Swedish Flower Hen Thread

[texasmomma]

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!

Sure!

http://animalsciences.missouri.edu/reprod/ReproTech/Feathersex/sld003.htm

 

[texasmomma]

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.

It took my babies almost a week to get so they liked the FF, but they have been eating it ever since and seem to like it ok. Guess since they haven't had anything else, they can't compare.

As for the others, I decided they were going to eat it and they have. I started some at 3 months and 4 weeks, respectively. I had to leave it for a couple of days before they would eat it, but they finally got hungry enough. It's all they eat now. I've been keeping it in the house so that it doesn't freeze.

My current babies also adore it. I started two cream legbars on it. My other chicks were between a few days and a week old when I got them and they seem to like it just fine as well.

YMMV.

 

[Leahs Mom]

For me, I still offer both free choice - the dry and the ff. Since mamma chooses to only eat the ff, I'm guessing she's going to teach the kiddos to eat it too. However, they will still have a choice.

 

[jbarrett]

ok I got this Poly-Vi-Sol how much of the dropper do I mix into a quart of water?

 

[Bulldogma]

ok I got this Poly-Vi-Sol how much of the dropper do I mix into a quart of water?

About half. Watch them and if you see any issues, add a little more next time. If there are no issues, do 1/2 for the first 2 weeks, then start dropping the amount down gradually until they aren't getting any by about 5 weeks. You can always add some back in or use it later on if you see any issues.

Once they are getting grit, feed them scrambled eggs or other protein sources regularly. Table scraps are good too.

 

[jbarrett]

Alrighty Thank you for your insight and I will get right on it!

 

[Kimbroe1981]

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

I've got that same luck! I have 11 SFH and 8 are Roos. Dang the luck! Super cute tho! I have 24 SFH in the bator now. Can't wait to see what I get!

 

[jbarrett]

I've got that same luck! I have 11 SFH and 8 are Roos. Dang the luck! Super cute tho! I have 24 SFH in the bator now. Can't wait to see what I get!

This is a really amazing breed and I cant wait to get this breed to show for the first time in our county! I will exhibit all of the chickens I get to hatch... They will be enteed into theare Breed Classic and I want to show off all the may different colors there are!

 

[Kimbroe1981]

Quote: I've never showed anything. But I would like to start with the SFH. I hope I get to. I'm not sure how to even get started in it.

 

[Narragansett]

They are not a recognized breed, and so cannot compete at shows to win over other recognized breeds. You can enter them, even one, and win best of breed with no competition, but that's a hollow victory. You can't compete for prizes, trophies or points. You might as well just buy yourself a ribbon. It's the same thing. If you want to exhibit, buy a copy of the Standard of Perfection from the APA, and choose any one of the hundreds of breeds and varieties that are recognized. Subscribe to the Poultry Press to find shows in your area. Contact the show secretary for a premium book, complete the entry form and mail it in. Be sure to follow all of the instructions. Make sure that your birds are clean, parasite free and in good feather. Arrive at the show and just ask the show staff and/or other exhibitors what to do. They'll help you from there. Don't expect to do much winning right off the bat. You'll have to learn about your breed, how to breed, and how to pick through the chicks that you produce and eliminate the culls that don't measure up. It's a learning process.