🐓 The A–Z of Chicken Breeds: Barnevelder

Looking for a hen that’s both stylish and practical? Meet the Barnevelder – the Dutch darling famous for her glossy feathers and beautiful brown eggs. She’s proof that you can have both brains and beauty in the chicken world.

🌍 Where Do They Come From?

The Barnevelder was created around 1913 in the Dutch town of (you guessed it) Barneveld, just east of Utrecht. Local breeders wanted a hardy chicken that laid lots of brown eggs – and they certainly succeeded!

By the 1920s, the breed was making waves abroad. The British Barnevelder Club formed in 1922, gathering feathers from the best birds across the UK and the Netherlands to create a proper breed standard. This was officially recognized in 1923 by the Poultry Club of Great Britain.

America took a little longer to catch on, finally adding Barnevelders to the American Standard of Perfection in 1991. Better late than never, right? 🇺🇸🐔

🥚 Egg Stats

• Uses: Utility – primarily egg laying

• Eggs per year: 180–230 lovely brown eggs

• Fun fact: Their eggs are known for being especially attractive – think rich, chocolatey shades that stand out in any egg basket. 🍫🥚

✨ Feathers & Flair

Barnevelders are best known for their Double Laced plumage – striking feathers edged in contrasting colors that look like nature’s own embroidery. This variety is the only one standardized in both the Netherlands and America, and it’s also the most popular in the UK today.

Other colors include:

• Black

• Silver

• Partridge (sadly now extinct)

⚖️ Size Guide

• Cock: 3.2–3.6 kg

• Hen: 2.7–3.2 kg

• Bantam Cock: 910 g

• Bantam Hen: 740 g

So, whether you want full-size elegance or a bantam beauty, there’s a Barnevelder for you.

🌟 Why Keep Barnevelders?

✔ Steady layers of attractive brown eggs
✔ Gorgeous, eye-catching plumage (especially the Double Laced)
✔ A breed with both history and charm
✔ Available in both large fowl and bantam sizes

✨ In short, Barnevelders bring a little Dutch elegance to the backyard. If you want a chicken that’s as photogenic as it is productive, this breed might just win your heart – and your egg basket!