Swedish Flower Hen Thread

[TarheelBirdy]

agression towards people and protecting the flock are 2 entirely different things IMO. agression is not acceptable in ANY roosters, when it's aimed at people. i don't care how pretty they are...

that's one reason i miss 'underfoot' so bad... he WANTED to be with people, begging to be picked up, held, petted, whatever. his brother's not quite so outgoing, but not stand-off-ish either. he's easy to catch/pick up, and we're becoming better friends. the sweet feed probably doesn't hurt either. that's what won underfoot over. LOL

I agree, and I believe aggressive roosters' eggs should never be hatched. Too many good roosters out there to breed the aggressive ones.

 

[Leahs Mom]

At what age would I expect a sfh cockerel to be fertile?

 

[Bernie56]

At what age would I expect a sfh cockerel to be fertile?

I'm not really sure exactly, but I hatched chicks from my hens when the roos were 5 months old.

 

[SunnySkies]

Everybody's birds are so pretty!

We are coming up on lockdown here, only it's a broody in charge, lol. And actually, what happened is one girl was given the eggs I got from Bernie and then a second decided to help her out, so the eggs have been cared for conciously since I set them. They rotate shifts to go eat, sit together, and will get very ugly if you open their nest box area. They were so aggressive about defending the eggs I haven't even gotten to candle. Two roos sit in the coop to guard the hens too...so we stay out! I HOPE for some peeping sounds this week. Fingers crossed!

I was going to share a photo of the broodies, but Photobucket seems to not want to load for me.

 

[ki4got]

Everybody's birds are so pretty!

We are coming up on lockdown here, only it's a broody in charge, lol. And actually, what happened is one girl was given the eggs I got from Bernie and then a second decided to help her out, so the eggs have been cared for conciously since I set them. They rotate shifts to go eat, sit together, and will get very ugly if you open their nest box area. They were so aggressive about defending the eggs I haven't even gotten to candle. Two roos sit in the coop to guard the hens too...so we stay out! I HOPE for some peeping sounds this week. Fingers crossed!

I was going to share a photo of the broodies, but Photobucket seems to not want to load for me.

just be careful once the chicks hatch that the hens don't fight over them. and i would take momma and chicks to a separate pen/cage/whatever for at least the first week or so, so she doesn't accidentally injure chicks trying to protect them from the rest of the flock. (or that the other hens don't kill them for being intruders)

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote:Ki4got That's a good point! I had mine separated at first and then when I opened the door between the sides I WAS afraid the mamma would hurt them when she first went out to "attack" the others and let them know to stay away. They babies were following her close and when the initial "fray" happened, they were way too close underfoot for my liking! They were kind of shocked little things with all that going on.

I do think it will help that it's spring, though, and they are outside more. Mine were hatched Dec. 28 so most of the others wanted to be in the hen house when I first opened the door between. I think if they had been outside, they may not have been in quite as much danger!

 

[jbarrett]

So hard to get good pics of these babies they move so quick! These are the birds I hatched from the eggs Icatty sent me! The red in the back I believe is a roo and the one in front i believe is a nice pullet!! She has a small crest and she is so cute!!

 

[chickendeal]

my babies are growing fast

 

[Bernie56]

Everybody's birds are so pretty!

We are coming up on lockdown here, only it's a broody in charge, lol. And actually, what happened is one girl was given the eggs I got from Bernie and then a second decided to help her out, so the eggs have been cared for conciously since I set them. They rotate shifts to go eat, sit together, and will get very ugly if you open their nest box area. They were so aggressive about defending the eggs I haven't even gotten to candle. Two roos sit in the coop to guard the hens too...so we stay out! I HOPE for some peeping sounds this week. Fingers crossed!

I was going to share a photo of the broodies, but Photobucket seems to not want to load for me.

My eggs, which went in the same day as yours, are starting to pip. Even after a power outage which I feared may have done them in. Good luck on your hatch!

 

[Bulldogma]

More pictures!

Gunnar showing off:


One of my chicks hatched from one of dahlisgrams eggs:


Darth 'Bator with her mixed age chicks:


Two of my dahlisgrams babies! The 3rd is the yellow/orange baby in the middle of the picture above.


Whatcha doin??