Swedish Flower Hen Thread

[TarheelBirdy]

The size and color of the comb and wattles. On boys they are redder and bigger.

My husband, although he is 56 years old and a grown up, can't stop chuckling about your comment, "On boys they are redder and bigger."

 

[KYTinpusher]

Just for the sake of learning, what did y'all see to make you say he's a roo? In a few weeks I'll be making this call too.

The appearance of red wattles at that young an age is a dead give-a-way. My girls didn't get wattles until they were getting close to laying age (about 21 weeks).

 

[TarheelBirdy]

The appearance of red wattles at that young an age is a dead give-a-way. My girls didn't get wattles until they were getting close to laying age (about 21 weeks).

Good to know. One of my babies is growing wattles. Figured that indicated a roo, but I never assume anything.

 

[Knock Kneed Hen]

I had a couple of boys that were much bigger then the others. Although, this one had scrawny legs for the longest time.
A good average tell tale sign, like the others said, is the reddening of the wattles and comb.

 

[ladyfaeden]

Here are pictures of that same Red Mille Fleur Roo at about 6 weeks and 10 weeks.

 

[QuackerJackFarms]

Random question: Are SFH's a little slow growing? Mine seem to be at a stand still in the growing department.
Here's a pic just for fun. They're about 12 weeks.

I can't get them to hold still very long..



He is the most colorful.

 

[Knock Kneed Hen]

QuackerJackFarms, I remember thinking that they were slow growers.

 

[klf73]

Swedish flower hen chicks with topknot? I just hatched two chicks that could pass for polish chicks, anyone else hatch some of these from a crested x crested breeding?

 

[Knock Kneed Hen]

Swedish flower hen chicks with topknot? I just hatched two chicks that could pass for polish chicks, anyone else hatch some of these from a crested x crested breeding?

Mine haven't been laying for long, but I do free range so I'm interested in knowing the answer to this. Any pics to post? Please

 

[klf73]

Mine haven't been laying for long, but I do free range so I'm interested in knowing the answer to this. Any pics to post? Please

I will get pics shortly. Maybe its like other chicken genes that one copy of the gene gives you a little(what we are used to for crested) while two copies fully expresses it like a polish? I have seen polish crosses and silkie crosses that have mild crests, which would be one copy of the gene?

I really like the crested variety but don't want them too big, but if I took one of these big crested chicks and put over non crested hens (obviously theoretically a crested roo) then maybe all offspring will have the mild crests?

I will have to go read on crest genetics now....