Have you ever heard about Swedish Flower Hen chickens? This chicken breed has an interesting name because it contains the word hen.
Most breed names do not usually include a hen or a rooster. So, chicken raisers are confused about whether a breed has only a hen or a rooster.
But don’t get confused because the Swedish Flower Hen chicken breed has both males and females.
Here you will know the history, color varieties, lifespan, eggs production, temperament, appearance, size, and care guide of this chicken breed.
History and Origin of Swedish Flower Hen Chicken
Swedish Flower Hen chicken is considered among the traditional breeds of Sweden. This chicken is believed to have been brought to Sweden by seafarers and settlers.
They used the flower hen chicken in trading for other services and goods, while others used this beautiful hen chicken as a food source.
Apart from being used for meat and egg production in Sweden, this beautiful bird’s feathers were used to stuff pillows and blankets.
This beautiful Swedish Flower Hen is considered a landrace chicken since it adapted naturally to its surroundings rather than being engineered by humankind.
Initially, this chicken hen was not being given much attention by settlers in Sweden and they always left to roam more or less wild. Additionally, they had to find roosting places, nests, and food by themselves.
In the 1970s, there was a sharp decline in the population of these beautiful birds because of the birds’ popularity grew fast due to their being highly productive.
There was a time when the total population of these beautiful birds was only about 500.
Chicken enthusiasts and conservationists became aware of this in the early 1980s, and they had to intervene.
Chicken enthusiasts and conservationists in different towns discovered three different colonies of the Swedish Flower Hens.
The three different colonies included: –
- The crested had a plume of feathers on their heads that was discovered in Bomb.
- The non-crested Swedish Flower Hens were found in Earp and Tofta.
The Swedish Genetic Project established a breeding plan to restore the Swedish Flower chicken breed. In 2010, about 15 Swedish Flower Hens were sent to the United States.
After this, American enthusiasts began to notice this breed, and its population began to increase. Despite Swedish Flower Hens being unknown, you can currently purchase them throughout North America and Europe.
Also read: Ayam Cemani Chicken Breed Guide
Swedish Flower Hen Chicken Color Varieties
The Swedish Flower Hen chicken is available in multiple color varieties. The beautiful bird features a mottled color across its feathers.
The mottled colors resemble the patterns and speckles of Swedish flowers. Additionally, the Swedish Flower Hen feather pattern is known as “Mille Fleur” meaning a thousand flowers with white tips.
The predominant color variety of the Swedish Flower Hen chicken is:
- Brown and white
- Black and white
- Three base colors of black, white, and pale brown.
Moreover, you may also find Swedish Flower Hen chicks in blue, red, and orange varieties.
There are also Swedish Flower Hens with rare colors known as a snow leopard pattern that features a black, white, and gold blend, creating a mottled pattern that mimics the snow leopard’s coat.
Furthermore, the Swedish Flower chicken hen features a red comb, wattles, and ear lobes. These amazing birds may have orange or yellow eyes, while the legs may be pink or gray.
Lifespan of Swedish Flower Hen Chicken
Health and care are among the things that determine the lifespan of most living creatures. The lifespan of this chicken breed is not different.
The average lifespan of Swedish Flower Hens ranges between 5 to 10 years. However, they may live for more than ten years with proper care and health.
Also read: Type of Chickens That Lay Colored Eggs
Egg Production
When you take good care of the Swedish Flower Hen chicken and feed them an appropriate diet, they may start laying eggs as early as seventeen weeks.
Additionally, these unique birds can lay between 150 to 200 eggs yearly when you give them proper care and feed them the appropriate diet. Besides, with an appropriate diet, Swedish Flower Hens will produce hard-shelled eggs.
Swedish Flower Hen eggs are always light beige to brown. When Swedish Flower Hen starts laying eggs, they will be small to medium in size and increase in size as time goes on.
When you want your Swedish Flower Hen chicken eggs to increase to an extra-large size, you need to feed them properly and provide a safe nest area (chicken nesting boxes).
Feeding Swedish Flower Hen chicken involves feeding them a diet rich in protein and calcium.
In addition, you may add oyster shells and grit to your Swedish Flower Hen diet to help with the digestion of feed and to ensure they receive their nutrients.
However, the Swedish Flower Hen is not an excellent broody of chickens but they tend to be great and caring mothers to their chicks once the eggs have hatched.
Therefore, if you are hoping for chicks, you must place the eggs in an incubator.
You may also place the eggs under any hen inclined to brood even if it is not a Swedish flower breed to get chicks. Only one-third of the hens will brood if you allow your Swedish Flower Hen to brood.
Also read: Top 7 Best Chicken Breeds That Lay White Eggs (with Images)
Temperament and Personality
Swedish Flower Hens keepers frequently consider them among the smartest and most interesting birds in the flock. They may learn to respond to commands and to follow their caretaker around.
This chicken is also said to be rather non-aggressive. Swedish Flower Hen chickens rarely confront other birds and rarely peck at humans.
They also like attention, and they can tolerate being around children; therefore, you do not have to worry about keeping them with kids around since they will get along well.
These Swedish Flower Hens are friendly but have a strong sense of independence. They appreciate human company but do not require it, maybe because of how the breed was established. These birds are great foragers and are very easy to care for.
Swedish Flower Hens can be left to fend for themselves to a significant extent. They have a tranquil and welcoming demeanor.
Disturbances, such as loud noises, do not easily agitate them. Besides, the Swedish Flower Hen chicken breed is hardy and tolerant to various temperatures.
If you keep other birds in your home, the chickens will be a great addition to your existing flock.
Moreover, the Swedish Flower Hen may be an excellent choice if you are a chicken enthusiast without much experience and want to start keeping birds because of their calm, gentle, and easy care.
Further, despite Swedish Flower Hen chickens having a strong sense of dependence and fetching for themselves, they can also tolerate confinement.
Also read: Plymouth Rock chicken
Color, Size, Appearance, Characteristics of Swedish Flower Hen
Color
Swedish Flower Hen chicken breed base colors are black, blue, yellow, and red. They have yellow to black mottled skin.
Their legs are usually bright yellow, while chicks feature light pink legs and feet. The color of the Swedish Flower Hens varies from yellow to orange. The feathers of this beautiful bird are tipped in white.
Further, this chicken breed features a red comb and wattles. When they reach maturity, this beautiful bird’s ear lobes, comb, and wattles become bright red.
Size
Swedish Flower Hens are average-sized, meaning they stand about 27.6 inches tall. The hens of this breed weigh up to 5 pounds, and the roosters up to 8 pounds.
Appearance
The beautiful bird features a mottled color across its feathers. The mottled colors resemble the patterns and speckles of Swedish flowers.
Additionally, the Swedish Flower Hen feather pattern is known as “Mille Fleur,” meaning a thousand flowers, and it has white tips.
The predominant color variety of this chicken breed is brown and white, black and white, and three base colors of black, white, and pale brown. Moreover, you may also find Swedish Flower Hen chicks in blue, red, and orange varieties.
There are rare colors known as a snow leopard pattern that features a black, white, and gold blend, creating a mottled pattern that mimics the snow leopard’s coat.
Furthermore, the Swedish Flower chicken hen features a red comb, wattles, and ear lobes. You may find these wonderful birds with orange or yellow eyes while the legs may be pink or gray.
Characteristics
This breed’s feather design is unique. Even within the breed, there is a lot of variation, and no two chickens are alike.
The calm and non-aggressive demeanor of Swedish Flower Hens makes them ideal for families with children and other household pets.
These chickens are great for various tasks. They lay plenty of eggs and will grow to be huge.
The hens and roosters enjoy foraging and free-ranging but can tolerate confinement.
Benefits of Raising Swedish Flower Hen Chickens
Here are some amazing benefits that you may get by raising this breed in your backyard coop:
- Swedish Flower Hen chickens are docile birds. Although they enjoy roaming and foraging for food, they can tolerate confinement.
- You can keep the Swedish Flower Hen breed as pets since they are friendly and non-aggressive.
- These chickens have a dual purpose quality so you can keep them for both meat and eggs.
- They are hardy and, therefore, suitable for a variety of climates.
- They make caring and excellent mothers.
Problems in Raising Swedish Flower Hens
Swedish Flower Hen chicken for brooding is very low, but they make great mothers if they sit. So, there is a 30 percent chance of broodiness in females of this chicken breed.
They are average layers, so if you want to buy a breed only for egg purposes, this is not a good option. You can check out our list of the best egg-laying chicken breeds.
This chicken breed is still not accepted as a recognized breed by the American Poultry Association.
Swedish Flower Hens Care Guide
Diet
Swedish Flower Hens requires a high-quality, nutrient-dense feed. When they are chicks, you should provide them with meals that are richer in protein. Additionally, Adults who begin laying eggs can benefit from increased calcium in their diet.
Hens lacking calcium and protein may lay eggs with thin shells, resulting in less nutritious eggs. Allowing your chickens to range will help them acquire all the required nutrition.
Chickens allowed to roam freely can forage for nutrients and help control pests. As a result, it’s a win-win situation for both you and your birds.
Also read: Best chicken dewormer for your flocks
Habitat Setup
Each Swedish Flower Hen should have at least four square feet in its coop. Because kids can be curious and adventurous, you should always give them more if possible.
Free-ranging is the most convenient option for most keepers because these hens enjoy having plenty of space to roam during the day. If you can’t let them go around freely, ensure their enclosure has plenty of room for them.
You’ll need to give them at least eight square feet of the run room each because they don’t take confinement well.
Making their enclosure safe from predators is a smart idea. On the other hand, the markings on their feathers help them hide from predators.
Temperature
The optimal temperature for this breed is between 32 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Although they can tolerate all types of weather if necessary, they prefer cold to hot temperatures.
Depending on how cold it gets in the winter, you may need to install a coop heater. If you live somewhere where it’s always warm, you will need to take extra steps to keep your chickens safe.
Ensure the coop is well-ventilated and has enough shady spots on the exterior. Also, ensure the chickens have access to clean, cool water.
Health Concerns
These Swedish Flower Hens are like other landrace chickens and quite healthy. They don’t have any major health issues.
However, as with other hens, they should be aware of pests such as lice and parasites. To avoid infection, they should keep their coop clean and regularly refresh their food and water.
Summary
In today’s era, many types of recognized chicken breeds are available. If you want to raise a non-recognized chicken breed with lovely nature, add a few Swedish Flower Hens to your flocks.
However, they have amazing qualities, such as foraging, friendliness, an environment-adaptive nature, egg production, and meat ability. I hope this complete Swedish Flower Hen guide helped you learn about this breed.
