Barnavelder and Red Araucana

[julie62]

Anyone got either of the above chooks. I've just ordered two pullets (yes I know I wasnt getting anymore this year ) that will be ready at the end of the month.

Any thoughts - I wanted blue eggs from the araucana and the lady said that the barnavelder are good layers too?

[mariat]

I can't give you any info, but I've just asked about Barnevelders too, so I'm interested to read your replies. Do you mind if I ask whereabouts you are? I've yet to find a Barnevelder breeder round here (in Norfolk).

[julie62]

I'm in the north west I'm afraid - the lady who breeds them is in Cheshire - so a long way from you

[manda]

I know someone who has Barnvelders another who breeds Araucana's (not red ones but Araucana's all the same)... specifically whole flock of them (they've specialised...and love them...but don't have any experience of them myself ....yet

[HazellB]

I've got both.

Barnevelders are okay layers, though nothing like as good as RIR or Marans, so don't get your hopes up too high. They're nice healthy birds with a nice nature, though can eat like starving Labradors! Mine are quite elderly now and lay perhaps once a week, but at best did four eggs in the high season. Don't believe the "winter layers" myth about them - it's something you read but nobody who's kept them believes it.

I've got assorted Aruacanas as a friend breeds them to show and I get her 'seconds' that have come out the wrong colour. They're great birds, though smaller than most of my other large flock. Mine are mainly young so laying very well on the whole. This seriously slows with age I'm told. They are cheerful, healthy and very easy to please so long as they have room to dash about like lunatics. I'd say they'd be miserable in small spaces, though that may just be the bloodlines I have.
Only problem to report in Aras is the head feathers can hide mites, but as we have other birds who harbour mites far worse it's made no difference to my way of keeping them.
I love the khaki coloured eggs some lay, but they also come in green matt, pale green gloss and blue-ish green gloss. Sisters will produce very different egg colours - don't assume you'll get what you want colour-wise

[julie62]

Very useful info thank you - they are kept in a run most of the time but it's a decent size so hopefully they'll be OK. Not too worried on the eggs front - I always feel sorry for the ones that lay everyday - I think I'd rather they laid less and had a longer healthier life if that makes sense

[HazellB]

Me too on the egg front. Bluebell once said there's only so many eggs in every hen and what's the point in rushing them out? I have to say they are about the wisest words I've heard from a hen keeper

[Hintza]

I've got one Barnevelder (8-9 months now) which I was hoping to take to the local show but she has dropped a wing. Nice bird, not hugely friendly but not too skittish, nice medium sized eggs which if I can find 3 suitable ones before the village show in September I fancy entering over all my others.