Swedish Flower Hen Thread

[Papa Brooder]

Quote:
seriously. I have pretty much given up on allowing silkies any "free range" ability. Even in a huge wire fence pen they have a hard time making it back to the coop. i lost some of my best silkies because i wanted them to have the option to free range. they just aren't capable of getting back. it's ridiculous where I find them!! so cute and fuzzy, but short on survival instincts. i've also seen a hawk carry them off and the silkie not even make a peep!!

 

[Kimbroe1981]

Quote: Thnx, She's mean as crap tho, even when she's not broody!

 

[sevierchickens]

some of my little ones from contrastphoto....(hatched 3 weeks ago today)
thank you so much Genelda!!!

 

[cathiesue]

Here are a few pics from my new Momma!







I love watching them "swim" around in Momma's feathers!

Dang. Now I want a broody. So cute.

 

[Miss Molly]

I really enjoyed ALL the Chick picture..so much Cuteness... Thank you<3

 

[Kimbroe1981]

Quote: I was leaving eggs in the nest box to help my pullets learn where to lay, and that seriously backfired on me. Momma hen stole them all and started sitting.

 

[Cynthia12]

I have places for them to hide if they see a hawk. There had been a hawk pass over and they kept running to their pen. They finally decided to heck with it and just tucked under the board. Pretty smart for as young as they are. I find this bird to be very aware of it's surroundings. While my mixed flock sit out in the open not paying any attention, my flowers are always ducking for cover.

Oh man, really? We have had a Cooper's hawk in our neighborhood! Those birds are brazen!! It attacked and killed, ate the neck of my friends GLW, must have been interrupted, because they found the bird in their window well. She called me about it, and said she was forewarning me that something was out there. My first thought was..cat. I've had a Ferrel cat get one of mine in the past. Then she calls me the next morning, telling me that a hawk is just hanging around their house,,it would land on their fence, another neighbors house, and finally, on top of the coop! She would flay her arms and yell at it when it was on the roof tops, but it wouldn't budge. The bird that was killed was in a box on a table outside, but the legs were sticking out! Later, when they went to bury their bird, that hawk swooped about two feet over her daughters head while they were bent down digging the hole. I haven't heard anything like that about the red tails, but I went and read up on the Cooper's which she found out that's what it was, because she called and had someone come look at the picture of it she had taken. Guess who didn't show up when they decided they would come and try to tranquilize it the next day? It didn't need to, it's lunch was gone. Then, it shows up at my house a couple of days later, as I walk out of my coop's run, I have a hawk swoop down about 7 ft. above my head. My girls were out, not sure that it was about to swoop down and just snag one right there and then, but it went back up as I went to the yard.. I've read they will get a bird right in front of you. It has to be a smaller one, they aren't very big hawks. My girls have been kept in the run for a while..I finally let them out the other day..man they were happy. I kept running out and looking at the sky! I've seen a large hawk fly over, pretty low, but what do my birds do? They freeze, and duck..now that just isn't going to do the trick! For the hawk, yes!
If these SF's are as aware as you say, this will be great! That was a good idea putting that board there for them. Smart babies.
Here is a picture my friend got of the hawk, not real clear, it was from her phone.

Not very big, but took down her GLW. They break the chickens necks when they land on them, and go from their.

 

[Cynthia12]

Here are a few pics from my new Momma!







I love watching them "swim" around in Momma's feathers!

These pictures are darling. I love how you put it..they swim around in their moms feathers. Hey, I was thinking she looked so sweet in that last picture, then I read your post saying how mean she is? Aww, too bad. She looks very pretty from what I can see of her, and yes..blue babies! Will be fun to see what all else comes out in them..thinking in that last picture, the baby with it's butt to us, has a lot of yellow in it..some splash to be? Like I said, will be fun to watch. )

 

[TherryChicken]

These birds are BEAUTIFUL! I don't have any "yet", but i have 6 fertile eggs.. Can't wait till they hatch

 

[Knock Kneed Hen]

some of my little ones from contrastphoto....(hatched 3 weeks ago today)
thank you so much Genelda!!!

Cute, looks like they'll all be crested too. I haven't seen one feather out like the middle one. It's a lot of fun watching how these guys feather out. Thanks for sharing