Swedish Flower Hen Thread

[Bernie56]

 

[Bernie56]

How many hens can a SFH rooster cover? I have one who is 5 months & in with 26 of my laying hens. Also at what age will he begin mating? He tries from time to time, but the girls shoot him down.

I think that they say you should have 1 rooster for every 10-12 hens. I think that you would be safe with a few more, but 26 is probably too many for one roo to have reliable fertility in the eggs. They will be covering the hens by 5 months. (maybe a little clumsily at first)

 

[wildhorseannie]

can I say that I was not bashing the red/white splash color?
I was not bashing the red/white splash color, it's just not my favorite.
I will also be keeping some of the more unusual colors I see in chicks as well. You just never know what you'll get no matter what colors you start with and that's one of the things I love most about this land race.

 

[SunnySkies]

LOL, I'm trying to keep one of every color! I LOVE them ALL!

 

[ki4got]

can I say that I was not bashing the red/white splash color?
I was not bashing the red/white splash color, it's just not my favorite.
I will also be keeping some of the more unusual colors I see in chicks as well. You just never know what you'll get no matter what colors you start with and that's one of the things I love most about this land race.

oh I wasn't color bashing either... I prefer the bold dark colors myself. and that being said, I'm keeping 2 of leigh's red/whites from Sorenson - once crested, one uncrested. (and I know you don't like crests much either LOL). I also want as much variety in the group as possible. I may only keep 1 of them, but for now both of the red/white pullets are staying, as is the pastel one from leigh, the 2 cockerels from kytinpusher.

and the 3 I kept from your eggs, I think are all roos too! what is it with people sending only boy eggs lately??? LOL (sorry but they're not on the 'keep' list... they look just like the others I have!)

the 6 younger chicks from leigh (by mace and alma) look to be more pullets than cockerels so far... granted they're just 3-4 weeks old...

more of leigh's due Friday. I'm like a junkie and she's my supplier, or something.

I have a SFH hatching addiction.

 

[OHfarmerswife]

Bernie56
Thanks for the info. Oh good a reason to keep another SFH rooster, maybe even 2 more! : )

 

[ki4got]

Bernie56
Thanks for the info. Oh good a reason to keep another SFH rooster, maybe even 2 more! : )

depending on the breed, I really don't like to keep more than 4-5 hens per roo... even in free range situations, they hang out in groups, and with only 1 roo, he's not going to be mingling with that many groups of girls, IMO. besides, more roos = more safety for the girls. i'm never in much of a hurry to get rid of excess NICE roos... baby roos get penned because they're buttheads to the girls, but once they grow up a bit more they're usually pretty nice.

the not-so-nice roos go to freezer camp as soon as they're big enough.

 

[OHfarmerswife]

depending on the breed, I really don't like to keep more than 4-5 hens per roo...  even in free range situations, they hang out in groups, and with only 1 roo, he's not going to be mingling with that many groups of girls, IMO.   besides, more roos = more safety for the girls.  i'm never in much of a hurry to get rid of excess NICE roos...    baby roos get penned because they're buttheads to the girls, but once they grow up a bit more they're usually pretty nice. 

the not-so-nice roos go to freezer camp as soon as they're big enough.

Thanks!

As I stated previously I am new to roosters. I have a huge coop & run. All 26 girls are in together. Hubby is building me a breeding pen this winter.

So is it ok to have multiple roosters in the same coop & run?

 

[shotzy007]

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

 

[HaplessRunner]

Thanks!

As I stated previously I am new to roosters. I have a huge coop & run. All 26 girls are in together. Hubby is building me a breeding pen this winter.

So is it ok to have multiple roosters in the same coop & run?

Yes, it works. I have multiple roosters in my laying flock. The order sorts out with some skirmishing but nothing too serious that I have observed.

However, if you intend to breed specific breeds the pullets/hens must be separated from other rooster breeds for 3-4 weeks. The reason for this is that the male's sperm can survive in the female for 3-4 weeks after mounting. I f you do not do the separation, you may get some surprises when you hatch chicks.