Swedish Flower Hen Thread

[Perris]

Is it normal for the leg color to differ?

Yes. Mine have had yellow, white, willow and mottled shanks and toes.

 

[My Three Chicks]

I picked up 3 Swedish Flower Hens today. Is it normal for the leg color to differ? Top right kind of has a poofier neck.View attachment 3710980

Beautiful! Where did you get them? I'm searching all over the internet and have only seen them on Meyers and My Pet Chickens.

 

[Chicksandplants]

Beautiful! Where did you get them? I'm searching all over the internet and have only seen them on Meyers and My Pet Chickens.

Thank you! They have become some of my favorite birds in a short time. I got them at a local farm (Loudounberry) that was selling pullets. I’ve debated so many times going back for more. But… need no more chickens. They have 6 left for anyone local to northern VA.

 

[My Three Chicks]

Thank you! They have become some of my favorite birds in a short time. I got them at a local farm (Loudounberry) that was selling pullets. I’ve debated so many times going back for more. But… need no more chickens. They have 6 left for anyone local to northern VA.

Too bad I don't live closer! I'd love to find some locally. Chicks or pullets. I've read wonderful things about them and I think they'd be a perfect fit with my flock. Will keep looking. I know what you mean about not needing more chickens!

 

[No Fly Hens]

We bought 2 Swedish Flower Hens and were told they may be laying, or soon would be. They were laying right away. We were told they were about 1 year old. They had a tiny comb and tiny wattles. the comb and the wattles have gotten bigger, when does this happen, I am trying to pin point their age.

 

[Tonyroo]

We bought 2 Swedish Flower Hens and were told they may be laying, or soon would be. They were laying right away. We were told they were about 1 year old. They had a tiny comb and tiny wattles. the comb and the wattles have gotten bigger, when does this happen, I am trying to pin point their age.

At a year and 3 months there comb and waddles are set in size. No more growth after that period.

 

[NorthwoodsChick]

This is Ivan, a crested SFH that went from she to he, and at 10 weeks old now he’s starting to get a little tan color on the wing shoulders, pale grey hackles and (one) saddle feather. He is otherwise white as snow.
Will he continue to develop color, flowers, and by what age should his color be fully developed?
Is this some kind of snoleopard? He is skiddish so pics not great.

 

[NorthwoodsChick]

So many questions about this breed.
Ivan the Great is now 20 weeks old, and I just love this guy! He is chasing the ladies and getting chased by two larger roosters but no big fights. I love his colors. The crest is big and he has to tilt his head to see well. I’ve been told he cannot breed with any crested females because of that, but he’s my only SFH so far.
@Perris I hope you don’t mind if I pick your brain a bit. Do you think he is homozygous crested? If a female lacks a crest is it possible for her to be heterozygous for crest, and is there a risk to longevity?
Thx

 

[Perris]

So many questions about this breed.
Ivan the Great is now 20 weeks old, and I just love this guy! He is chasing the ladies and getting chased by two larger roosters but no big fights. I love his colors. The crest is big and he has to tilt his head to see well. I’ve been told he cannot breed with any crested females because of that, but he’s my only SFH so far.
@Perris I hope you don’t mind if I pick your brain a bit. Do you think he is homozygous crested? If a female lacks a crest is it possible for her to be heterozygous for crest, and is there a risk to longevity?
Thx

View attachment 3920728

It's not obvious from that photo if he's homo- or hetero-zygous, but all my SFH are crested, and they have bred without issue. What's often said about not breeding two crested birds might be valid for Polish or Houdan (I don't know, I've never kept either of them) but I think it's been generalized to all crested breeds and in my experience it simply isn't true of Swedish Flowers.

I've had both types in the flock. The first male was homozygous, the female heterozygous. They had one male and one female offspring, both heterozygous. That male went on to be the dom and he sired many of the current flock, including 3 hens via his mum (the original hetero- dam), two of which are hetero and one homozygous. He also sired offspring by other hens (crested and uncrested, other breeds), some of which are hetero, some uncrested. None have had a 'dome' skull, nor holes in it. Fertility and mortality has been better than average.

So I would ignore what you've been told, and enjoy your boy, and let him breed with whichever hen he or you want him to. You can always snip the feathers above his eyes to help him see better after each moult, and it's an easy fix (unless you plan on showing him). Good luck!

 

[NorthwoodsChick]

It's not obvious from that photo if he's homo- or hetero-zygous, but all my SFH are crested, and they have bred without issue. What's often said about not breeding two crested birds might be valid for Polish or Houdan (I don't know, I've never kept either of them) but I think it's been generalized to all crested breeds and in my experience it simply isn't true of Swedish Flowers.

I've had both types in the flock. The first male was homozygous, the female heterozygous. They had one male and one female offspring, both heterozygous. That male went on to be the dom and he sired many of the current flock, including 3 hens via his mum (the original hetero- dam), two of which are hetero and one homozygous. He also sired offspring by other hens (crested and uncrested, other breeds), some of which are hetero, some uncrested. None have had a 'dome' skull, nor holes in it. Fertility and mortality has been better than average.

So I would ignore what you've been told, and enjoy your boy, and let him breed with whichever hen he or you want him to. You can always snip the feathers above his eyes to help him see better after each moult, and it's an easy fix (unless you plan on showing him). Good luck!

Very helpful advice. This gives me peace of mind. Thank you very much!