Swedish Flower Hen Thread

[ki4got]

Hi,
My DH finally decided that if I was going to keep chickens they should at least be purebred. I have chosen SFH and have eggs on the way, I also am ordering some chicks( never know about hatching). My only concern is that I've read that the roos are commonly prone to human aggressive behavior. Have you found this to be true or are some people being over critical of the breed?

Thanks

nope. I've heard that a couple times but I don't think it's the norm for these guys... I've had a number of roos, all free ranging, who turned out great. I currently have just 1 mature roo with his 3 girls, but I've got a number of cockerels growing out, who will start free ranging soon I hope... as soon as they get a bit more size on them. the hawks are being aggressive lately for any smaller birds.

I'm sure Leigh will hop on with her own version of a similar nature... I think she's got 3 mature roos free ranging with her girls. my boy is from her first roo, Gunnar (lost over the summer) and the second likely 'runner up' is from kytinpusher and is maturing nicely too.

the biggest problem I've had with them is that they're 'excessively friendly' and tend to get stepped on. by people isn't so bad... by horses - that causes problems more often than not... like death for several.

 

[goddardd]

Neala is a beauty!!

 

[Bernie56]

Hi,
My DH finally decided that if I was going to keep chickens they should at least be purebred. I have chosen SFH and have eggs on the way, I also am ordering some chicks( never know about hatching). My only concern is that I've read that the roos are commonly prone to human aggressive behavior. Have you found this to be true or are some people being over critical of the breed?

Thanks

I have found it to be a mixed bag. I've had some become extremely aggressive at around 1 year, and others from the same lines have been great. I certainly don't want to discourage anyone from keeping them, but at the same time I feel obligated to warn of the possibilities. I raise both SFH and Ameruacana/EEs and in over 20 years I have never had a people aggressive Ameraucana/EE roo, but in 2 years with SFHs I have had to cull several roos that became very aggressive. Over the past two years I have raised 11 roos (out a MANY chicks) for breeders, Of those 11, four were culled for undesirable traits. Of the seven remaining, three were culled for becoming VERY aggressive (they were fine until around a year old), the remaining four have been great. That's almost half, and just my experience which may not be in line with what others have experienced. I am forced to keep my birds penned because of stray dogs in the area which may contribute to the problem, but really its just another area that I have to manage as a responsible owner. I really love this breed, and heartily recommend it to anyone. The hens are definitely the most inquisitive, and always underfoot, of any chickens I've ever had. My grandchildren love them and I don't want to see that change, or see them hurt, by an aggressive rooster!

 

[smarsh]

I have found it to be a mixed bag. I've had some become extremely aggressive at around 1 year, and others from the same lines have been great. I certainly don't want to discourage anyone from keeping them, but at the same time I feel obligated to warn of the possibilities. I raise both SFH and Ameruacana/EEs and in over 20 years I have never had a people aggressive Ameraucana/EE roo, but in 2 years with SFHs I have had to cull several roos that became very aggressive. Over the past two years I have raised 11 roos (out a MANY chicks) for breeders, Of those 11, four were culled for undesirable traits. Of the seven remaining, three were culled for becoming VERY aggressive (they were fine until around a year old), the remaining four have been great. That's almost half, and just my experience which may not be in line with what others have experienced. I am forced to keep my birds penned because of stray dogs in the area which may contribute to the problem, but really its just another area that I have to manage as a responsible owner. I really love this breed, and heartily recommend it to anyone. The hens are definitely the most inquisitive, and always underfoot, of any chickens I've ever had. My grandchildren love them and I don't want to see that change, or see them hurt, by an aggressive rooster!

you should also understand that people raised roos of any breed can be aggressive. It is the human contact during youth that is the cause for the most part. I can't say that I have had an EE roo human aggressive, but they may be the worst at hen aggression. I can hardly keep an EE roo in confinment without them being too aggressive to the hens.

 

[insanity]

Smarch,
I understand that any roo can be mean and how you raise them makes a difference but breeding also plays into it.

Right now I have a roo(splash bantam)who is standoffish but not mean. Because of my neighbors my problem is my roos must be decrowed. It is a bit pricey for the procedure and the one bird I choose will be with me for years.Because I can't just cull him if he turns aggressive I must be very selective.

I received 1 SFH in an order of 12 mystery chicks about 3month ago.He (I think) has been handled regularly and is a mean little booger. Bites all the time and bullies other birds. Definitely not a candidate for surgery. I guess I'll just play my odds with the "nicest/calmest" boys I get.

Thanks

 

[ChickNmamma]

Smarch,

I understand that any roo can be mean and how you raise them makes a difference but breeding also plays into it.

Right now I have a roo(splash bantam)who is standoffish but not mean. Because of my neighbors my problem is my roos must be decrowed. It is a bit pricey for the procedure and the one bird I choose will be with me for years.Because I can't just cull him if he turns aggressive I must be very selective.

I received 1 SFH in an order of 12 mystery chicks about 3month ago.He (I think) has been handled regularly and is a mean little booger. Bites all the time and bullies other birds. Definitely not a candidate for surgery. I guess I'll just play my odds with the "nicest/calmest" boys I get.

Thanks

Insanity, I agree. I have been around chickens and raising chickens for a long time, and even though I treat them all the same way while raising them some are more aggressive and will not learn. Those I do not keep, as their children are more aggressive both to people and to other birds. I found the hatchery "Barred Rocks" and "Rhode Island Red" boys to be the worst. I just had my one Welsumer boy try a spur and chest bump on me yesterday - he got hung upside and walked around with for a bit, I have been watching him since puberty and he just has an attitude. The SFH and the Speckled Sussex and the Barnvelders and the Marans and the mixed breeds and the Ameraucanas and the Silkies all raised the same way do not have that attitude. Both of the Sumatras watch me but not with the same attitude. The Phoenix had to be extensively trained NOT to be terrified of me (and not by handling him either - by showing him that I was the provider of food). Genetics do play a part.

Also- have you looked into the rooster collars? It does not stop them from crowing - but they are not as loud and it may be a compromise your neighbors can live with. We are talking about it on the Northern California thread, and the person who has them says they are working (he is not supposed to have roosters

). I know de-crowing can be fatal for the birds as well as expensive. Just another option to check out...

 

[insanity]

I have looked for the collars but can't find them. They could buy me more time in choosing a candidate for surgery.

 

[Penny Hen]

I have looked for the collars but can't find them. They could buy me more time in choosing a candidate for surgery.

I also would like to know where to get them.

 

[ki4got]

Quote:
not sure what you mean by people raised... all my chicks are raised inside for 4-6 weeks then put outside and allowed to free range as soon as possible. they have human contact every day as chicks (but not to the point of being pets) since I have to take them out of the brooder to clean it. usually I let them roam the floor for a few minutes so they can run around and get to know the dog and peoplefeets. then caught again and put back in 'bed'...

I treat all my breeds the same. if I have a roo showing any aggression he gets one more chance and then he's gone. but then again, I've also selected my breeds for a variety of reasons but personality is near the top in importance to me.

The sfh is one of the friendliest, but my bantam cochins and Dorkings are not far behind. the Wyandottes are friendly but not 'in your face' about it. the ee's aren't aggressive, but don't want anything to do with people unless food is involved. and even then my roo gives people and other critters a wide berth.

 

[Leahs Mom]

My SFH rooster is 1 year old this week. So far he's been very pleasant and I quite like him. I hope he does not change attitude with age.



Haven't posted any photos in awhile so I took a couple on Christmas Eve.

This is my 16 week old sfh (poor photos however). Her bio-mom was killed in a hawk attack. Except for larger comb, this girl is pretty much her mamma's twin.





This girl turns 1 year old this week. After Miss Gray was killed in the hawk attack, this girl has become near the bottom of the adult pecking order. I occasionally give her some feed on the roost as she never gets the "good stuff" that they all pick out of the bowl first.

Roost snacking




These are my only remaining female Swedes.