barnevelder breed

samanthahobbs · **Posted:** Sun Jun 24, 2012 2:18 pm

I saw some photos of Member "Johs" Barnies
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=18321&start=50
beautiful hens.

Johs (and anyone who has experience / knowledge with this breed) would you agree with info below?
particularly I am interested in how they described the breed as shying away from human contact. Do you find that to be true in your experience?
Do you have a mixed flock?
What weather temp levels do they tolerate? The info says they are less cold hardy.

The following info is from Hendersons chicken breed chart;
http://www.ithaca.edu/staff/jhenderson/ ... hooks.html

"Double-laced, Blue-laced, White, Black, others

Dual Purpose
Developed in late 19th century and early 20th century in Holland for dark egg laying. Developed from an older local variety that may date as early as the 12th century. In recent history, some strains have been bred for show and others for the darkness of their eggs.

less cold hardy;
developed in region known for damp conditions
slow to mature,
& some chicks can be easily bullied
well adaptable to confinement or free range; calm, docile

Our Birds: ours fit in well with the flock, but shied away with human contact. Ours laid reddish brown eggs, but most were not especially dark. None currently in our flock, we will likely try them again.

Famous for large dark brown eggs."

Although I have just experienced the loss of my girls from fox attack, and I still feel sick and devastated, I think I will eventually have chickies again.
I have found an enormous amount of support from this forum. I really enjoy reading many of the topics.
My girls were given to me when a friend moved and couldn't take them with her.
Next time I would like to be able to research breeds and raise them myself.
I want hens that lay less often, and over a longer time period. I don't want their little bodies hammered for a couple of years with mass egg production, like Isa Browns.
It seemed that by 18 months - 2 yrs of age they were sick or dead (two of my girls were dead from illness prior to the fox attack.)
I don't just want egg producers, I adore chickens as pets.

cassnboys · **Posted:** Sun Jun 24, 2012 6:03 pm

Hi Sam,

I have absolutely NO idea about any of that, but aren't they GORGEOUS! Going on other things I've read on this topic from this forum, if you have them from early on and handle them, I don't think they will know any different. And does each individual chookis have it's own personality to boot?!

I must say it is very pleasing to hear you talking about bringing some feathered love back into your world. You sound like a fair dinkum genuine animal lover with a lot to give [smilie=a_smitten.gif]

Birdin · **Joined:** Tue Jun 26, 2012 8:05 am **Posts:** 4

I would like a few of the double laced but finding it hard to buy them are they a rare breed in victoria or is it all of aust that they are hard to buy?

kelliecat · **Posted:** Tue Jun 26, 2012 2:52 pm

I found it easy to get in qld, but if you have trouble, you can buy fertilized eggs and most places ship all around australia.

Petite Poulet · **Joined:** Thu Jun 09, 2011 7:17 pm **Posts:** 5219

Birdin wrote:

I would like a few of the double laced but finding it hard to buy them are they a rare breed in victoria or is it all of aust that they are hard to buy?

I have heard that these breeders have an excellent reputation in Victoria.

http://www.mapleridgebarnevelder.com/

Being off season many pure and or rare breeds are difficult to obtain.

johs · **Posted:** Wed Jun 27, 2012 12:55 am

They are beautiful girls Sam. :-D

Let me see if I can answer your questions.
Flock type - I have a mixed flock (details in signature) The Barnies, Australorps and Araucana seem less inclined to argue. They are the youngest.
Less cold hardy - I haven't noticed them being any more or less cold hardy than the other girls. They are usually the last to go to bed but I think that is because they were the youngest and lowest in the pecking order and it's less hassle to go to bed when the older crabbier girls are settled. :-?

Damp conditions - they do seem to enjoy foraging in puddles and rain while almost everyone else stay under cover.
Standoffish - This is a tricky one. I don't handle them as much as I probably should. [smilie=a_doh.gif]

They will eat out of my hand so they are friendly. I think if you spent more time with them when young (mine were raised by a broody) they would be a lot better.
Laying - They lay quite well. Laid longer into the cold weather and one has already started again. My three all went broody but were persuaded to stop without too much hassle. It took varying amounts of time. They do indeed lay large brown eggs.

When you're ready for chickens again I think they would make a great choice. :-D

If you want a breed with real personality, my older Araucana is a cheeky little so and so. They all have their individual little quirks.

If I can ever get some land where it won't matter if I have noisy roosters I'm definitely going to look for a Barnie rooster for the girls. ...and a rock rooster...and....

Petite Poulet · **Joined:** Thu Jun 09, 2011 7:17 pm **Posts:** 5219

Araucana's are definately chooks with attitude and great personalities, very hardy and lay pretty blue eggs!

I'd like to live on a farm too, far away from pesky neighbours, and have chooks, chooks and more chooks [smilie=a_dreaming.gif]

Ian Clayton · **Posted:** Sat Jun 30, 2012 1:22 pm

Hi

Got a nice surprise today, our first Barnevelder Pullet egg, it's a lovely deep chocolate brown colour just like we where hopeing for. It was quite some time in the makeing, I bought 6 pullets on the 14th Feb 2012 at 12 weeks old. We have lost 3 to suspected Maraks Disease so maybe the disease maybe the reason for the length of time it as taken for them to come into lay (32 weeks).

I have also just put eight mixed breed eggs under a broody hen so should have some little ones about the 14th July.

Ian

samanthahobbs · **Posted:** Sat Jun 30, 2012 7:27 pm

That's exciting Congrats Ian. You must let us know what happens on or around the 14 th July.

congt334

Ian Clayton · **Posted:** Tue Jul 17, 2012 11:41 am

Hi Samantha

We have four mixed breed chickens from the brood, one yellow, one black, one light brown and one dark brown. It will be interesting to see how they grow out. We lost one black chick that got squashed in the hatching process and three eggs infertile.

Regards

Ian

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