Is the Barnevelder or Black Copper Marans a better egg layer?

The Barnevelder lays about 150–200 eggs a year; the Black Copper Marans lays about 150–200. On eggs it's close — expect roughly 150–200 a year from the Barnevelder and 150–200 from the Black Copper Marans.

Barnevelder vs Black Copper Marans — which is better for beginners?

Both the Barnevelder and the Black Copper Marans are beginner-friendly and forgiving of first-time mistakes.

Barnevelder photo: Air55 (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Black Copper Marans photo: seppingsR (CC BY 2.0) · via Wikimedia Commons

Barnevelder vs Black Copper Marans

Two backyard favorites, side by side — egg production, temperament, size, and hardiness, straight from our breed data. Here's how to choose.

The quick verdict

On eggs it's close — expect roughly 150–200 a year from the Barnevelder and 150–200 from the Black Copper Marans.

The Barnevelder lays dark brown eggs; the Black Copper Marans lays chocolate brown.

Both dual purpose birdsBoth cold-hardyBoth beginner-friendlyBoth calm and easy to handle

Choose the Barnevelder if you want…

Rarely quits laying to sit on eggs

Full Barnevelder profile →

Choose the Black Copper Marans if you want…

More likely to go broody and mother chicks

Full Black Copper Marans profile →

Side by side

Trait	Barnevelder	Black Copper Marans
Purpose	Dual purpose	Dual purpose
Eggs per year	150–200	150–200
Egg color	Dark brown	Chocolate brown
Egg size	Large	Large
Hen weight	5–6.5 lbs	6–7 lbs
Temperament	Calm and friendly	Gentle and quiet
Cold hardy	Yes	Yes
Heat tolerant	No	No
Broodiness	Rarely broody	Sometimes broody
Beginner friendly	Yes	Yes

Egg counts are healthy-hen peaks; real numbers dip in winter, during molt, and as a hen ages. Size a coop for either bird with our coop size calculator.

More head-to-heads

Barnevelder vs Welsummer Black Copper Marans vs Welsummer

Or browse every comparison · see all 50 breeds

Barnevelder or Black Copper Marans — track whichever you pick

Give every bird a profile in PoultryPal, log their eggs and weight, and let the app show you which hen is really your best layer. Free on iOS and Android.