Swedish Flower Hen Thread

[SunnySkies]

Hi
 I am just getting started in SFH. 1 little guy (probably a roo) and eggs on order and chicks ordered for spring. I only have 1 run/coop so my layers(mostly EE and SS) will be in with them.I will be setting up a second coop but until then mixing will be inevitable. Has anyone gotten EE x SFH chicks?How do they turn out? Any pics and what color eggs do they lay?

Thanks

Sorry I missed this!

I have an EExSFH chick that was a freebie in some shipped eggs I got in October. I don't know if it's a pullet or not yet, but it's cute, and way bigger than the two SFH age mate chicks, one originating from my flock and one not, both of which are pullets.

I have a bunch of EEs in with my SFH flock, but the SFH roos do not care for them, and the EEs go off on their own all the time. Nobody is really laying here yet, but that should start changing here soon. I'll set some SFHxEE just for grins.

 

[ki4got]

"I'm not a chicken... I'm a bald eagle!"

Hubby says it's a Swedish Flower Hawk...

and yes leigh, the attack was on new years day... *sigh* I just can't win with the bantam blrw...

 

[Bernie56]

I am not sure that everyone understands exactly what a landrace breed is. They are not a wild unkempt breed. They are domesticated livestock and as such their selection IS influenced by humans. This is the definition given to landrace breeds by the ALBC:


Breeding and selection are two separate things. Sure SFH can be free breeding but they are and have been through history selected by man, other wise they would not be a breed at all.

X2!

 

[fintuckyfarms]

So excited, getting 2 Swedish flower hens tomorrow. Will post Picts if they cooperate.

 

[Bernie56]

No all of my rare breeds are kept in separate areas on the property. Landrace does not mean allowing them to breed with other breeds. In this case, it means allowing the Swedish Flower Hens to freely breed with one another without specifically separating out breeding pairs/trios based upon a specific trait that I am trying to add or remove from the breed.

So you have selected specific birds, based on specific traits, and confined them to a specific pen. But you don't "selectively" breed. Sorry, but it seems like splitting hairs to me. I don't understand the obsession with the "landrace", "free love" thing. If I only have a pair, or a trio, it doesn't mean that I am trying to "add or remove something from the breed", it just means that it is the extent of my stock. Now when I have ten birds and I separate them into pairs/trios I'm "breeding to a standard"? Personally, I see it as "responsible" breeding. There are many reasons to set up "selective" breeding pens: genetic diversity, adding new bloodlines, removing defects from breeding stock, etc. While its true that some may set up breeding pens with the intention of "breeding to a standard", i.e. a single color flock, or whatever, I expect (and hope) that those people would be in the minority. I think people should feel free to do "whatever works for them", but I would feel much more inclined to seek out stock from a breeder who actually monitors his/her flock, and makes responsible choices within a breeding population. Obviously, personal preference will always be a factor, but with responsible breeding, that will be tempered with what is best for the breed. Just my opinion.

 

[SunnySkies]

The responsible breeding is huge for me. I bred horses for a while. I had a genetic issue come up in my horses. I had, on one side, people saying, oh breed anyway, you can work around it, look at how much money you have invested, etc. and then, on the other side, there was the heartbreak of losing foals to a problem that could be prevented, no real test to ensure I was not producing such foals (unlike a double crested SFH, there was no outward sign until the issues began), and the knowledge I was spreading these negative genes in the breed, as I couldn't even determine carriers adequately.

Sure, these genes were likely tied to something else positive about the breed, but....to produce offspring that are less viable, have a greater loss, risk the animal's life and, in the end, cost me money because I cannot sell them or breed them did not sit well with me. So I removed my stock from the breeding pool. I now have several lovely and highly expensive lawn ornaments as a result.

This does not seem to be the case here. The first imports were from a 100% uncrested flock, where the breeder had chosen to remove it from her stock, with no alteration to the breed.

While these are just chickens, I don't want to embed genetics that will increase embryonic death, decrease chick viability, and alter how I have to maintain my birds. I now have personal experience here with this. I have to decide what to do about 1/3 of my last hatch.

It also means I will be very careful where I obtain outcrosses from.

Breed how you like, and ask questions about replacements. If you don't care for their "breeding program" -- and lets face it, we all have one, whether it be selecting for a color, monitoring crests or just letting them have at it -- just don't buy chicks there.

 

[cathiesue]

I've been following this landrace/selection/breeding conversation with great interest. My sincerest admiration for all of you. You have made you points well and have been thoughtful in your arguments. A great deal of respect for others has been shown here. No one is upset or has had their feeling hurt.I appreciate it very much.

 

[DCchicken]

So you have selected specific birds, based on specific traits, and confined them to a specific pen. But you don't "selectively" breed. Sorry, but it seems like splitting hairs to me. I don't understand the obsession with the "landrace", "free love" thing. If I only have a pair, or a trio, it doesn't mean that I am trying to "add or remove something from the breed", it just means that it is the extent of my stock. Now when I have ten birds and I separate them into pairs/trios I'm "breeding to a standard"? Personally, I see it as "responsible" breeding. There are many reasons to set up "selective" breeding pens: genetic diversity, adding new bloodlines, removing defects from breeding stock, etc. While its true that some may set up breeding pens with the intention of "breeding to a standard", i.e. a single color flock, or whatever, I expect (and hope) that those people would be in the minority. I think people should feel free to do "whatever works for them", but I would feel much more inclined to seek out stock from a breeder who actually monitors his/her flock, and makes responsible choices within a breeding population. Obviously, personal preference will always be a factor, but with responsible breeding, that will be tempered with what is best for the breed. Just my opinion.

I am not selecting SFH for speciic traits. The SFH are free to roam across their section of my estate (I think they have around an acre). They do not breed with any of the other 12 rare breeds that I have. Only the SFH and Hedemora breeds are raised landrace as that is my preference as to how to raise them. All the others are selectively bred to whatever standard existed in their native country (if one even exists).

I find your view that my SFH is not responsible breeding to be offensive. Your implication that I do not monitor my flock is also wrong. They are not feral chickens. I protect them and have decided to let them breed with each other as they see fit.

 

[Bulldogma]

You know? I think the Landrace conversation is taking a turn for the worse - People have expressed their ideas and methods which is a positive, but at this time folks are taking the OPINIONS of others a little too personally, so let's back off this particular discussion for a bit, shall we?

If you would like to continue the discussion with a certain person or people, why not start a new thread or simply PM them?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Moving right along...

 

[Bulldogma]

A few days ago, my dear, sweet Soreson showed the first signs of heart failure. I did what I could to rule out any other issues, but it soon became apparent there was nothing I could do to help him.

A day ago I finally separated him from the flock to ensure he wouldn't be picked on, and last evening I brought him in the house so he could pass peacefully in a comfortable, warm setting.

He passed at around 10:40 last night.



Of all my roosters, this boy had the best personality. He was a gentleman and was always the first to run over to see me when I came outside. He would follow me about with a gentle curiosity, and refused to let the other roosters near me.

I'm going to miss this boy!

As wonderful luck would have it, I mistook one of Sorenson's chicks for a pullet and kept her only to quickly discover she was a he... and has the same beautiful coloration as his dear, old dad! Unnamed until now, I have decided to call him Severus, a Roman version of the name Soren... and a name from a really cool series of books/movies!



And so far, sweet Severus shows a lot of signs of carrying on his father's wonderful personality!