lakenvelder chicken

Guide To Lakenvelder Chicken Care

The Lakenvelder chicken is a beautiful, distinct breed that originates from Holland and Germany. It has a striking black and white patterned feathering, with glossy black feathers on the head, neck, and wings, and white feathers covering the body. The patterning of the feathers resembles lace, which is where the breed gets its name. The breed is also known for its quiet, docile temperament, making it a great choice for both backyard farmers and those looking for a pet chicken. Lakenvelders have a medium-sized frame and are average egg layers. They are also very hardy, able to handle both hot and cold weather, and are considered to be a great breed for free-range environments.

Where do Lakenvelder Chickens come from?

The history of Lakenvelder chickens dates back to the 17th century in Holland, where they were first bred for their striking black and white color pattern. They were originally bred as a dual-purpose breed, which meant they were good for both egg-laying and meat production. Today, there are substantially more productive breeds of chicken that grow to a larger size and lay more eggs than the Lakenvelder.

The Lakenvelder is a very hardy and active breed and is known for its friendly and curious personality. A word of caution though: Lakenvelder chickens like wide-open spaces. They don’t handle confinement very well. They are good foragers and like to have lots of room to roam.

Are Lakenvelder Chickens rare?

Lakenvelder chickens are considered to be a rare breed. They are mostly kept for ornamental purposes, as many other dual-purpose chickens are substantially more productive. Despite being rare, they are pretty easy to come by. Several major hatcheries sell their chickens and fertilized eggs, though they are a bit more expensive than other, more common breeds of chicken.

How many eggs do they lay?

Lakenvelder Chickens are average egg-laying birds, with an average of 150 to 200 small white eggs laid per year. This is a substantially lower number of eggs compared to more productive breeds and hybrids, like the Novogen chicken. Most Lakenvelder enthusiasts keep them for their interesting appearance and beautiful plumage, but they will lay an average number of eggs per year. Lakenvelders are smaller chickens with roosters weighing up to 5.5 pounds, much smaller than many varieties of table chicken.

What do Lakenvelder chicks look like?

Lakenvelder chicks

No two Lakenvelder chicks look quite alike. When they first hatch, they have splotches of black, white, and grey down in random parts of their bodies. Their bears are grey or black, and their talons are dark grey. As they grow up, they begin to develop feathers that are colored like adults, with glossy black feathers on the head, neck, back and wings, and white feathers with black spots on the rest of their bodies.

Where to get Lakenvelder Chickens

Lakenvelder aren’t the most common or popular chickens, but they can be purchased from a number of large hatcheries inside of the United States. Searching around for Lakenvelder chicks or hatching eggs will be your best bet. It’s important to purchase from reputable hatcheries. Despite the rareness of this bird, you can easily find Lakenvelder chicks for around $5 each.

Thomas Nelson
Gardening Expert
Hi! I'm Thomas, one of the founders of The Garden Magazine. I come from a long line of gardeners who used the art of gardening as a way to live long, healthy lives. I'm here to share my knowledge of gardening with the world!