Swedish Flower Hen Thread

[jbarrett]

uh oh chicken math strikes again. went to pick up "a couple" of SFH eggs for my hen that is broody who has been trying to hatch a plastic egg for the last week...instead I have 8 eggs because someone else had not picked up the eggs they ordered ...knowing my luck they will all hatch as roos...sigh


on the other hand

I have 8 SFH eggs under a broody hen!!!!!!!!!!!

Here is to hopping you get all pullets but 2 roosters! That way you could get a good flock!

 

[ChickNmamma]

uh oh chicken math strikes again. went to pick up "a couple" of SFH eggs for my hen that is broody who has been trying to hatch a plastic egg for the last week...instead I have 8 eggs because someone else had not picked up the eggs they ordered ...knowing my luck they will all hatch as roos...sigh


on the other hand

I have 8 SFH eggs under a broody hen!!!!!!!!!!!

Remember, they don't count... never count your chicks before they hatch...

 

[SunnySkies]

Well, I'll have an interesting experiment on disposition going then. 2 groups. They have the same origins. They have been raised similarly except for minimal handling on the one group (I tried very hard to stop my kids playing with the chicks, as I know that it can decrease respect in some roosters, and you can't pick out roosters easily at a few days of age...although they played endlessly with the barnyard mix roosters and they are wonderful...like I won't cull them) and practically none on the other. I have a third group that has been hatched and raised by the Cochins, no handling at all.

I think genetics may play a huge role. As I mentioned, I grew up on a farm. We had at any one time 300 chickens. My dad never would cull the one rooster, but his sons tended to be aggressive, and dad processed them. But my sister had a white rooster tht was practically a pet, and his offspring from the same hens were delightful. Some lines may be more aggressive than others, and maybe I ended up with three from such a line.

I have yet another broody. I wish my SFH were laying. I so do not want more Silkies now that my lovely and brave boy is gone.

 

[redhen689]

I just candled the eggs in the 'bator. 6 of 7 SFH eggs have definite blood vessels. The RIR eggs are a little darker and it's harder to tell, but I think I saw them in 2 of 3 of those. 17 more days!

 

[Leahs Mom]

Well, i've got Bubba (brother to Redneck, the underfoot roo). he and the 2 older girls are from Kimberly, and while redneck was constantly wanting to be handled/fed/petted/etc, bubba is indifferent. if he's nearby i can easily pick him up, but he doesn't come looking for attention. so far so good.

the funny thing is, some of the juvie roos were getting a bit agressive with the girls today, and my standard poodle Sunny decided to intervene. every time one of the girls started hollering because she was dragging around a young roo by her nape/back/tail feathers while running all out, Sunny would run full tilt and body slam the roos...

ok body slam might be a bit harsh of a description, but he'd knock the roo with his head/muzzle (mouth closed) and then push him further on (tumbling usually) with his legs as he ran by (at mock 10). it's hard to describe, but basically i think body slam seems to be the most descriptive. LOL none of the roos were injured, except maybe their pride and a few misplaced feathers. but 've also noticed now, if sunny's out in the yard, the young boys behave themselves better, and the girls seem to hang closer to him when they can LOL. i have no idea if this is going to lead to better or worse behavior, but interesting to note. LOL

I have something similar but not my dog - the older hens!

I have the four 21 week olds - 1 cockerel and 3 pullets, then 6 one-year-old hatchery ladies.

Every time cockerel goes after one of the ladies and they squawk, one of the older hens grabs him by the comb or wattle and pulls him off. Sometimes 2 of the older girls go after him, one on each side!

This boy has some scabs on the comb and wattles from this treatment...but I have to say it's pretty comical. I think having those older ladies around is teaching him how to behave himself.

And he DOES get to mate...they just don't tolerate it if the one he's after is hollering and trying to get away.

 

[SunnySkies]

Someone wanted a photo of what my black chicks' coloration is doing. Here is a photo of one's wing. You can see the rusty brown appearing in the feathers. Two of my blacks are doing this, and the third is staying gray (fingers majorly crossed).

This bird started as a black chick. He developed the same coloration as above. Now look at him!

The one in the middle of this picture started black. The one on the left also started as black (pictured above). I suspect these two are half brothers.

 

[ChickNmamma]

Someone wanted a photo of what my black chicks' coloration is doing. Here is a photo of one's wing. You can see the rusty brown appearing in the feathers. Two of my blacks are doing this, and the third is staying gray (fingers majorly crossed).

This bird started as a black chick. He developed the same coloration as above. Now look at him!

The one in the middle of this picture started black. The one on the left also started as black (pictured above). I suspect these two are half brothers.

Thank you, I was the one that wanted pictures of the black chick turning brown. How old is the chick? Mine are 7 days old, growing like weeds

I will keep an eye on mine for any color changes, but I would be happy with any of those color variations you showed too, just hoping I get a few girls in there...

Here's

the gray stays gray for you...

 

[SunnySkies]

Thank you, I was the one that wanted pictures of the black chick turning brown.  How old is the chick?  Mine are 7 days old, growing like weeds

I will keep an eye on mine for any color changes, but I would be happy with any of those color variations you showed too,  just hoping I get a few girls in there...

Here's the gray stays gray for you...

They are probsbly about 2 weeks or so old. The guy told me when they were hatched, but I can't remember for sure. Little little bits. Gotta love the chicks!

 

[wildhorseannie]

uh oh chicken math strikes again. went to pick up "a couple" of SFH eggs for my hen that is broody who has been trying to hatch a plastic egg for the last week...instead I have 8 eggs because someone else had not picked up the eggs they ordered ...knowing my luck they will all hatch as roos...sigh


on the other hand

I have 8 SFH eggs under a broody hen!!!!!!!!!!!

I just happen to have it, on very good authority

, that the flock your eggs came from has a history of producing a good number of girls. I would also like to point out that, considering all the talk about aggressive roos and such, you could get a pretty good price for your boys since they are sure to take after their daddy, the most friendly rooster I've ever known!

 

[Sebrightsrock]

This guy started out like this:

And turned into this: