4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Cinnamon]

Right-O, I am looking to add to my flock again

 

Hen #1 is a White Star to 'replace' my dear lost Lily...thats a given.

 

Hen #2 I am flexible on,but want something that is pretty & lays dark brown eggs.

 

I like the look of the Barnvelder, as its got great colouring,but how dark will the eggs be & what sort of hen are they in temperment?

I know Marans lay dark eggs, but I can't get a Wheaten Maran anywhere,already have a French Maran whose eggs are darkish but not deep brown & don't really like the colouring of the English Maran.

[Cooks]

http://www.freewebs.com/professorchickensbreeds/barnevelder.htm

 

if you scroll down on here theres a picture of the egg colour.. seems quite dark.

[Cinnamon]

Thanks - they do look dark in the photo,don't they?

 

Anyone got any first hand experience?

OR,how about Burford Browns - I saw some of their eggs in Waitrose & they looked amazing!

[The Dogmother]

I have a barnevelder bantam that we hatched a couple of years ago, she started off laying mid brown eggs, but they're beige now. She's a spectacular hen though and a lovely character too.

 

I'd like dark brown eggs too - Lesley has some lovely ones. A Marans would be a good bet for dark eggs.

[Cinnamon]

Not keen on English marans though - I don't like their colouring

 

Might look into Welsummers too

[bronze]

Yes I hatched out a barnevelder and the eggs were definitely not that dark. Range from light to mid brown

[Phosphorus]

Thanks - they do look dark in the photo,don't they?

 

Anyone got any first hand experience?

OR,how about Burford Browns - I saw some of their eggs in Waitrose & they looked amazing!

 

Ooh don't - I've bought a couple of packs of these over the last few weeks, whilst waiting for my girls to get going. The colours are gorgeous

[MadMitch]

I have a Wellsummer, not laying yet as still a baby. They lay dark brown eggs and she is a pretty girl.

[CockADoodleDoo]

what about a copper maran, they look a bit like pepperpots but lay eggs as dark as wheaten marans

[Christian]

I had originally wanted a Barnevelder CInnamon, but had real trouble finding them in the area. You know where I ended up

 

Good luck finding one.

[Troy]

If you are looking for dark eggs like the marans a welsummer is probably the way to go. They are a lovely dark colour with darker speckles on them. Even the bantam version of this large breed lays fairly generous sized eggs and they also have beautiful plummage and are very friendly and calm. Barnevelders are gorgeous too and do very well on a free range system but their eggs though mostly darkish do change to a lighter beige.

Good luck with your decision!

Troy

[moomin]

I have a Barnevelder, I got her from Simon at the Garden Hen in Windsor - so nearish to you.

 

http://www.thegardenhen.co.uk/

 

She is beautiful, her feathering is to die for. A very pretty chicken. She was a bit pecked when I got her but her feathers soon grew back and now she is getting huge, a nice character but not that easy to pick up yet. She runs waway and is very quick! It's probably down to my inexperience that I can't catch her, she's getting wise to me!! A lovely character though, I'm very pleased I got her.

 

No idea about the eggs - not laying yet as she's only about 14 weeks old but they are supposed to be fairly dark brown

[superjules]

Oooh, how exciting - I love chicken shopping.

 

I'd go for a welsummer. They are beautiful looking when they eventually grow all their feathers and they lay lovely dark eggs. I don't have one but I was sorely tempted when I got the bantams - but welsummers get pretty big and I couldn't spare the room. I may get some bantam versions eventually though.

[Cinnamon]

I have a Barnevelder, I got her from Simon at the Garden Hen in Windsor - so nearish to you.

 

 

All my pure breeds usually come from Simon

 

I think I have decided on the Welsummer - its the look of hen that I like.

 

Watch this space!

[Lindy Loo]

I collected a Barnvelder from Simon at the Garden Hen last weekend. I originally decided on a Welsummer but after telling Simon I wanted a reliable layer of really dark brown eggs he suggested a Barnvelder.

 

I didn't know he did Polands - my son wants a couple for his birthday...I feel another 'phone call coming on!

[ubereglu]

Hiya Sarah,

 

I have my lovely barnevelder Spice. She's a bit of a heffalump for her size-she's quite small really, but that's down to the fact she was growing over winter and this is the effect of it.

 

She lays me about 5 to 6, light cocoa in colour, eggs a week, although the odd day it does vary and we've had some lovely speckled ones recently, but she is completely gorgeous. However they have quite short legs for there size and get a bit tired every so often and need a rest Mind you it's quite funny seeing her walk down the steps off the patio as her fluffy knickers hit the step!

 

She's alright temprament wise, but not the easiest to pick up unless she's cornered or has no way of escaping.

 

Here's a picture of her:

and of her first egg: