the city limits and have more space.

Well she is only a pullet but when we introduced our Ancona she was very nasty to her the poor girl. Other than that Dutchess the bird had been a absolute delight I hope that she will be a beautiful bird when she grows up

Sweet calm bird that is very pretty. Slow to mature but eggs are worth the wait

Honestly, they are great birds. We have 2 boys freeranging together and neither one has ever gotten the least bit aggressive with us and they are very polite to their girls as well. No missing feathers at all from mating. They dance and if the girl doesn't crouch they just go away and look for another girl. The dominant doesn't like the other one mating his women, but there has never been any blood. The girls are sweet but don't really enjoy being picked up and coddled too much. but they are friendly enough on the ground. I had a pair go broody and gave them some eggs and they did fine with them and teamed up to raise the chicks...They did develop a bit more of a backbone when protecting the chicks against the other hens but always allowed me to reach in and inspect them with complaint but no serious pecking.

I have hatched out about a dozen of them and they have been vigorous, healthy chicks that hatched a day early with good fertility. But my girls are from a completely different line than my boys so might have more hybrid vigor going on. my adults have been healthy as well. (knock wood)

Mine don't weigh enough to make a decent table bird, but seriously: who would want to eat them???

I have one darling Barnevelder, Hazel. She's a lovely bird, very skittish around me, however I think it's just her personality. Her eggs are a lovely chocolate brown colour . They're very curious! Hazel is like a little Houdini, she's an unstoppable force, whether it be constantly jumping on top of my coops or managing to squeeze herself into the smallest bush in my yard, she always keeps me on my toes!
Overall, a fabulous breed, I would definitely recommend them to any new chicken owners!

Barnevelders are the only breed I raise at this time. They are a beautiful breed and a joy to work with
Trisha

If you like the look of wyandottes, you'll love the look of Barnevelders. My Barnevelder is a great addition to my flock. She's very quiet (but when she does make noise she honks like a goose-hilarious!) and sweet to other chickens. She is sweet to us when she wants to be around, but she tends to be pretty aloof and doesn't enjoy socializing too much. My only complaint is that she is the only one of my girls who isn't laying yet and they're 8 months old. Holding out hope for springtime, though! In all, I would definitely get this breed again and would recommend them to anyone.

Love them - just starting to breed them. They are very big in New Zealand

A Barnevelders beauty is exquisite! The double lacing is AMAZING on the hens and the roosters are just as stunning in all of their glory. Aside from their beauty they are fantastically calm and friendly birds. The beauty of the Barnevelder egg is quite something as well. All around great birds!!!!

I HIGHLY recommend this breed. Some people mentioned in their reviews that a lot of the chicks died, that they're skiddish, that they don't bear as well with illness, etc, but really it depends on who you get them from, and each bird, no matter the breed, breeder, or how good/bad you treat them, will have it's own personality, whether it's bolder or skiddish. My breeder personally works very hard on making sure her birds are healthy, and friendly, she hand feeds the chickens she'll be selling all the time. I myself have never seen any signs of them being sick, nor have they ever shyed away, they love the attention.
I myself spend a little too much time socializing with my chickens, even sitting them on my lap while I read. Whenever I go outside to check on them, feed them, etc, I always call "chickie chickie chicke" in a very high pitched voice, letting them know it's me, and that they'll probably get a treat. I recommend this if you want your flock to come running in your direction, not the other way.
If you're interested in Barnevelder's from my breeder here's the link: http://northwoodspoultry.com/blue-double-laced-barnevelder.htm
(Although she does not have Splash listed as an option, if you want one, just mention it to her when ordering chickens and she'd be happy to throw one in.)

I currently only own 2 barnevelder pullets, who have long way to go before I can see if their egg color will be the dark color every expects or not, and to see their glorious filled out bodies.
It's just a shame that in the U.S only Double Laced Partridge is a recognized variety, I really wanted to show my blue barnevedler, since she has beautiful vibrant yellow legs, the broad chest, full body, the correct tail, everything the breed requires, EXCEPT.. these beautiful colors aren't recognized (although I see more commonly blue and black double laced vs double laced partridge, but what can you do?)


My Splash Barnevelder Poulet, Doodle:

I don't know why people aren't as fond of this variety, when she's finished growing she will be an absolute beauty!
Her build (compared to my Blue Barnie) was a little less filled out in this photo, but recently she's been catching up to her sister!
(That pose though)

My Blue Double Laced Barnevelder, Archer:

Archer is currently in the process of her feathers base color changing from black to blue. I recently thought I prefereed the black more, but I think she'll be just as stunning blue.
(Though I do plan to go back to my breeder for a black pullet this time, since I raised these guys from chicks and had no idea what color Archer would be).


Archer is deifienty the bolder of the two, Doodle being the sneaky one. I love watching the two, Archer will snatch the food right from my hand and then Doodle will run in from behind and steal it.
I HIGHLY recommend this breed. Some people mentioned in their reviews that a lot of the chicks died, that they're skiddish, that they don't bear as well with illness, etc, but really it depends on who you get them from, and each bird, no matter the breed, breeder, or how good/bad you treat them, will have it's own personality, whether it's bolder or skiddish.

I have one hen in a mixed flock of seven chickens, and my aunt has her sister. Before I got my rooster, my Barnevelder hen was the boss lady. Yes, they seem to be "softer" and non-agressive, however mine for whatever reason took the top spot on the pecking order and would lead the others around the yard when out free ranging. Very friendly bird, lets me pick her up and handle her. Lovely soft vocals, and never a loud or obnoxious "egg song". Her eggs are not the sought after dark brown eggs, but they are instead light brown with beautiful dark speckles. Nonetheless, they are HUGE eggs and I get complements on them when I give away eggs.