Barnevelder
Gallus gallus domesticus
✨ Fun Fact
Barneveld became the centre of Dutch egg production thanks to the Barnevelder — the village still calls itself the 'Egg City' and hosts the annual EggCity festival.
A celebrated Dutch breed from the village of Barneveld in Gelderland, developed in the early 20th century to produce the darkest brown eggs of any commercially viable breed. Barnevelders combine the Asian blood of Brahmas and Cochins with local Dutch farm birds, producing a handsome double-laced brown plumage in hens and a rich beetle-green black in cocks. They are calm, easily tamed, and well-suited to free-range or garden keeping.
🏷️ Breed
Barnevelder
💭 Temperament
Calm, docile, friendly, good with children, active forager
📏 Size
Large (2.7-3.6 kg)
⏳ Lifespan
5-8 years
🎨 Colors
Hens: rich brown with double lacing; Cocks: black with beetle-green sheen
🌍 Origin
Netherlands — Barneveld, Gelderland; developed 1900–1920s
🏠 Habitat
Free-range or enclosed run; cold-hardy breed
🍽️ Diet
Layer pellets; good forager — supplements with insects and seeds
🎯 Purpose
Dual Purpose
🥚 Egg Colour
Dark Brown
👑 Comb Type
Single
🏅 EE Class
Large Fowl