Swedish Flower Hen Thread

[welasharon]

Are those o shamo or ko shamo?
sharon

ETA: looked them up. Should be o shamo. If you do not want it/them I would be interested in talking with you. I am actively searching for some.

 

[muddyhorse]

congrats, they are so pretty

 

[muddyhorse]

here are my Swedish they are 3 weeks old

 

[klf73]

here's a pic of my Swedish flower babies

 

[growinupinfl]

Here are my Swedish Flower Hens, I bought them as Juviniles that were basically completly feathered, so I think about 8 weeks, and now they are 12 weeks. They are so pretty and fun.

They do seem to have an affinity for water, they keep finding every mud puddle they can even jumping in the pool. All of my other chickens did it maybe once these guys it is a bi-tri weekly thing.

Here they are,

 

[BLaBauve]

Beautiful! Did they have crests when they were younger?

 

[growinupinfl]

Yes three of them did when I got them. I asked her for all the genetic diversity possible, ask and you shall receive. She did give me an extra rooster. What I am going to do is breed the two pairs, and put the extra roo off with some frizzle or polish hens for a time. Then When the chicks from the pairs get old enough I will give him his own girls, I think by doing this it will help me keep inbreeding down.

Fabio the black and brown one mated with De Leche the other day, maybe I will be lucky and they will lay at a younger age. If I can keep my flock growing I might just go to Swedish Flowers, Silkies, and my meat bird project. I don't think I will get rid of my laying flock but just let them pass away of old age without replacing them.

They really do have silly personalities, they amuse me greatly. For one they really love water. I have an inground swimming pool, and at one time or another I think all of my chickens have taken a dip, by accident they normally learn after one time. The swedish Flowers are doing it bi-weekly now. I think they are doing it on purpose, they don't freak out, they just kinda battle around like a duck and stare at me when I get them out

They will also run to any water faucet that is turned on, or any dripping water in general and then just mess around in it. I give them fresh water twice a day so I know it isn't a thirst issue.

The roo's still don't have an aggressive nature or stance, my Silkie's will pick on them if I let them out at the same time as the Swedish Flowers. Needless to say the Sweds or MEPS (Mothers European Pets) as my children call them, get to roam a lot more. I just wait for the day they get big enough to chase the silkies!

Have a great day,

Christal

 

[BLaBauve]

They sound wonderful! I actually have 2 older pullets and 2 week old swedes. The chicks don't show signs of a crest. I was wondering if that develops later or if you can see it right away.

 

[growinupinfl]

I got mine at 8 weeks old, so I really don't know. Email Jenny at Green Fire Farms she will tell you.
How did you get two older hens if I may ask? Were they from a different order?

Christal

 

[muddyhorse]

since they don't have a huge polish type crest they aren't that obvious untill they start to feather out
here they are as week olds

the brownish one in the foreground is crested
month olds

6 weeks old

you can now see the crest