Advise, discuss, & thoughts

[Arenas Chickens]

First I’d like to say apologies if I’ve posted in the wrong area, I couldn’t think of what this thread would fall under.

I have, as many know, a small, growing flock of beautiful diverse chickens & I have recently come across an endangered species & I would love to help with conservation but want to get some opinion from the chicken family.

They are called the ‘Swedish Flower’ & are very beautiful & each bird diverse from the next; no two birds look the same, in a more profound way than the normal’no two chickens are alike’ way.

These birds remind me of my grandmother who also happens to be of Swedish descent moreover the profile & color is what brings grandma to mind.

So let’s talk chicken extinction….. I know there’s most likely not a market in my area for these birds but I’d still love to be apart of the solution. I’m looking at spending $50 for the hens & $20 for a Roo, translates to 2 hens & 1 Roo.

Thoughts? Thx BYCF!!

 

[mcdze]

well, if you already have a bunch of chickens and want to promote a single breed your going to need a seperate facility and operation 'just' for the special breed .. if your prepared for that kind of headache and are into it then its worth it ...

 

[Arenas Chickens]

well, if you already have a bunch of chickens and want to promote a single breed your going to need a seperate facility and operation 'just' for the special breed .. if your prepared for that kind of headache and are into it then its worth it ...

Yes I imagined that they’d be separated for breeding purposes. I read they aren’t known for bloodiness so I was going to house them together for fertilized eggs, like I do with my RIRs, then let them run with the flock for a bit. My only concern is integrating a new Roo with my other Roos when/if that time came.

 

[618025]

Some people in animal conservation are of the opinion that any little bit helps. If you get healthy and good quality chickens, many would say go for it! A rooster really ought to have more hens though, he could really hurt the hens if there are only two that are sharing his attentions. I'd say 7 hens to 1 Rooster is a must, but depending on the breed up to 10 hens for 1 roo.

Another way to help a dying breed is to use the breed for monetary gain. There's a goat from an island off the coast of California. People want to keep this breed alive, but who wants a goat that doesn't produce anything? The promoters of the breed actually promote people to raise and eat these goats. Because the more people get something, money or meat or milk, from the goats, the more people will want them. If there is no purpose to the bird, you'll likely have a very limited market. Maybe a good trait to continue on in this bird is that fact that they are good scavengers and landrace chickens, promote them to independence minded people/preppers. "SHTF!?!? Well, make sure you got your pretty S.F. hens that will free range without feed from Tractor Supply." Or use their pretty feathers for jewelry or hair accessories (though some people don't like this because it might encourage people to hurt protected birds to get feathers if feathers become trendy).

There is no breed standard for Swedish Flower Hens, so I don't know how one breeds to that? Tries their best with historical information?

I can see genetic diversity being important, and they sure are pretty. But, I also see why many breeds died out, if they don't serve a purpose, why spend all sorts of money on them?

Good luck! Sounds super fun!

 

[618025]

Yes I imagined that they’d be separated for breeding purposes. I read they aren’t known for bloodiness so I was going to house them together for fertilized eggs, like I do with my RIRs, then let them run with the flock for a bit. My only concern is integrating a new Roo with my other Roos when/if that time came.

Just curious, if you have the ability to keep them separated for breeding purposes, why would you reintegrate them back into the flock?

RIR are known for being kind mean to new comers, and their roosters are bad-ass fighters for sure, might not be so easy to mix a rooster with only 2 hens back into an established flock. You could build them a tiny coop, since you want so few, and have them free range during the day, like they were meant to do. Also, keep in mind their temps in that part of Sweden they are from ranges only from 30-75f, it's very mild there, so if you live in a different climate than that and can't free range, I don't think a SW chicken will particular like your set up.