New with Swedish Flower Hens

[dudefromtampa]

None of those birds are gold laced or Orpingtons. I'm not hugely familiar with SFHs, but I don't think any of those birds are that breed. I see a mixed breed barred cockerel, a black (maybe Aussie, maybe mixed breed bird, who knows?) rooster (I think, better pics would really help) and a mixed breed hen.

Looking back, the black bird has some silver leakage, so not an Aussie. I think you just have mixed breed birds, not SFHs. Sorry.

Thanks for your info on this. I guess I got screwed in this deal. Still though, these are some awesome birds. Very silky like feathers and very friendly. Almost intelligent. ;-)

 

[dudefromtampa]

i didnt realize you were already on breeds. lol

I mess up posting in the wrong forums all the time.

wanted to post some pics yesterday or today but has been very overcast and raining for the past 2 days. will put some pics up hopefully this weekend.

 

[dudefromtampa]

is there a place on here they can report or post who they bought from and the fact they didnt get what they paid for?

my wife bought them off ebay using her account. i could get that info and post that info. not sure what forum would be appropriate though.

 

[Granny Hatchet]

i did see that on here somewhere though. maybe breeders?

 

[Granny Hatchet]

i used to live in bradenton and palmetto. went to school there some, still have family in tampa

 

[Laingcroft]

My wife and I purchased about a dozen SFH eggs on ebay and of the 12, 3 hatched. These chickens are now approximately 6 months old. And although I've been raising Leghorns, Silkies, and Columbian Rocks now for about 2 years, it seems like SFH chickens are very different. For one, I can't determine if the 3 we have a hens or roosters - for sure, I mean. Actually, I'm pretty sure one of them (far right in pics below) is female but there are two I'm really not too sure about. Was hoping if I post 2 pictures of them (albeit from a cheap cell phone camera), possibly someone in the forums could view them and give me their opinions on this matter.

Thanks ahead for any input.

Joe

Sorry, but none of those chickens are Swedish Flower Hens. This is a young SFH cockerel. This breed is noted for it's flowering i.e. the white mottling. Some have crests (this boy does) and some do not, but all have mottling.



In your picture, it looks like the black/white one on the far left is developing saddle feathers (long, narrow, shiney cape like feathers across the back near the tail) which is a male trait. The males also develop larger red wattles and combs and long arched sickle feathers in the tail. Based on that in the second photo, the middle chicken looks like it might be a male. You'll know soon enough when they start laying or crowing. 6 months is about the time they will start one or the other.

 

[dudefromtampa]

i used to live in bradenton and palmetto. went to school there some, still have family in tampa

I lived in every corner of Tampa there is at one time or another. Lived in Brandon, Seffner, and was lucky enough to have been stationed in Cocoa Beach as well as my hometown (Tampa) later. But I moved to Dutch Country Pa about 4 years ago after I retired, and to marry my wife. Don't miss the rat race of Florida one iota. But it was cool when I was younger.

Beautiful beaches in and around Bradenton. Nice, private ones as well as public. When I was stationed at Patrick AFB, near Cocoa Beach, Palmetto was still a relatively small town. I bet it's grown much.

 

[dudefromtampa]

Thank you for that information Laingcroft. I kind of had that feeling after the intel that granny hatchet gave me that these might not be SFH. I feel bummed that we got ripped off in that we ordered SFH and we got something else but to be honest, it's not that big a deal. I've gotten kind of attached to these birds. I've never said this before about a darn chicken but these three are actually "well-behaved."

Thanks much (again) for your reply.

 

[Granny Hatchet]

well behaved chickens and roos are a great asset.you can keep more than one roo without them trying to kill each other. sometimes not an easy task.

 

[Granny Hatchet]

I lived in every corner of Tampa there is at one time or another. Lived in Brandon, Seffner, and was lucky enough to have been stationed in Cocoa Beach as well as my hometown (Tampa) later. But I moved to Dutch Country Pa about 4 years ago after I retired, and to marry my wife. Don't miss the rat race of Florida one iota. But it was cool when I was younger.

Beautiful beaches in and around Bradenton. Nice, private ones as well as public. When I was stationed at Patrick AFB, near Cocoa Beach, Palmetto was still a relatively small town. I bet it's grown much.

i havnt been there in yrs. heard its pretty big now. i will stick with my country living.