Swedish Flower Hen Thread

[EggSighted4Life]

Not sure why you can't view my page the link works.
If you use FB send me the link to your page & I will try to message it to you.

I don't use FB. When I use the link it tells me

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[SOHC-FTW]

Probably because you don't have Fb and neither do I lol

 

[LisaLouHoo]

The person I got my swedish flower chicks offered me a chance to swap out my my supposed boy for another one that we think may be a girl. She tried feather sexing them after I told her I did and she thought all 8 of them looked like girls. Not sure that's possible but you never know. So I picked up a black one and named her Fifi. The name came to me as I was driving her home.

Oh, that is a cute chick!! From what I understand about the SFH, nothing short of vent sexing can indicate sex with more than 50% accuracy, lol. We've all been there and so wish there was a way. I've read the instructions on vent sexing and it's not really something I'm comfortable doing because I feel like I'm causing pain. Not worth it. That first chick you showed with the upright stance DID look boyish, but they are tricky and can keep you guessing.

 

[SHERRING7712]

So I think we had a change in dominance last night. Our little CCL "Twisty" has been the main cockerel for our group and he does a great job of looking out for the ladies but last night our SFH Thor and him had a sort of "battle for dominance". No actual fighting of any kind. They had a long crowing contest...which Thor won. Then Twisty got up on his roost and looked on while Thor ran around breeding the hens. I know he got my Amerecauna Liberty and my one EE Minerva but I think he got her sister as well!

Then he tried my black star Hera...

She wasn't having none of that and they actually got in quite the scuffle over it. They both had their "hackles" up and jumped at each other a couple of times. She won though and he retreated to under the tree while she roosted on the door to the hen house! LOL

So far Thor hasn't been the best cockerel(as far as the girls go)...he runs the girls off for food, he doesn't care at all if we catch them, Twisty gets upset and makes a racket while we have them but doesn't challenge us. He just watches and voices his disapproval until we return them!

Twisty will be the first out of the house in the morning and then calls the girls. If he hears/smells/sees something he doesn't like he calls them back into the covered run if they are free ranging. He just looks out for them it seems so with them kinda changing roles,
I'm really hoping that Thor will step up to challenge and take good care of the girls...time will tell! Right now he's all about himself!

He is really not impressed with my hubby at the moment!!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

@SHERRING7712 Great narration to a fun story!

None of my cockerels have matured enough to not run the girls off feed yet. And my 2 Lav Am don't seem to care when the other is mating right next to him.

But my fave (so far) SFH boy did protect one of his girls from a member of an older group, so he got a bonus point. This is my first experience with cockerels, but through this site have learned what's expected and am greatly looking forward to it!

I will admit to enjoying *some* of the LITTLE scuffles.

And the ones that include jumping are especially entertaining and have been mostly boy/girl interaction just like you described.

Nothing serious here yet.

My Lavs are on the menu anyways, but I noticed they won't let the girls who aren't mating or won't, get past them on the roost without a significant pecking. I won't eat them out of anger, it's just the circle of life. But my teen daughter will be glad when they are gone. I explained that they scream even when we catch them but once in are arms they seem fine and that's what I observe during mating as well. Also that our other boys will do the same thing eventually. It does seem to be getting less dramatic as they become more receptive. I see some of the girls squat from a few feet away when the cockerel isn't even trying.

Others will run when they see him coming. My daughter gives a whole new meaning to cock block!

And she has the dogs as her cohorts.

Get's her out of the house and moving though... so that is a good thing.

Thanks again for sharing! Your boy is handsome.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

No offense to anyone here....

The more SFH I see, the more I KNOW that I ended up with a nice variety of them!

Thanks @Lamancha !

So it's not a matter of putting anyone down, just sharing my excitement as I see them blooming towards maturity!

And I think it was Murry McMurry where I saw some less than stellar examples and their price wasn't much cheaper than GFF.

 

[OHfarmerswife]

No offense to anyone here.... 

The more SFH I see, the more I KNOW that I ended up with a nice variety of them!   Thanks @Lamancha
! 

So it's not a matter of putting anyone down, just sharing my excitement as I see them blooming towards maturity!   

And I think it was Murry McMurry where I saw some less than stellar examples and their price wasn't much cheaper than GFF.   

Individual breeders are the way to go for SFH. Most are great breeders who cull for defects.
Meyer Hatchery has some dismal looking SFH. Hoping people will realize that this breed does not have a floppy comb!
So glad you were able to obtain so good stock. SFH are such a gorgeous breed it's sad what some have done with it so far.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Individual breeders are the way to go for SFH. Most are great breeders who cull for defects.
Meyer Hatchery has some dismal looking SFH. Hoping people will realize that thus breed does not have a floppy comb!
So glad you were able to obtain so good stock. SFH are such a gorgeous breed it's sad what some have done with it so far.

For sure!

Funny thing, one of the "SFH" I got from someone on CL laid me a light green egg and has a floppy comb that I thought was pea before spouting out like that because it has 3 rows that look connected at the top.

But with a little research I quickly discovered the truth the instant their combs developed a little. Those people are scammers and I let them know.

I also have other breeds I got from breeders because I wanted to have good genetics more true to their original intention. Big difference in quality and breeder input experience. The birds I got from breeders seem to far out pace in growth and development than any of my hatchery or feed store chicks. Sometimes even of slightly older ages.

I do enjoy my hatchery/LFS birds plenty well. I like having a eye full of candy and a colorful egg basket. They're just not close enough to their standard to fit my breeding goals of line breeding SUCCESSFULLY for years to come in order to sustainably feed my family quality, humane meat and eggs. I realize some people are willing to just let them breed whatever and no judgement to them, different purposes.

I didn't plan SFH, I just got lucky.

I am talking DH or DD to teach me how to get pics into the PC so I will be able to get some more input to how well they meet the standards that are expected. Or see any thing that I need to cull for. Plus like I said, I am excited to share!

You know, pictures tell a truth sometimes (like how littered my place is with junk)

So it will also be good to get a more less .... prejudice perspective if you will. (I couldn't think of word that means having possible wool over your eyes,)

So speaking of... split wing. How would you know if the feather was missing from defect or picking? I am planning to grow out my boys for a good while to see how they mature before making a decision. But I even wonder if I might accidentally have pulled it out. I haven't seen one missing yet, so I'm just talking in general for learning purposes.

 

[SOHC-FTW]

I always get my birds from good lines unless they are going into my free range flock. Never ordered from a hatchery never plan on it. Heck I'm traveling tomorrow 3hrs to get some sfh then the 14th to Tn to get two more that's Roughly a 4hr trip. After this I'm sure my wife's going to say enough but she can't count very good anyhow maybe she won't notice lol jk.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I always get my birds from good lines unless they are going into my free range flock. Never ordered from a hatchery never plan on it. Heck I'm traveling tomorrow 3hrs to get some sfh then the 14th to Tn to get two more that's Roughly a 4hr trip. After this I'm sure my wife's going to say enough but she can't count very good anyhow maybe she won't notice lol jk.

I went 2.5 hours each way for my good ones. Well worth it!