There are many chicken breeds that exist.
Certain breeds like the Rhode Island Red are very popular.
Whereas others like the Swedish Flower Hen are less common and not known by most people.
There is a lot of genetic diversity which means that every Swedish Flower Hen looks unique. Each hen in a flock of Swedish Flower Hens will look completely different from each other.
If you have not heard about this breed before then do not worry.
There is so much more to learn about them, like their history, temperament, egg laying capabilities and much more.
Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about this fascinating breed…
Contents and Quick Navigation
Swedish Flower Hen Overview
Although they are not as well known as other breeds, the Swedish Flower Hen is a formidable dual-purpose breed with excellent egg laying abilities.
You will never know what your Swedish Flower Hen will look like.
It takes time for the coloring and feathers to fully develop, but it will be worth the wait!
The surprise is almost like opening a birthday gift and there are a variety of colors possible including: blue, black and red. Many will wear flower-like spots and have white-tipped feathers too.
Their calm and independent temperament is unmatched.
They are also very self-sufficient which makes them perfect for both first time keepers and people without a lot of time on their hands. Swedish Flower Hens will largely keep to themselves but will greatly appreciate your attention from time to time.
Because this is a landrace breed they are typically very healthy and not prone to any specific health issues.
Unfortunately, this breed is not very well-known and is considered endangered.
So if you have space in your flock you should consider this beautiful and unique breed.
| Swedish Flower Hen | |
|---|---|
| Beginner Friendly: | Yes. |
| Lifespan: | 5-10 years. |
| Weight: | Hen (5lb) and Rooster (8lb). |
| Color: | Black, blue, red, orange and brown. |
| Egg Production: | 3-4 per week. |
| Egg Color: | Brown. |
| Known For Broodiness: | No. |
| Good With Children: | Yes. |
| Cost of Chicken: | $20 per chick. |
Why We Love This Breed
- This breed’s feather pattern is extremely unique. There is a lot of variance even within the breed and no chicken will be like the other.
- Because they are a landrace chicken they are genetically and physically hardy.
- Swedish Flower Hens have a calm and non-aggressive temperament which makes them great for families with children and other household pets.
- These chickens are excellent dual purpose hens. They are good egg layers and will grow to a generous size too.
- Although their eggs start out small they will rapidly grow in size as the hen matures.
Appearance
This breed has no official standard as they have not been accepted into the American Poultry Association yet. This allows for a lot of variance in their appearance. This variation is also due to the fact that they are a landrace breed.
The Swedish Flower Hen was naturally and randomly bred for survival instead of appearance.
Although they are known for their flower-like spots on their feathers, not every hen will wear them.
Comb styles will also widely vary too.
Some birds will have floppy combs whilst others will have less floppy combs. In general they will have a single serrated comb.
Size and Weight
The Swedish Flower Hen is a medium sized breed.
Hens will weigh around five pounds and roosters can weigh up to eight pounds.
Color Varieties
This breed comes in a huge variety of different colors. These colors include: black, blue, red, orange and brown.
White-tipped feathering is also a common pattern with this breed, but again not all hens will have them.
Flower-like spots are common too.
What Is It Like To Own A Swedish Flower Hen?
You can expect your Swedish Flower Hen to be very independent.
They will spend a lot of time grazing in the fields but will definitely appreciate your attention from time to time.
Because they are landrace, they are fairly hardy and you should not have any issues or troubles keeping them healthy. It is not uncommon for the Swedish Flower Hen to live well over the average of five-ten years.
In general this breed is very low maintenance, like Jersey Giants.
This makes them perfect for first time keepers, or those who may not have the knowledge and confidence to care for a more difficult breed.
Personality
These chickens are very confident and are known for always being regal and poised.
They are largely independent and often spend their time roaming the fields where they are kept. However they will relish in your attention and care when given the opportunity to.
Overall this chicken is calm, but attentive and is not aggressive with their owners. This makes them great for families as they will love the extra attention from children.
Egg Production
Swedish Flower Hens are very good egg layers.
These chickens will lay around three to four eggs a week – this is around 150-200 eggs a year.
You can expect beige/brown colored eggs that are a decent size.
Although their eggs will be fairly small in size at the start, as the hen continues to lay their eggs will get much better. In fact this breed is known for their large and extra-large sized eggs.
After a few months, your small eggs will grow exponentially in size.
| Egg Production | |
|---|---|
| Eggs Per Week: | 3-4 Eggs. |
| Color: | Brown. |
| Size: | Large to Jumbo. |
Noise Levels
These chickens are fairly chatty.
They are better suited to rural areas where they can be more vocal than to suburban yards where neighbors would prefer quiet during the sunrise.
Facts About This Breed
- Swedish Flower Hens are Sweden’s largest chicken breed.
- Sadly these chickens are currently considered endangered.
- They are considered a landrace breed which means they are the result of natural breeding and selection without any human interference.
- Although this breed has a loyal following they have not yet been officially recognized by the American Poultry Association and are therefore not an official breed.
- These chickens thrive in colder climates because they naturally developed in Sweden.
Swedish Flower Chicken Care Guide
Health Issues
Because this breed is landrace they are very healthy chickens with no specific health issues you should look out for.
However you should still look out for the usual lice and parasites, just like you would for any other breed.
Make sure you provide enough shade and water in warmer climates so that your chickens do not overheat. However you will not have to worry about your Swedish Flower Hen becoming too cold as they are well suited to cooler climates.
Feeding
As with all hens you should use a high quality feed that provides your chickens with all the necessary nutrients and proteins that they need.
It is also important to make sure your hens are getting enough calcium and protein in their diet too.
You can check this by seeing if their egg shells are too thin or of a normal thickness. You have the option of free feeding or scheduled feedings.
Free feeding is when you provide an unlimited supply of food at all times throughout the day. Scheduled feedings are where you feed your chickens on a set schedule. Free feeding and scheduled feedings are both acceptable methods of feeding your chickens.
Coop Setup and Roaming
Each Swedish Flower Hen should be given at least four square feet of space inside the coop.
Where possible feel free to give them more.
You should aim to give them one nesting box for every three hens. You do not need to provide anymore than this because they are not prone to broodiness and will therefore not spend a lot of time inside the nesting boxes.
This breed will love to roam the fields as they enjoy being outside and exploring their new territories each day.
However if you do need to keep them in a run then make sure it is safe and secure from any predators in the area.
This breed does tolerate confinement well but you should still aim to give them at least eight square feet of run space.
Interestingly if your hens have the flower-like spots on them then they will be able to hide from predators using their natural camouflage.
Swedish Flower Hens Breed History
Like their name suggests the Swedish Flower Hen (also known as Blomme hona) are originally from Sweden.
They are descendants of a variety of birds brought to Sweden by the many people who would eventually settle and live there hundreds of years ago. The flower in their name refers to the colorful speckles on their feathers which look like abstract painted flowers.
Unlike many other breeds the Swedish Flower Hen is a landrace chicken.
The term landrace means that these chickens developed their traits and physique through natural breeding.
Instead of being bred for a specific color or purpose, these chickens were allowed to go through the process of natural selection where only the fittest with the best traits survived.
It is important to note that their development occurred without any human intervention or selection. Only the healthiest and fittest of the chickens lived on and, in turn, would pass on the traits that allowed them to be successful.
As a result Swedish Flower chickens are well-equipped and comfortably adapted to their homeland conditions. It also means that this breed is genetically very diverse.
Interestingly this chicken is the largest native Swedish chicken breed.
Their large size is believed to be one of those characteristics that helped them survive throughout the years. Another characteristic that is believed to have been passed down is the flower-like pattern on their feathers. It is thought that the speckles acted as camouflage from local predators.
Even at the peak of their popularity in the 1900s this breed was not very well-known.
In fact not many Swedish farmers even knew of the existence of the breed.
Around the 1980s the Swedish Flower Hen almost became extinct due to Sweden’s move to commercialize the poultry industry. These hens just could not compete against the industrial chickens that were bred specifically for huge egg productivity.
Only a few flocks remained in the rural areas of Sweden.
Since then the Swedish Flower chicken has remained on the brink of extinction. Efforts to revitalize the breed have been underway since 2000 but their population has yet to recover to a safe and sustainable number.
Should You Keep This Breed? (Summary)
Swedish Flower Hens are extremely practical and easy-to-keep.
Not only this but they have a very unique appearance.
Because of their landrace origins they are less likely to get sick and are well-equipped to survive in cold regions.
Plus who can resist their truly unique and beautiful feathers?
Not only does the breed have a unique look but each chicken will look different due to their great genetic variation.
Although they are rare and on the pricier side, this is still a wonderful breed.
By adopting a Swedish Flower Hen into your flock you would be doing your part in helping to grow their population.
Hopefully this breed will one day become as popular as many other iconic breeds.
Let us know your questions in the comments section below…
my swedish flowers have entered into thier third year and egg production has dropped off dramatically. Is this normal?
Is it possible to have a white SFH?