Swedish Flower Hen Thread

[SeattleLeah]

Hello all! My daughter and I saw pictures of these birds and we are now obsessed! We are in the Seattle area in Washington. Does anyone over here on the west coast have these beautiful Swedish Flowers? I hate to ship eggs so far and certainly not chicks! I would prefer to find something locally.

I bought eggs on ebay for this seller in Oregon: http://www.ebay.com/itm/251204704075?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
Every single egg developed! He packs very well and the eggs dont have to travel very far.

Where in Seattle are you? I am in Fremont and I have 2 two week old SFH, they are adorable. I was thinking about ordering another dozen since I like this breed so much.

 

[jbarrett]

only had 2 hatch out of a set of 10 eggs, my luck they will both be roosters! oh well they are pretty too!

I

 

[Bulldogma]

only had 2 hatch out of a set of 10 eggs, my luck they will both be roosters! oh well they are pretty too!

They are adorable! Be sure to NOT give them Medicated chick feed. Read more about this HERE. It's particularly bad for SFH chicks.

Also, you need to put PolyVisol (human infant vitamins - without iron) into their water - about 1/2 a dropper full in a small chick waterer... and more if one starts looking weak. If you don't already have some, get some right away! You can find them at most grocery stores and drug stores in the vitamin section. This is what the box looks like:



These are some of the first generations on American soil, and sometimes the chicks need an extra boost to make up for the differences in soil and plant life their parents are exposed to... they *may* be a little deprived of some nutrients that are more abundant in the south of Sweden where the breed originates.

Watch for pasting up or weak limbs, and let us know if you have any questions at all! I really want these two to work out for you - better yet - hope you have one roo and one pullet!

 

[Leahs Mom]

They are adorable! Be sure to NOT give them Medicated chick feed. Read more about this HERE. It's particularly bad for SFH chicks.

Also, you need to put PolyVisol (human infant vitamins - without iron) into their water - about 1/2 a dropper full in a small chick waterer... and more if one starts looking weak. If you don't already have some, get some right away! You can find them at most grocery stores and drug stores in the vitamin section. This is what the box looks like:



These are some of the first generations on American soil, and sometimes the chicks need an extra boost to make up for the differences in soil and plant life their parents are exposed to... they *may* be a little deprived of some nutrients that are more abundant in the south of Sweden where the breed originates.

Watch for pasting up or weak limbs, and let us know if you have any questions at all! I really want these two to work out for you - better yet - hope you have one roo and one pullet!

BD...do you think the polyVisol is necessary if not using med feed? I was thinking that if everything else is good, that might not be necessary.

My kiddos are due for hatch probably Saturday if all goes well. I have 3 Black Copper Marens eggs and 4 SF under a broody Hatchery RIR. If they hatch, they'll have fermented feed and regular mash free choice (all organic with fertrel nutri-balancer in the mix), ACV in water, "Johhny Cakes" made with lard also available.

ETA: They are under a broody so should be raised by mom if all goes well.

 

[BHep]

BD...do you think the polyVisol is necessary if not using med feed? I was thinking that if everything else is good, that might not be necessary.

My kiddos are due for hatch probably Saturday if all goes well. I have 3 Black Copper Marens eggs and 4 SF under a broody Hatchery RIR. If they hatch, they'll have fermented feed and regular mash free choice (all organic with fertrel nutri-balancer in the mix), ACV in water, "Johhny Cakes" made with lard also available.

ETA: They are under a broody so should be raised by mom if all goes well.

 

[Bulldogma]

BD...do you think the polyVisol is necessary if not using med feed? I was thinking that if everything else is good, that might not be necessary.

My kiddos are due for hatch probably Saturday if all goes well. I have 3 Black Copper Marens eggs and 4 SF under a broody Hatchery RIR. If they hatch, they'll have fermented feed and regular mash free choice (all organic with fertrel nutri-balancer in the mix), ACV in water, "Johhny Cakes" made with lard also available.

ETA: They are under a broody so should be raised by mom if all goes well.

I would... for the simple reason that the first generations of any breed on American soil need to adjust. That said, other folks have had SFH chicks grow up just fine without it. I guess I just contradicted myself - LOL.

Perhaps a "wait and see" attitude would be the best prescription. Let that broody raise them on the unmedicated FF, and get some PolyViSol only if you see chicks showing weakened limbs or lack of balance. (Yeah... we'll go with that - LOL.)

 

[texasmomma]

BD...do you think the polyVisol is necessary if not using med feed? I was thinking that if everything else is good, that might not be necessary.

My kiddos are due for hatch probably Saturday if all goes well. I have 3 Black Copper Marens eggs and 4 SF under a broody Hatchery RIR. If they hatch, they'll have fermented feed and regular mash free choice (all organic with fertrel nutri-balancer in the mix), ACV in water, "Johhny Cakes" made with lard also available.

ETA: They are under a broody so should be raised by mom if all goes well.

I'm not BD, but I had two SFH hatch out of 7. I fed them fermented organic feed from the beginning and also put ACV in the water. They are doing well. I also tried to sex them with feathers, and if sexing them works, I have two pullets. So far, I know that one of them is a pullet, but the jury is still out on the other one. I'm still leaning yes, but we will see. They are 7 weeks old. They have done wonderfully here, even in this cold. In Texas, cold is 20's at night. I have been putting them in the garage at night, but they are out all day in the snow, hanging around and playing in it.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Thanks

Me too:

Here's the broody mamma in her box!

 

[Leahs Mom]

I'm not BD, but I had two SFH hatch out of 7. I fed them fermented organic feed from the beginning and also put ACV in the water. They are doing well. I also tried to sex them with feathers, and if sexing them works, I have two pullets. So far, I know that one of them is a pullet, but the jury is still out on the other one. I'm still leaning yes, but we will see. They are 7 weeks old. They have done wonderfully here, even in this cold. In Texas, cold is 20's at night. I have been putting them in the garage at night, but they are out all day in the snow, hanging around and playing in it.

Can you send me a link to the feather sexing photos? I've seen them before but somehow didn't bookmark it and (feeling lazy) would love to not have to go searching!

 

[BHep]

Hate to be the stick in the mud, BUT.......... I raised my SFH on med chick starter. As adults they get layer feed, crumbles and or pellets and scraps and scratch . They hate FF.