for those that are really interested, this is the "swedish country club" that actually manages the gene bank for swedish flower hens http://www.kackel.se/lantras_hons.html
here is what they say about the breed:
"Skånsk blommehöna
From the Sydskånska plain will this our largest native breed hen. In the villages Vomb, Tofta and Esarp found farm flocks that make up today's blommehöns. Chickens breed has been named after older people in Skåne who spoke of them as "di old flower mede."
Characteristics
Body shape is round and robust. Spring color has been the character of the white feather tips of different colored background. The primer can be black, blue (gray), wild-colored (red-orange roosters and hens brown) or light yellowish. like most other breeds of chickens have blommehöns a simple and serrated ridge. Some animals may tassel (spring bush) on the head. Weight 2 to 2.5 hen, rooster 2.5-3.5 kg. " (translated using google)
What I have read in their forums about leg color for example, is that it seems that it is not uncommon that they have yellow legs, but it is also not a "standard"...
they seem to be pretty much against strict detailed breed standards. They are using the "genbank" SFHs to "breed" and just weed out certain smaller "cosmetic defects" as well as unhealthy chickens.
I think it is important to focus more on health and smaller cosmetic defects (like irregular combs with side springs, split combs, crooked legs, deformed beaks, split wings, etc. etc.) than to focus on anything specific, especially the coloring of this chicken "breed" one cannot really standardize, as it comes in such a huge variety.
It is important to know that ones chickens are out of the gene pool, basically for us in the states a chicken who can be traced back to greenfire or any other person that imported them directly from Sweden.
"It is a landrace and should not become a show or commercial breed" (basically what the swedish are saying!).
There is a lot to read, use your browser in "translate" mode, and read through, there is tons of material, especially in the country club forum, etc.!!
here is what they say about the breed:
"Skånsk blommehöna
From the Sydskånska plain will this our largest native breed hen. In the villages Vomb, Tofta and Esarp found farm flocks that make up today's blommehöns. Chickens breed has been named after older people in Skåne who spoke of them as "di old flower mede."
Characteristics
Body shape is round and robust. Spring color has been the character of the white feather tips of different colored background. The primer can be black, blue (gray), wild-colored (red-orange roosters and hens brown) or light yellowish. like most other breeds of chickens have blommehöns a simple and serrated ridge. Some animals may tassel (spring bush) on the head. Weight 2 to 2.5 hen, rooster 2.5-3.5 kg. " (translated using google)
What I have read in their forums about leg color for example, is that it seems that it is not uncommon that they have yellow legs, but it is also not a "standard"...
they seem to be pretty much against strict detailed breed standards. They are using the "genbank" SFHs to "breed" and just weed out certain smaller "cosmetic defects" as well as unhealthy chickens.
I think it is important to focus more on health and smaller cosmetic defects (like irregular combs with side springs, split combs, crooked legs, deformed beaks, split wings, etc. etc.) than to focus on anything specific, especially the coloring of this chicken "breed" one cannot really standardize, as it comes in such a huge variety.
It is important to know that ones chickens are out of the gene pool, basically for us in the states a chicken who can be traced back to greenfire or any other person that imported them directly from Sweden.
"It is a landrace and should not become a show or commercial breed" (basically what the swedish are saying!).
There is a lot to read, use your browser in "translate" mode, and read through, there is tons of material, especially in the country club forum, etc.!!
