Swedish Flower Hen Thread

[malndobe]

Something to check for are sprigs on his comb, which are undesirable for breeding, and split wing.

Are those common issues in the breed, or are you seeing something in the photos that makes you think he might have these issues? I'll have to check him closer tonight.

Nice to see someone following good flock practices, and quarantining! Good Luck with him, send more pictures as he develops!

Only takes one bad experience to learn to do it right. I purchased a number of BLRW hens/roosters from a breeder near me. Turned out they were all sick, and I'm sure the breeder knew that when they sold them to me as I heard the birds making "funny noises" on the drive home, but didn't realize at the time what those noises were. I called to ask her about the noises and was given a song and dance about it being stress from the transport. I had a pen just for those birds that was away from my main flocks pen, but since I was free ranging my main flock they of course headed right over to the BLRW pen to check them out. Ended up having to cull all of the BLRW and a large portion of my main flock. Ultimately predators killed the remainder of my flock, which sucked but may have been a blessing in disguise since I had to start from scratch, and haven't had any health issues since.

 

[Melabella]

Are those common issues in the breed, or are you seeing something in the photos that makes you think he might have these issues?  I'll have to check him closer tonight.


Only takes one bad experience to learn to do it right.  I purchased a number of BLRW hens/roosters from a breeder near me.  Turned out they were all sick, and I'm sure the breeder knew that when they sold them to me as I heard the birds making "funny noises" on the drive home, but didn't realize at the time what those noises were.  I called to ask her about the noises and was given a song and dance about it being stress from the transport.  I had a pen just for those birds that was away from my main flocks pen, but since I was free ranging my main flock they of course headed right over to the BLRW pen to check them out.  Ended up having to cull all of the BLRW and a large portion of my main flock.  Ultimately predators killed the remainder of my flock, which sucked but may have been a blessing in disguise since I had to start from scratch, and haven't had any health issues since.

No, nothing I see in the photo, yet c'mon faults within the breed to check for. I just found a sprig on a very nice black cockerel I thought I might keep but now realize I have to find a flock watcher, backyard roo job for him rather than as a breeding cock bird. Here is a photo. Small but nonetheless there.

 

[malndobe]

I actually had to google "comb sprig" to see what they were last night I haven't noticed any, but I haven't looked that closely either. I am going to check his wings, in one of the photos I posted the feathers look a little funky, but could just be how he was holding it.

I don't have any SFH girls right now anyway, I mainly keep a mixed layer flock that is about 50% purebreds of various breeds, and 50% their randomly mixed chicks. I got him mainly for the colors, to bring more color/patterns to my chicks. But the more I read up on the breed, the more I really like what I'm hearing about them. So if he's decent quality I may have to go find a few girls, although still mainly just to have a fancy looking layer flock

 

[MelissaZeno]

Beautiful birds!

 

[Alpine Chicken]

@Alpine Chicken
Oh, wow! Melabella beat me to telling you how beautiful that black and white girl is, specifically in the third picture from the last where she's in the pop door. She is so striking!

Thanks guys! Funny but it seems like most people I talk to like the black/whites the best. I really like the brown-based ones myself, but I love the mix I get in the flock with these guys, and not having to worry about keeping specific colors separated from each other- everyone´s allowed to do it with everybody and in the end you get a surprise!

 

[Ashdoes]

Thanks guys! Funny but it seems like most people I talk to like the black/whites the best. I really like the brown-based ones myself, but I love the mix I get in the flock with these guys, and not having to worry about keeping specific colors separated from each other- everyone´s allowed to do it with everybody and in the end you get a surprise!

That is one of the biggest draws for me...not having to worry about the colors being wrong, or keeping certain Roos away from certain girls.
I do have a question, why have I read a couple times about not wanting to breed crested Roos to crested hens? I like the crested birds, and never worried about the Cream Legbars, since I wanted the bigger poof.

 

[THeelChickinKY]

@Ashdoes
I can't speak from experience because I've never had any crested SFHs, but some people have had problems with vaulted skulls as a result of breeding crested to crested. This is odd, of course, because some breeds of chickens are uniformly crested and they don't have skull malformations as a result of it, and maybe someone else more knowledgeable about this can chime in here, but I also understand that this isn't an issue in Sweden, either, within the breed. Am I right on that, everyone? So strange, but for whatever reason, in the U.S. crested to crested breeding has caused problems in the offspring.

 

[Ashdoes]

@Ashdoes

I can't speak from experience because I've never had any crested SFHs, but some people have had problems with vaulted skulls as a result of breeding crested to crested.  This is odd, of course, because some breeds of chickens are uniformly crested and they don't have skull malformations as a result of it, and maybe someone else more knowledgeable about this can chime in here, but I also understand that this isn't an issue in Sweden, either, within the breed.  Am I right on that, everyone?  So strange, but for whatever reason, in the U.S. crested to crested breeding has caused problems in the offspring. 

I went pretty far back in the thread and there was mention of the skull vaulting, so that seems to be the reason. I don't really understand it either, but I'm sure someone has more answers for us.

 

[minihorse927]

That is one of the biggest draws for me...not having to worry about the colors being wrong, or keeping certain Roos away from certain girls.
I do have a question, why have I read a couple times about not wanting to breed crested Roos to crested hens? I like the crested birds, and never worried about the Cream Legbars, since I wanted the bigger poof.

@Ashdoes

I can't speak from experience because I've never had any crested SFHs, but some people have had problems with vaulted skulls as a result of breeding crested to crested.  This is odd, of course, because some breeds of chickens are uniformly crested and they don't have skull malformations as a result of it, and maybe someone else more knowledgeable about this can chime in here, but I also understand that this isn't an issue in Sweden, either, within the breed.  Am I right on that, everyone?  So strange, but for whatever reason, in the U.S. crested to crested breeding has caused problems in the offspring. 

the main reason behind not breeding created to crested is the e fact it creates a larger crest which impairs vision from overhead more which tends to lead to a less hardy free ranging bird. This is due to them not being able to see from overhead. It can also cause vaulting, which is when the crests becomes so large it actually has the brain sitting up higher than the normal level of the head. The skull does not completely close on a vaulted skull bird. This means if the bird is pecked or hit on the head it can kill the due to no bone protection on the brain.

 

[Ashdoes]

the main reason behind not breeding created to crested is the e fact it creates a larger crest which impairs vision from overhead more which tends to lead to a less hardy free ranging bird. This is due to them not being able to see from overhead. It can also cause vaulting, which is when the crests becomes so large it actually has the brain sitting up higher than the normal level of the head. The skull does not completely close on a vaulted skull bird. This means if the bird is pecked or hit on the head it can kill the due to no bone protection on the brain.

I know with Silkies the vaulted skull is a genetic issue, I just didn't realize it was possible with the smaller crests. Thanks