Swedish Flower Hen Thread

[cree57i]

What is the genetics for colors in SFH? I understand blue/black/Splash and self blues because I have a couple self blue amerucanas. Is there a chart somewhere that I can read? I used to do color percentages on my parents horses for fun as a kid.... So I love to figure out what will hatch for colors and figure out what is best to cross to which roo to make the best birds barring siblings and faults.
How do you all breed? Color pens or mixed pens?

Trying to figure out how much room I am going to need for my new coop. This will be coop number five coops 2-4 (25 birds in total in these three coops) are layers and coop one is a brooder, chicken math anyone...

I don't know of anyone that separates by color either. When you hatch SFH they are like a box of chocolates, you never know what you will get. In 2 of my pens I have a Snoleopard rooster and either a black or blue rooster over Blue, black, splash and Snoleopard Hens. What I separate by are breeding lines so I'm not breeding birds that are closely related. Not having a strict SOP makes this breed so much fun! The chicken math with these is especially bad since they are all different and I NEED all the colors and combinations!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Yay! That's good to hear. We can't keep roosters. Thanks so much! In your experience when do they typically begin laying?

I will check my calendar and get back to you on that.

 

[SOHC-FTW]

Mine took forever like 24months But once they did they took off nicely.

 

[emily88]

I received a shirt that says "Chickens are like a box of chocolate....I need them all". It seems these are the birds to have for chicken math. I so hope there is a SL in this group of babies. They are all so beautiful, but the SL seem so special.

SOHC-FTW what part of NC is Fleetwood in? Triangle area or ???

From what I understand, Greenfire brought in the first SFH, there has been a German line by Dale ???, are there any other imported lines or are we all still working with Greenfire lines and German line?

 

[SOHC-FTW]

Im up in boone area of nc.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Mine took forever like 24months But once they did they took off nicely.

Are you serious, 24 MONTHS?!

I wouldn't have that... they would be on my cull list WAY before that... it wouldn't be a trait I would pass on. No amount of taking off nicely would make up for 2 years of not laying.

So in my disorganization I naturally can't find my record book. Ah.. but I happened to record it on my pc, yay.

So my earliest was 20 weeks with others at 2 and 4 weeks later. Among this group were several other breeds including Wyandottes, EE, and Delaware. The SFH laid before all of them and this was also a group hatched in mid June so it was early Nov... which sometimes means later laying and I'm pretty far north with no added light.

I will say however that when it comes to chickens there aren't too many things which are definite. I had a leghorn earlier that year which I got because I was told they would start to lay by 16 weeks, but nope it was 24+.

 

[SOHC-FTW]

Thay was ment to be 24+weeks as winter was in the middle of them growing come spring they took off.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

That's kinda what I suspected you meant.

MUCH better!

 

[emily88]

I hate trying to locate my record books. I can never find them when I need them. I have a feeling I won't get eggs out of these babies until late as they should start in Jan and that is the worst month for chickens to start laying, but I am excited to have my babies coming soon.

Anything I need to hatch for at hatching? I know the humid and they can take a few days, but other then that. Do they need anything special for feed as chicks? I use a soyfree layer mix for my laying flock, but I'm not planning on eating any of these eggs so I would love your thoughts on different feeds. We have an amazing Chicken store in Raleigh that try to get only the best feeds. They currently order my feed for me on a monthly bases. So if you are in Raleigh Urban Chicken is a must stop. Also the owner has SHF. They may be moving as they really have out grown their space. I'm hoping for Durham. We will see.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I hate trying to locate my record books. I can never find them when I need them. I have a feeling I won't get eggs out of these babies until late as they should start in Jan and that is the worst month for chickens to start laying, but I am excited to have my babies coming soon.

Anything I need to hatch for at hatching? I know the humid and they can take a few days, but other then that. Do they need anything special for feed as chicks? I use a soyfree layer mix for my laying flock, but I'm not planning on eating any of these eggs so I would love your thoughts on different feeds. We have an amazing Chicken store in Raleigh that try to get only the best feeds. They currently order my feed for me on a monthly bases. So if you are in Raleigh Urban Chicken is a must stop. Also the owner has SHF. They may be moving as they really have out grown their space. I'm hoping for Durham. We will see.

Chicks should not eat layer feed. It has too much calcium (often 4%) and *can* (doesn't mean will) cause kidney failure or gout, as well as stunting development and possibly delaying onset of lay. Layer is also usually 16% protein which simply isn't enough for growing chicks. Usually around 22% is preferred. It is the amino acids that are important in the protein.

It is OK for laying hens to eat unmedicated starter feed as long as you provide oyster shell in a separate dish... If you don't want to have 2 kinds of feed.

Since my flock always has chicks, hens, roosters, and teens... I feed flock raiser with 20% protein and about 1% calcium, with OS (oyster shell) on the side available free choice at all times. I cannot feed separately because the chicks are raised in the flock. It comes in crumbles and pellets. I use crumbles since it's easier for chicks to eat, but I also ferment. Check the fermenting link in my signature if you like. How it changed the poo and made the smell so much less was what convinced me to stick with after trying it. This isn't a perfect solution but it's a happy medium for me.

One final thing regarding feed... doesn't matter what the label calls itself.. layer, grower, starter, all flock, flock raiser... Your key differences are simple, protein and calcium levels. You can also read the ingredients and choose the one you think sounds the best that fits within the nutrient levels you are looking for. Personally would NEVER go go lower than 18% for chicks. They are growing like weeds and feathers are made from 90% protein.

The only thing "layer" has that others don't is more calcium and the MINIMUM amount of protein to sustain a light bodied laying hen in good condition. Not the best for amount per se for the hen (especially heavier body like BR) and also doesn't produce the highest nutrient eggs, that's why (some) breeders use higher protein formulas for max viability/vitality at hatch. Which in reality means you would get better eating eggs by giving your girls more than the minimum, IMHO. Things like lettuce and melon diminish not improve nutrients. Those are used more for enrichment (fun) than nutrition. One study showing nutrient needs... not one misprint says 5-19% and it should say 15-19%..
http://ucanr.edu/sites/poultry/files/186894.pdf

Sorry so long, you asked!