Swedish Flower Hen Thread

[Leahs Mom]

This is the manufacturers web site http://www.mistermax.com/

There are 3 different formulas depending on if you've washed an area before or not. I just use the main product. I don't use any cleaners on any urine, poo, or dead animal stains anymore. I just wash it off with water then spray the anti-icky-poo on and let it do the job.

I guess I should be a salesman

 

[ki4got]

Quote: breeding crested to crested can produce uncrested birds, if both parents are heterozygous (carrying only 1 copy of the crest gene). as for crested chicks coming from uncrested parents, again that goes back to my original argument... it's been proven that the crested gene IS dominant but can be modified in expression. so it's possible that maybe some of those 'uncrested' birds simply have very small crests.

the problem with breeding crest to crest, is that you then have a potential for homozygous crested birds that may have 'vaulted skulls' (aka cerebral hernia) and if they hatch and survive, larger crests than normal.

breeding heterozygous crested birds to each other, you can get 25% uncrested, 50% heterozygous crested and 25% homozygous crested...

IMO, in a free range situation, the crest issue is self-limiting, since a bird with a larger crest is at a greater risk of being taken by a predator. therefore, it's a self-limiting factor (again, in my opinion).
so to be 'safe' if you breed crested to uncrested, there's a 50% chance that you'll get a crested chick. it's all a matter of preference. if you like the crests, then keep crested hens and an uncrested roo, and don't worry about huge crests and vaulted skulls.

 

[gardengoats11]

New arrivals today - 2 SFH cockeres (1 crested) & 3 SFH pullets (1 crested). (a pair of blue Bredas were with them).

When they were delivered we were discussing how some are laced. Does the lacing count as flowers or do the flowers have to be spots?

 

[ki4got]

New arrivals today - 2 SFH cockeres (1 crested) & 3 SFH pullets (1 crested). (a pair of blue Bredas were with them).

When they were delivered we were discussing how some are laced. Does the lacing count as flowers or do the flowers have to be spots?

mottling = spots at the tips of the feathers... laced = different color outlining the entire edge of each feather.
all sfh should be mottled. both roos and the 2 uncrested girls appear to be mottled not laced. the crested girl, I can't see well enough, but looks to have some mottling on her crest. cant say for the rest of her. but I don't see anything resembling lacing.
THIS is lacing (my blrw hen)

 

[gardengoats11]

The rooster in the back has a laced best and the crested hen has a laced rump. The lacing is like the lacing on SLW, GLW, & BLRW.

Will try to get pic and post later.

 

[RedRidge]

breeding crested to crested can produce uncrested birds, if both parents are heterozygous (carrying only 1 copy of the crest gene). as for crested chicks coming from uncrested parents, again that goes back to my original argument... it's been proven that the crested gene IS dominant but can be modified in expression. so it's possible that maybe some of those 'uncrested' birds simply have very small crests.

the problem with breeding crest to crest, is that you then have a potential for homozygous crested birds that may have 'vaulted skulls' (aka cerebral hernia) and if they hatch and survive, larger crests than normal.

breeding heterozygous crested birds to each other, you can get 25% uncrested, 50% heterozygous crested and 25% homozygous crested...

IMO, in a free range situation, the crest issue is self-limiting, since a bird with a larger crest is at a greater risk of being taken by a predator. therefore, it's a self-limiting factor (again, in my opinion).
so to be 'safe' if you breed crested to uncrested, there's a 50% chance that you'll get a crested chick. it's all a matter of preference. if you like the crests, then keep crested hens and an uncrested roo, and don't worry about huge crests and vaulted skulls.

It's genetics 101... basic punnett square. You simply have the potential for a problem with 1 in 4 crosses.

It is also similar to the chondro (short legged) genes in dexters... a homozygous crested "can" have a health issue.
With dexters, breeding chondro to chondro has a 25% chance of producing a "bulldog" calf... which could kill the mother and will likely die before or during birth, and will be severely deformed.

This scares a lot of people away away from chondro dexters (which is a shame), and will likely scare some folks away from crested SFH... simply because they don't understand how to avoid it.

I LOVE my chondro dexters, but I always breed them to a non-chondro (long legged).
None of my SFH appear to be crested, but I have no problem crossing them with a crested... I simply would never breed 2 cresteds.

 

[Bulldogma]

None of my SFH appear to be crested, but I have no problem crossing them with a crested... I simply would never breed 2 cresteds.

All your Gunnar babies should be un-crested.

 

[ki4got]

Quote:

Quote: A - Is a Vaulted Skull.
B - Is a Normal Skull

 

[gardengoats11]

Here are photos of the lacing on the SFHs. They all have some (one minimal) mottling.
All 5 of the SFHs delivered today appear to have some blue feathers which is fine with me as I like blue birds.

 

[ki4got]

Here are photos of the lacing on the SFHs. They all have some (one minimal) mottling.
All 5 of the SFHs delivered today appear to have some blue feathers which is fine with me as I like blue birds.

well, i don't think that is really lacing, since lacing would show up on the breast and wings first, rump last... that's like the coloring my ee roo has. he's 1/4 silkie and 3/4 bbs Ameraucana... no laced in his background at all.

it seems that a lot of mixed color birds with splash in place of blue or black, the splash seems to wash out the base color...
also, a lot of birds, the mottling seems to wrap around the bottom half of the feather too.