Barnevelder
Dual purposeNetherlandsBeginner friendly
The Barnevelder was bred around the Dutch town of Barneveld to supply dark brown eggs to a demanding market, and it still delivers handsome chocolate-toned eggs today. The hens are quiet, steady, and famously beautiful, each feather traced with double lacing like fine penwork.
Eggs per year
150–200
Egg color
Dark brown
Egg size
Large
Hen weight
5–6.5 lbs
Temperament
Calm and friendly
Broodiness
Rarely goes broody
Did you know?
Barneveld remains such a poultry hub that the Dutch use the town's name as shorthand for the egg industry itself.
Barnevelder egg production
Expect roughly 150–200 dark brown eggs a year from a Barnevelder in her prime — about 3–4 a week, or 13–17 dozen over the course of a year. That makes it a solid, dependable layer. Production naturally dips during the annual molt and the short days of winter, and eases off as a hen ages past her second or third year. Most pullets lay their first egg somewhere between five and eight months old.
Temperament & handling
The Barnevelder is generally described as calm and friendly. These are calm, people-oriented birds that tolerate handling well and settle into a backyard flock without much fuss — a big part of why they're such a common first breed.
Climate & care
Rated cold-hardy, the Barnevelder rides out hard winters well as long as the coop stays dry and draft-free — keep drinking water from freezing and watch combs and wattles for frostbite in a deep freeze. It can struggle in extreme heat, so prioritise deep shade, ventilation, and cool water through the hottest part of summer.
Broodiness & raising chicks
Barnevelderhens rarely go broody, which keeps the eggs coming but means they won't usually raise their own chicks. To hatch, you'll want an incubator — our incubation calculator tracks every step.
Space & feeding
A Barnevelder hen is a medium-sized bird at 5–6.5 lbs. As a rule of thumb, a small flock of 6 would want around 24 sq ft of coop and 60 sq ft of run, with about 2 nest boxes and 5 ft of roost. Size it to your own flock with the coop size calculator, and estimate the monthly feed bill — and your real cost per egg — with the feed cost calculator.
Is the Barnevelder right for you?
A great fit if…
- You want a dependable supply of eggs
- You're new to chickens and want a forgiving bird
- You want a calm bird that's good around children
- You'd like dark brown eggs in the basket
- You want both eggs and a solid table bird
Think twice if…
- You're in an extreme-heat climate
- You want the absolute maximum egg output
Barnevelder FAQ
- How many eggs do Barnevelder chickens lay?
- A healthy Barnevelder hen lays about 150–200 dark brown eggs a year — roughly 3–4 a week, or 13–17 dozen over a year. Output drops during winter and the annual molt, and eases as a hen ages.
- What color eggs do Barnevelders lay?
- Barnevelders lay dark brown eggs, large in size.
- How big do Barnevelder chickens get?
- A Barnevelder hen weighs roughly 5–6.5 lbs — a medium-sized bird — with roosters running a little heavier.
- Are Barnevelders cold-hardy?
- Yes. The Barnevelder is rated cold-hardy and rides out hard winters well, provided the coop stays dry and draft-free. Keep water from freezing and check combs and wattles for frostbite in a deep freeze.
- Are Barnevelders good for beginners?
- Yes. The Barnevelder is a forgiving, calm and friendly breed that suits first-time keepers well.
- Do Barnevelder hens go broody?
- Rarely. Barnevelder hens seldom go broody, so they keep laying steadily but won't usually hatch their own chicks.
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