A lovely breed. They are lighter in weight than the large sussex and australorp making them more economical to keep. They were breed in Holland for both egg and meat purposes, but now days are kept for the rich brown eggs that they lay.
The birds are beautifully marked, with dark brown-black being the under colour with a gold trim to each feather, truly eyecatching. Barnevalders are a little more flighty that other large utility breeds.
Pros and Cons of Barnevelders
| PROS |
CONS |
| Small
breed, but still laying a nice large egg. |
Can
be a bit aloof. |
| Do
not go broody often. |
Not good mother |
| Stunning
looking birds |
|
| Very economical feed to egg
laying ratio. |
Price and Availability of Barnevelders
| Age |
Price | Availability |
| Day old - 2 weeks UNSEXED |
$8.00 |
Most of the year |
| 2 weeks to 5 weeks old UNSEXED |
$10.00 |
Most of the year |
| 6 weeks old SEXED Best time to buy |
$15.00 . |
Most of the year |
 |
Young laying Barnevelder Hen |
 |
Close up of lacing on back and wing
|