Decoding the Barnevelder palette. Exploring the common and rare colours of these pretty chickens.

The colour options for Barnevelder chickens are more diverse than you might think! There are 13 colours of Barnevelder spread across both the patterned and solid types. 

While the most common and recognisable variety is the double-laced brown (also known as chestnut), there are several other stunning colours available to chicken keepers.

Below: Here is the very rare Silver Blue Barnevelder. This distinctive type has had the black in the feathers replaced with blue.

It is very difficult to get clear definition in the feather pattern. It took me around 11 years before I saw show success with Barnevelder chickens.

The partridge was the original colour and the laced varieties weren't popular until the 1930's.

Recognised standard colours:

• Double-Laced Brown (Chestnut in the UK): This is the most popular variety, featuring reddish-brown hens with black double lacing on their feathers and black heads. Roosters have a simpler black plumage with red/brown highlights.
• Double Laced Silver: Featuring silvery-Gray feathers with black lacing, creating a shimmering effect.
• Double-Laced Blue: Similar to the brown, but with a blue-grey base instead of brown, creating a stunning blue and black lace appearance.
• Black: A solid black variety for both hens and roosters, showcasing their elegant form and iridescent sheen.
• White: Pure white with no markings, offering a clean and classic look.
• Brown: Mostly found in Europe. I have never seen these in the UK

I have kept and bred most of the patterned types over the years, I never felt drawn to the solid colours.

Below: A montage of the colours of Barnevelder I have kept and shown since 1996 when I started with them.

Other accepted colours that are not recognised universally:

• Silver-Blue Double Laced: Combines the black head and chest of the black variety with silver and black lacing on the body.
• Blue Splash: A mix of black and white feathers with splashes of blue, resulting in a unique and eye-catching pattern.
• Gold Laced: A single laced type with a deeper gold brown base colour.
• Chamois: A rare variety with light brown to buff feathers and darker brown markings, resembling a fawn.
• Partridge: Another rare variety with intricate brown, black, and cream feathering, mimicking the wild partridge bird.
• Isabel: Another rare colour with cream to light brown feathers and some darker brown markings.
• Autosexing Barred: This is a barred rather than laced type in which the offspring can be colour sexed upon hatching.

Each colour variety of Barnevelder adds its own unique charm to a flock, and chicken keepers often enjoy raising these birds for their distinctive and eye-catching plumage.

Breed standards for accepted colours may vary depending on the country or organisation.

Below: Three of my large fowl Barnevlder hens.

Not all breeders offer all colour varieties, so availability may be limited.
Some colours are rarer and more expensive than others.