Barnevelder photo: Air55 (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Wyandotte photo: ripperda (CC BY 2.0) · via Wikimedia Commons
Barnevelder vs Wyandotte
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
The Wyandotte is the stronger layer — about 180–240 eggs a year against the Barnevelder's 150–200.
The Barnevelder lays dark brown eggs; the Wyandotte lays brown.
Both dual purpose birdsBoth cold-hardyBoth beginner-friendlyBoth calm and easy to handle
Choose the Barnevelder if you want…
- Dark brown eggs for the basket
- Rarely quits laying to sit on eggs
Choose the Wyandotte if you want…
- More eggs — up to 240 a year
- More likely to go broody and mother chicks
Side by side
| Trait | Barnevelder | Wyandotte |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Dual purpose | Dual purpose |
| Eggs per year | 150–200 | ✓180–240 |
| Egg color | Dark brown | Brown |
| Egg size | Large | Large |
| Hen weight | 5–6.5 lbs | 6–7 lbs |
| Temperament | Calm and friendly | Calm and confident |
| 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 or Wyandotte — 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.
