A hen with a name like “Swedish Flower Hens” (Sknsk Blommehona) must be special, and that’s exactly what it is. The name means “Skane Bloom-hen,” which is a good fit since the feathers look like flowers.
It wasn’t very well known outside of Sweden until 2010, when a few were brought to the US.
Even in its own country, almost no one knew about it until the 1980s, when Swedish conservationists learned about its plight because it was almost extinct.
This article will tell you everything you need to know about the Swedish Flower Hen, such as how it acts, how often it lays eggs, and much more.
You may also want to read about the best feed for chickens.
History of Swedish Flower Hens
The Swedish Flower hen is a landrace chicken, which makes it unique. People did not “engineer” landrace birds. Instead, they naturally adapted to the environment in which they lived. The weak did not make it, which proves Darwin’s theory.
They adapted to the sometimes harsh climate of southern Sweden and are now the traditional farm hens of that area.
Even though no one knows for sure where it came from, it is likely that seafarers and early settlers brought chickens to faraway settlements to trade for other goods and to eat.
At least 300 years ago, it was written down in different documents from that time.
They would have given the farmer eggs, meat, and feathers, which were used to stuff comforters. They probably weren’t treated like livestock. They would have been fine on their own, and they would have done it well.
As was the case with many older breeds, the rise of the industrial hen almost killed off this beautiful and hardy bird.
By the 1970s, Sweden had almost none left. The Swedish Genetic Project came up with a plan to bring the flocks back together and get them to breed again.
The goal of the Project is to bring more attention to this endangered species, increase the number of them, and keep them as a heritage breed.
Temperament
The Swedish Flower hen is a bird that is sure of itself, calm, and in control. It can find food on its own and is friendly to the person who takes care of the flock, especially if treats are coming.
Even the roosters aren’t mean, but they can crow loudly enough to annoy people who live close by.
The bird can handle many different temperatures. Its home country has temperatures between just below 32°F and about 70°F.
The Swedish Flower hen likes to be free-range, knows how to avoid predators, and enjoys being on its own, but it can live in a coop. They are interested in their surroundings and like to find out more about them. People also say that they learn quickly and are smart.
Egg Laying
Between 150 and 200 eggs will be laid by these hens each year. Eggs start out small but quickly get big enough to be extra-large. The egg is a light shade of beige.
When allowed to be broody, the hens are good mothers, but they are not known to be constantly broody. If given the chance, about one-third of hens will become broody.
Their numbers may have gone down in part because they weren’t interested in having babies Chicks are quick to mature, and the chicken itself is a long-living bird.
Are Swedish Flower Hens for you?
The Swedish Flower Hen is a beautiful bird that comes in many different colors.
The hens lay a good number of eggs each week. As a dual-purpose hen, the bird will grow to a healthy weight. Give them a good layer feed.
They are not aggressive, friendly, and very social, so children can be around them. Since they aren’t a breed yet, the only reason for the show would be to get them recognized as a breed.
They would be a good project bird for young farmers or people who have never kept birds before because they don’t cause too many problems and can do well on their own if given the chance.
They are also very healthy. This breed has never been known to get sick or have joint problems. Keep an eye out for ectoparasites at all times.
Conclusion
Swedish Flower Hens are popular right now because a few enterprising hatcheries are trying to get the breed accepted as a good backyard hen.
Prices for this bird can be anywhere from $1 to $30,000, which is a huge range. As with everything else, people should be wary of cheap deals.
They seem to be able to live on their own, but several sources say they like to be around people and are friendly with their keepers.
