Swedish Flower Hen Thread

[RedRidge]

My ration routine: I grind and ferment my own grains and then balance the ration according to season and management group. Protein level is just over 16% for adults, just over 20% for chicks. I balance the fermented grains with combinations of other ingredients to create a totally balanced ration with plenty of animal protein for each group. For instance, laying hens get BSF and chicks get fish meal (calcium is too high in BSF for chicks). Some get limestone and all get nutribalancer added. Grains I ferment are cracked first (I use a hammermill) and are all non-gmo. I never use soy.

 

[mtadkins5]

I can't help myself...let's guess gender. I know it is hard from photos but I am new (to chickens all together not to mention SFH) and need help please.

#1


#2


#3


#4


#5


#6


My guesses: #1 roo #2 hen #3 hen #4 hen but swear she acts like roo #5 hen #6 roo

 

[KYTinpusher]

My guesses: #1 roo #2 hen #3 hen #4 hen but swear she acts like roo #5 hen #6 roo

I agree with you on all of them, but the crested roos can be sneaky and develop late. How old are they?

 

[HaplessRunner]

So besides dry hatching is there anything else we can do to hatch these chicks? Out of 4 dozen eggs I've had 1 chick pip. I have yet to hatch one.

I have done OK on SFH but your experience hatching SFH is the same I have had with cream legbars.

 

[mtadkins5]

I agree with you on all of them, but the crested roos can be sneaky and develop late. How old are they?

5-7 WEEKS The breeder wasn't for sure...they are out of more than one hatch

 

[KYTinpusher]

5-7 WEEKS The breeder wasn't for sure...they are out of more than one hatch

Well, you may end up with a couple more roos, but I hope not!

 

[mtadkins5]

Well, you may end up with a couple more roos, but I hope not!

At what age is it safe to say for sure short of earing a crow? By the way at what age do they start to crow?

 

[KYTinpusher]

Quote: Generally by 6-7 weeks on the non-crested, but the crested can "bloom" as late as 10-11 weeks.

 

[mtadkins5]

Are SFH good mothers and do they go broody often?

 

[redhen689]

About hatching SFH.
I started out with 7 eggs purchased locally. I used a very simple home incubator. I candled the eggs frequently. I had the eggs in a closed cardboard carton which I tilted from one side to the other 2-3 times per day. I did take the eggs out of the carton and laid them on their sides on day 19. I had one early quiter. I had one that failed to pip. I have never observed a broody hen using lockdown, and don't do it myself. 5 out of 7 hatched successfully.

None of mine is crested. For those of you with lower hatch rates, are you attempting to hatch crested SFH? I've read that the crested birds have lower hatch rates. Maybe that's the issue.