The Svart Hona (Swedish Black Hen) Thread!

[Coyox]

So I've finally come to the conclusion the out of my 4 svart honas, 3 are roos and 1 is a hen.

I've noticed alot of photos where there are tons of roosters living quite peacefully amongst other chickens. (I have 20 hens on the way at the end of February 5 for keeping, rest for eating). What are the chances of this working out? My current flock without the svart is 2 roosters and 9 hens. Do these roosters seem more docile than others? I swear I once saw a photo of 8 svart roosters sitting on a fence together. It sort of gave me some hope...

 

[campingshaws]

So I've finally come to the conclusion the out of my 4 svart honas, 3 are roos and 1 is a hen.

I've noticed alot of photos where there are tons of roosters living quite peacefully amongst other chickens. (I have 20 hens on the way at the end of February 5 for keeping, rest for eating). What are the chances of this working out? My current flock without the svart is 2 roosters and 9 hens. Do these roosters seem more docile than others? I swear I once saw a photo of 8 svart roosters sitting on a fence together. It sort of gave me some hope...

Mine get along great! My breed pen is 6 hens and 3 roos. They squabbled a bit when they were around 6 months old, but once they got it all settled it's been smooth sailing.

 

[Coyox]

Mine get along great! My breed pen is 6 hens and 3 roos. They squabbled a bit when they were around 6 months old, but once they got it all settled it's been smooth sailing.

Thanks alot! This makes me feel a bit better. Beautiful chickens, by the way <3

 

[campingshaws]

Mine get along great! My breed pen is 6 hens and 3 roos. They squabbled a bit when they were around 6 months old, but once they got it all settled it's been smooth sailing.

Thanks alot! This makes me feel a bit better. Beautiful chickens, by the way <3

Thanks! I hatched all summer and did lots of hard culling to get the flock I have now, of which I have few pictures. :/ Those guys with red combs were first to go. I think about 30% of my chicks hatched with color, and several more developed silver/gold hackles as they matured. They went to nice farm flocks.

 

[Coyox]

Thanks! I hatched all summer and did lots of hard culling to get the flock I have now, of which I have few pictures. :/ Those guys with red combs were first to go. I think about 30% of my chicks hatched with color, and several more developed silver/gold hackles as they matured. They went to nice farm flocks.

The mulberry combs you managed are very vivid and pretty.

I'm curious... When you culled them did you eat the meat? LOL I've been slightly afraid of the idea of eating purple chicken if I ever did have to cull

 

[campingshaws]

Thanks! I hatched all summer and did lots of hard culling to get the flock I have now, of which I have few pictures. :/ Those guys with red combs were first to go. I think about 30% of my chicks hatched with color, and several more developed silver/gold hackles as they matured. They went to nice farm flocks.

The mulberry combs you managed are very vivid and pretty.

I'm curious... When you culled them did you eat the meat? LOL I've been slightly afraid of the idea of eating purple chicken if I ever did have to cull

The three cockerels in the pic with the two pullets have red combs. The mulberry is like a deep purple.

Red:

Mulberry: (one of my favs til he lost an eye)

Silver in the hackles (but so nice and black!)

And the foundation of my young breed flock.

I was really looking forward to eating them but they happened to get spared by finding homes with mixed flocks that needed roos. I was pleased, because they're the very best roos I think. Very gentle and attentive. Mr. Red Comb would escort the ladies to their "secret" nest and stand guard while they laid, then he would bring them back to the flock. Such a good boy.

 

[Blingchix6]

My beautiful SvartHona Beyoncé came to me from Cedar Crest Farm in Ohio. Lisa has absolutely gorgeous birds there, and Beyoncé is inky black with a beautiful sheen that shows gree/blue in the sun. She weighs in at around 2 1/2 pounds, not a real big girl. Good temperament. During the warmer weather she gives me about 5 smallish light light brown eggs a week. I can put her on a leash and take her places with me. She is a conversation starter. Love my Bey!!

 

[Zoomie]

@Blingchix6 That is so sweet! Was it hard to train her to do that?

As my chicks are getting older and looking like real chickens, and even spending the night on the perch now like the Big Chickens do, I've noticed they seem to love randomly skittering around suddenly. It's like they momentarily want to play, or something. Does anyone know, do they all do this? Or are mine just strange? Do they grow out of it? It reminds me of goat kids, just suddenly leaping into the air for no reason at all, and then bounding around for a second or two when they land. With goats, they do eventually grow out of this, but I am kind of hoping the Svart Hönas do not! It's really kind of cute.

 

[Backyard Hobby]

@Blingchix6 That is so sweet! Was it hard to train her to do that?

As my chicks are getting older and looking like real chickens, and even spending the night on the perch now like the Big Chickens do, I've noticed they seem to love randomly skittering around suddenly. It's like they momentarily want to play, or something. Does anyone know, do they all do this? Or are mine just strange? Do they grow out of it? It reminds me of goat kids, just suddenly leaping into the air for no reason at all, and then bounding around for a second or two when they land. With goats, they do eventually grow out of this, but I am kind of hoping the Svart Hönas do not! It's really kind of cute.

Mine are 6 months old now and I've noticed the same behavior. When they're free ranging, they'll randomly dart to one spot to another and shortly after start scratching about like normal again. Sometimes the hens even chase each other (not in an aggressive manner, you would almost think they were playing tag or something). Sometimes they even randomly fly when they aren't spooked as if they just wanted to stretch their wings.

 

[Zoomie]

Mine are 6 months old now and I've noticed the same behavior. When they're free ranging, they'll randomly dart to one spot to another and shortly after start scratching about like normal again. Sometimes the hens even chase each other (not in an aggressive manner, you would almost think they were playing tag or something). Sometimes they even randomly fly when they aren't spooked as if they just wanted to stretch their wings.

Yeah, that's the kind of thing I'm seeing too but mine are much younger. Well here is hoping they keep doing that, it is pretty funny to watch, and I can't help but think they are having fun.

I have a friend who has a bull terrier, and those dogs do something similar. They call it "hucklebutting" and boy it's hilarious. How about "Hönabutting"?