Swedish Flower Hen Thread

[EggSighted4Life]

Just found my first sprig!

On my sno leopard cockerel....

 

[EggSighted4Life]

My first choice boy is crested but I feel like that reason alone might be enough to cull.

And one of my girls is crested, too much so that plus her small size impede with my goals for breeding. She is cute as can be though, and feisty.

@jophus Nice pics.

 

[jophus]

My first choice boy is crested but I feel like that reason alone might be enough to cull. :/
And one of my girls is crested, too much so that plus her small size impede with my goals for breeding. She is cute as can be though, and feisty.  

@jophus
   Nice pics. 

So guess I'm confused here, which is not unusual. You don't want crested birds?

I'm new to SFHs, so any info you can pass along to me is greatly appreciated.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

So guess I'm confused here, which is not unusual. You don't want crested birds?

I'm new to SFHs, so any info you can pass along to me is greatly appreciated.

I don't mind crested. But I rather have it be a hen instead of roo so that there is less than 50% cresting. If that makes sense to you.

And if you breed 2 crested, now you get poofy which is not that conducive to avoiding arial predators when foraging, which a land race must do. It covers the eyes too much. So my girl, her crest is blocking her eyes a bit too much.

My boy Ditto has a nice crest. I just don't want 50% crested birds.

 

[harmesonfarm]

Here's an update on our chicks:
#1 still thinking pullet, very shy and gets pushed back by our more zealous chicks.

#2 pretty positive a roo

#3 im think roo but really unsure as no wattles seems present but pinkish comb

#4 im thinking roo

 

[OHfarmerswife]

Just found my first sprig! 
On my sno leopard cockerel....

Oh no Egg so sorry. I purchased eggs from a breeder this spring & out of 5 pullets only 1 was without sprigs.

 

[OHfarmerswife]

Here's an update on our chicks:
#1 still thinking pullet, very shy and gets pushed back by our more zealous chicks.

#2 pretty positive a roo

#3 im think roo but really unsure as no wattles seems present but pinkish comb

#4 im thinking roo

I agree with your assessment so far. How old are the chicks?
Just keep in mind that there can always be a late showing cockerel.
Very nice looking birds.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I only have 3 females. 1 of which is too crested and too small for meat. I wonder if I need more stock to get started? Saw someone 2 hours away selling 5 from GFF but 1.5 years old already, for $30 each. So they are going to molt. But I guess ready for breeding in the spring. And any faults should be visible by now. I have had TERRIBLE luck with USPS shipping. No survivors from My Pet Chicken out of 2 shipments, 28 dead chicks. From a breeder, out of 22 there were 14 survivors. USPS screws up and chicks have spent 4 days in shipping.

What would you do?

Oh no Egg so sorry. I purchased eggs from a breeder this spring & out of 5 pullets only 1 was without sprigs.

I might also be able to get more from my original contact next spring. But by then I should be hatching my own. Should I wait and just keep the best of the best?

Also your personal opinion about keeping a crested male?

 

[minihorse927]

Oh no Egg so sorry. I purchased eggs from a breeder this spring & out of 5 pullets only 1 was without sprigs.

ouch.

I've been lucky and seen very few sprigs in any birds I've hatched from others and I've seen 2 sprigs from.my flock the entire year. So I'm getting a handle on that. Seen lots of split wing though in stuff I have hatched from others and I am working it out of my breeders as I find it.

 

[harmesonfarm]

The chicks are about 6-7 weeks old. OHfarmers, thanks for the feedback!