Breed profile
Barnevelder
The Dutch breed built around a dark brown egg. Barnevelders took shape in the Gelderland town of Barneveld nearly two centuries ago, from imported Asian fowl over local Dutch birds, and the double-laced plumage plus the mahogany shell made the breed's name. Production is mid-range — hatchery estimates run 150-200 a year, the Aviculture Europe citation 175-200 at 60-65 grams — but the shell color and the winter consistency are the draw: they keep laying well through winter, a trait the Langshan cross contributed.
The egg numbers
| Eggs per year (first laying year) | 150–200 |
|---|---|
| In-lay rate | ≈3–4 a week |
| Egg weight | 60–65 g |
| Strain note | One hatchery: 150-200. The Aviculture Europe citation: 175-200 at about 60-65 g each. Another line: 3-5 dark brown eggs a week. |
| Egg color | dark brown |
| Egg size | large |
| Starts laying | 20–24 weeks |
| Winter laying | strong |
Body and climate
| Form | standard |
|---|---|
| Strain | heritage |
| APA class | Continental |
| Comb | single |
| Leg feathering | clean |
| Leg color | yellow |
| Distinguishing features | double-laced plumage — the variety the Dutch club centers on · dark brown eggs — the trait the breed was built around |
| Bird size | large |
| Skin color | yellow |
| Recognized varieties | The Dutch club recognises double-laced, double-laced blue, black and white; the UK adds double-laced brown and silver; the Entente Européenne adds blue and partridge. |
| Weeks to maturity | 28 |
| Mature hen weight | 6 lb |
| Mature rooster weight | 7 lb |
| Cold hardiness | good |
| Heat tolerance | good |
| Climate note | One table grades cold and heat tolerance both 'better'; another combined field reads Hardy in all climates; the winter production is credited to the breed's Langshan ancestry — 'continue to lay well during winter'. |
Character
| Temperament | Quiet, gentle, independent — content in a small backyard flock but thriving when allowed to forage. One page: friendly, calm. Another's spec field says Active while its own prose calls them quiet and calm; we publish both. |
|---|---|
| Disposition | better |
| Free range | excellent |
| Meat production | poor |
| Broodiness | low |
| Broody note | Sources split: one table says 'somewhat likely' while others read Broody: No and 'Non Setter' — plan on the incubator if chicks are the goal. |
| Good first breed | Yes |
What this means for your setup
The one planning item that catches people: maturity runs slow. One spec table lists 28 weeks and its prose warns they 'can take longer to reach laying than other breeds' — another structured field claims 20-24 weeks, so budget for the slower end. Temperament is confinement-tolerant but the free-range grade is excellent; give run or garden access and the breed shows its best side. Broodiness ratings conflict across hatcheries, so chicks come from an incubator on any plan that matters.
Gear that fits this breed
Coop Size Calculator
turn 6-lb hens into coop, run and roost numbers
Egg Calculator
turn the 150–200 egg-a-year range into a hen count
Best Heated Waterers
strong winter laying only pays off if the water isn't frozen
How Much Space Chickens Need
heavy fowl are the reason the generous end of the space math exists
Barnevelder FAQ
How many eggs do Barnevelders lay a year?
Estimates run 150-200; the Aviculture Europe figure is 175-200 at about 60-65 g per egg; one line lays 3-5 dark brown eggs a week.
Why is my Barnevelder slow to start laying?
That's the breed. One spec table lists 28 weeks to maturity and its prose warns Barnevelders are slow to mature and 'can take longer to reach laying than other breeds'. Another field says 20-24 weeks; the honest plan assumes the later end.
What color are Barnevelder eggs?
Dark brown — the trait the breed was built around. The tables list the shell as Dark Brown and the prose promises 'large dark brown eggs'. Shade varies by line; it is not the near-black of a show Marans egg.
Do Barnevelders lay in winter?
Yes — they continue to lay well during winter, a trait credited to the Langshan ancestry, and it's why cold-climate keepers put up with the slow start.