Swedish Flower Hen Thread

[KYTinpusher]

I am wondering if those of you with SFHs can help me out. I will be getting my first batch of SFH this spring and I am wondering if anyone can tell me, or direct me to a good website, that shows what color chick down results in which color SFHs as adults. Pictures would be great, but verbal explanations are fine too. I have been searching for this information and have yet to find it. Thanks in advance!

Welcome!

I am not sure if such a website exists. There is such great variability in the breed that it would be hard to cover the subject. Some of the fun of having SFH is in seeing them grow and change and never really knowing how they are going to end up until they get there.

I have some pictures of some of my first SFH as they grew up in my albums, but they are missing a lot of colors that are seen now.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/g/a/6139948/uploads/ and https://www.backyardchickens.com/g/a/6152521/swedish-flower-hens/

Beyond that, you could look through the photo album for this thread and see the pictures posted by the members as their birds grew up. It will take a little detective work to figure out which pictures are the same chicks as they grow up, though some posts have chick pics posts next to adults pics. Happy researching!

Where are you getting your SFH from?

 

[trailrider330]

Welcome!

I am not sure if such a website exists. There is such great variability in the breed that it would be hard to cover the subject. Some of the fun of having SFH is in seeing them grow and change and never really knowing how they are going to end up until they get there.

I have some pictures of some of my first SFH as they grew up in my albums, but they are missing a lot of colors that are seen now.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/g/a/6139948/uploads/ and https://www.backyardchickens.com/g/a/6152521/swedish-flower-hens/

Beyond that, you could look through the photo album for this thread and see the pictures posted by the members as their birds grew up. It will take a little detective work to figure out which pictures are the same chicks as they grow up, though some posts have chick pics posts next to adults pics. Happy researching!

Where are you getting your SFH from?

Thanks for sharing. You certainly have some gorgeous birds! My SFH are coming from Blue House Farm in NC. She's going to try and send me an assortment (provided the hatch cooperates) but I was hoping I could at least get an idea regarding their base color based on their down when they arrive.

 

[song of joy]

I have questions about rate of lay and potential symptoms of inbreeding in SFH.

I have two SFH: 1 cockerel and 1 pullet, both from the same source, and both 8 1/2 months old. The pullet has been laying for about 2 months, but I'm only getting 2 eggs per week from her, and usually 1 of them is a fairy egg. Is this a normal rate of lay for a SFH pullet, or could the low rate of lay be a result of inbreeding?

These 2 SFH came with 3 others, of which 1 died from coccidiosis, 1 had to be culled due to lameness (potentially brought on by Corid treatment for coccidiosis), and 1 had to be culled due to cloudy pupils and loss of vision. I'm also wondering if any of these issues could be the result of genetic weaknesses and/or inbreeding.

I'd appreciate any wisdom you could share regarding these issues, as I'd like to breed the pullet and cockerel this spring, but don't want to magnify genetic weaknesses. At some point I'll post photos of this pair to get your input on using them for breeding. I'm also planning on ordering some SFH chicks from another source this spring to increase genetic diversity.

 

[Melabella]

I have questions about rate of lay and potential symptoms of inbreeding in SFH.

I have two SFH: 1 cockerel and 1 pullet, both from the same source, and both 8 1/2 months old. The pullet has been laying for about 2 months, but I'm only getting 2 eggs per week from her, and usually 1 of them is a fairy egg. Is this a normal rate of lay for a SFH pullet, or could the low rate of lay be a result of inbreeding?

These 2 SFH came with 3 others, of which 1 died from coccidiosis, 1 had to be culled due to lameness (potentially brought on by Corid treatment for coccidiosis), and 1 had to be culled due to cloudy pupils and loss of vision. I'm also wondering if any of these issues could be the result of genetic weaknesses and/or inbreeding.

I'd appreciate any wisdom you could share regarding these issues, as I'd like to breed the pullet and cockerel this spring, but don't want to magnify genetic weaknesses. At some point I'll post photos of this pair to get your input on using them for breeding. I'm also planning on ordering some SFH chicks from another source this spring to increase genetic diversity.

Hello Song of Joy!,

I have found with my pullets/hens that 2 eggs a week is on the light side. Where as there is a variance with different lines, I should think you should at least see 3 eggs a week if not more from a pullet that age. I am not sure what you are referring to when you say "fairy egg", but as I said.. you should be seeing more than that. This is a bit of an odd time of year due to decreased sunlight hours, and if your coop doesn't have a ton of natural light, that could be a reason as well. If as we inch towards spring, and daylight increases, she doesn't improve with that, you might want to reconsider using her for a breeding program as this is an undesirable trait, unless you really like her, and then I guess you can take what ever you can get from her.

YOu bring up a very good point when it comes to the SFH. Diversity is of upmost importance with this breed due to the fact that we are at the mercy of a very small handful of resources to get fresh lines imported to the United States. I would not consider breeding two birds from the same source, especially if that source doesn't have several pens set up that have distinct diversity to be bred together. You very well may have two very closely bred birds, and that is never optimal for any breed. It sounds like your best bet would be to replace one of the birds, whichever youlike best, the male or the female, but the pullet sounds like she all ready may have the poor laying quality to her. There are many breeders in your area, and I am sure you can find some great stock from a reputable breeder to increase your numbers.

Good Luck!
MB

 

[KYTinpusher]

My latest hatch

The 8th one is missing because it would not sit still for a moment to let me take a picture.

 

[LisaLouHoo]

Awesome little chicks!!

 

[LisaLouHoo]

I have questions about rate of lay and potential symptoms of inbreeding in SFH.  

I have two SFH:  1 cockerel and 1 pullet, both from the same source, and both 8 1/2 months old.  The pullet has been laying for about 2 months, but I'm only getting 2 eggs per week from her, and usually 1 of them is a fairy egg.  Is this a normal rate of lay for a SFH pullet, or could the low rate of lay be a result of inbreeding?  

These 2 SFH came with 3 others, of which 1 died from coccidiosis, 1 had to be culled due to lameness (potentially brought on by Corid treatment for coccidiosis), and 1 had to be culled due to cloudy pupils and loss of vision.  I'm also wondering if any of these issues could be the result of genetic weaknesses and/or inbreeding.

I'd appreciate any wisdom you could share regarding these issues, as I'd like to breed the pullet and cockerel this spring, but don't want to magnify genetic weaknesses.  At some point I'll post photos of this pair to get your input on using them for breeding.  I'm also planning on ordering some SFH chicks from another source this spring to increase genetic diversity.   

I'm not a vet, but the birds you lost may have died from Marek's. There is a form that makes them paralyzed (lameness mentioned above) and there is a form that causes vision loss and cloudy eyes. Your surviving pair may now be resistant, but have some issues...possibly the laying problems. There is no cure for Marek's and a vet told me that if you keep chickens long enough you are sure to encounter it. I also had some Marek's in my laying flock and did a lot of reading on it and always culled as soon as it was noticed. I think I lost about 6 Marans pullets this last summer. My SFH, kept separately, didn't seem to catch the virus, thank God. Good luck with your birds. The SFH are worth it, so don't give up.

 

[song of joy]

I'm not a vet, but the birds you lost may have died from Marek's. There is a form that makes them paralyzed (lameness mentioned above) and there is a form that causes vision loss and cloudy eyes. Your surviving pair may now be resistant, but have some issues...possibly the laying problems. There is no cure for Marek's and a vet told me that if you keep chickens long enough you are sure to encounter it. I also had some Marek's in my laying flock and did a lot of reading on it and always culled as soon as it was noticed. I think I lost about 6 Marans pullets this last summer. My SFH, kept separately, didn't seem to catch the virus, thank God. Good luck with your birds. The SFH are worth it, so don't give up.

I'm not a vet either

, but I had considered Marek's. However, the symptoms and their timing doesn't seem to match up with Marek's. The cloudy eyes were already apparent when the chick was less than 1 week old. Also, the SFH chicks were in the same flock with 10 other chicks of various breeds and 10 adult hens, and none of them showed any symptoms of illness.

 

[song of joy]

Hello Song of Joy!,

I have found with my pullets/hens that 2 eggs a week is on the light side. Where as there is a variance with different lines, I should think you should at least see 3 eggs a week if not more from a pullet that age. I am not sure what you are referring to when you say "fairy egg", but as I said.. you should be seeing more than that. This is a bit of an odd time of year due to decreased sunlight hours, and if your coop doesn't have a ton of natural light, that could be a reason as well. If as we inch towards spring, and daylight increases, she doesn't improve with that, you might want to reconsider using her for a breeding program as this is an undesirable trait, unless you really like her, and then I guess you can take what ever you can get from her.

YOu bring up a very good point when it comes to the SFH. Diversity is of upmost importance with this breed due to the fact that we are at the mercy of a very small handful of resources to get fresh lines imported to the United States. I would not consider breeding two birds from the same source, especially if that source doesn't have several pens set up that have distinct diversity to be bred together. You very well may have two very closely bred birds, and that is never optimal for any breed. It sounds like your best bet would be to replace one of the birds, whichever you like best, the male or the female, but the pullet sounds like she all ready may have the poor laying quality to her. There are many breeders in your area, and I am sure you can find some great stock from a reputable breeder to increase your numbers.

Good Luck!
MB

MB - Thank you. This is really helpful advice regarding rate of lay, genetic diversity, and a breeding approach. It sounds like I have my work cut out for me . . . to increase the number and diversity of quality birds in my flock before setting out to breed them.

 

[OHfarmerswife]

My latest hatch The 8th one is missing because it would not sit still for a moment to let me take a picture.

Love the colors of your chicks KY