The Svart Hona (Swedish Black Hen) Thread!

[Zoomie]

Yes I did. First time. I feel very lucky!

@Backyard Hobby , how did you get yours? Local breeder?

I like that they are basically a landrace and hardy. I know it's nothing like raising the popular high production breeds, but I am OK with that.

 

[Backyard Hobby]

@Zoomie No, same, actually lol. I won a Greenfire auction on RBA a few months ago. Received 12 Svart Hona's (auction was for 8) and have been very pleased so far. Looking forward to seeing pics of your stock when they mature

 

[Zoomie]

Oh that is cool! How nice you got 12 instead of 8! What a grand surprise that would be.

My auction was for 6, and they had the pic of the actual 6 chicks. They are from both Greenfire Farms stock and... hmmm... Ewe Crazy? Something like that... So that is nice. But I doubt I will get any extras!

Not that I mind! I'm just glad I won.

Yes, I will share pics as they go along. I've been impressed with everyone else's pics - these are really very elegant looking birds.

 

[Coyox]

Hey guys!

About 2 weeks ago I brought home some 2 day old Svarthona babies--- MAN! Are they HARD to sex by just looking at them. Does anyone have any chick photos of pullets vs roos? I'm curious to see the differences. Right now I have 2 that seem to be fighting off and on (I'm assuming their roos, but their combs so far are entirely different sizes.) I've never had this much trouble naming the sex at two weeks before.

Anyone have tips?

 

[gapey]

Hey guys!

About 2 weeks ago I brought home some 2 day old Svarthona babies--- MAN! Are they HARD to sex by just looking at them. Does anyone have any chick photos of pullets vs roos? I'm curious to see the differences. Right now I have 2 that seem to be fighting off and on (I'm assuming their roos, but their combs so far are entirely different sizes.) I've never had this much trouble naming the sex at two weeks before.

Anyone have tips?

I couldn't tell on mine till they were about 2-3 weeks old. I think I have 1 out of 5 being a boy. He is much bigger than the others and comb is growing much faster. They are 5 weeks old now.

 

[Zoomie]

@gapey - wow! That's great - 4 hens and one rooster? That could not be more perfect!

 

[gapey]

Here's my 5 week old boy. He's starting to get some white lacing around the neck. Is that unusual? Wondering if it will grow out. None of the girls have any white like that. Everything else on him is black, all toes and toe nails. Had a couple girls with some white toe tips.

 

[Coyox]

I couldn't tell on mine till they were about 2-3 weeks old. I think I have 1 out of 5 being a boy. He is much bigger than the others and comb is growing much faster. They are 5 weeks old now.

Haha well I'll keep my eyes open.... But I'm starting to get terribly worriedall of them are rooster @.@ which would be such a bummer... You'd think since they were called "black hens" there'd be more ladies.

We do have one that might be a contender for a girly. Fingers crossed...

 

[minihorse927]

Haha well I'll keep my eyes open.... But I'm starting to get terribly worriedall of them are rooster @.@ which would be such a bummer... You'd think since they were called "black hens" there'd be more ladies.

We do have one that might be a contender for a girly. Fingers crossed...

good looking bunch. I have noticed that this breed puts off some slow developing males that you would never know to be a male until they are six or seven weeks old. Usually the slow developing ones turn out to be the blackest. Best of luck with them

 

[Coyox]

good looking bunch. I have noticed that this breed puts off some slow developing males that you would never know to be a male until they are six or seven weeks old. Usually the slow developing ones turn out to be the blackest. Best of luck with them

Thanks alot! I really hope that things turn out great.

The photos don't show it--- but these babies are turning out such a beautiful black. There's only one who has some slight pigment on the toenails--- I'm very optimistic. Even if they are all roosters-- I'm going to figure it out. All of these photos of Svart roosters hanging out together gives me a lot of hope. I'll post more updates in a couple weeks! Hopefully then it will be easier to tell.

The person I bought them from is actually a young boy who is in 4H, and I was his first sale! He sold them to me for an amazing price and tells me if I don't get a hen, he will find one for me. It's so awesome to see such young people so interested in a rare breed, and doing their best to keep the black genetics in tact. That kid did a darn good job!