The Swedish Flower Hen is a rare, beautiful bird that was developed in Sweden. Hens are good layers of large to extra-large light brown eggs and will continue laying throughout the winter.
Only about one-third of hens will go broody. If you don’t plan to raise chicks, keep an eye out for broody behavior and remove eggs as soon as possible to avoid your hens sitting on them.
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Swedish Flower Hen Chicken Breed Quick Info
Swedish Flower Hen Chicken Description
| Swedish Flower Hen Type/Size: | Standard |
| Feather Color: | Black, blue, yellow, or red |
| Leg Type: | Clean |
| Leg Color: | Pink or grey |
| Skin Color: | Yellow or black |
| Swedish Flower Hen Ease of Raising/Keeping: | Easy |
| Swedish Flower Hen Special Care Needs: | No |
| Is the Swedish Flower Hen breed a common, rare, or protected breed of chicken? | Rare |
Swedish Flower Hen Use
| Meat | No |
| Eggs | Yes |
| Dual Purpose | No |
| Swedish Flower Hen Temperament: | Gentle, alert |
| Swedish Flower Hen Ability/Likelihood to Free Range: | Yes |
Swedish Flower Hen Egg Production
| Egg Color | Light brown |
| Egg Size | Large - X-Large |
| Estimated Number of Eggs Per Year | 150-200 |
| Likeliness to Brood Eggs/Raise Chicks | Low |
Swedish Flower Hen Meat Production
| Dressed Weight Male | N/A |
| Dressed Weight Female | N/A |
Swedish Flower Hen Climate Tolerance
| Heat | Good |
| Cold | Excellent |
Swedish Flower Hen Age to Maturity
| Number of Months to Reach Full Size | 5 Months |
| Number of Months to Start Egg Laying | 5 Months |
| Number of Weeks/Months to Reach Meat Harvest Size | 16 Weeks |
Swedish Flower Hen Size at Maturity
| Male | 8 lbs. |
| Female | 5 ½ lbs. |
Origins of the Swedish Flower Hen Chicken
The Swedish Flower Hen originated in Sweden. It is a landrac chicken, which means that it was not developed by humans. Instead, it adapted to the environment around it.
It was a fairly common breed in Sweden until the 1970s when it became in danger of extinction. During that time, a project was put into place by the Swedish Genetic Project to restore the breed number back to a healthy level.
They were relatively unknown outside of Sweden until recently. In 2010, a few birds were imported to the United States.
Some Things to Know About the Swedish Flower Hen Chicken
The original flocks of Swedish Flower Hens were found in three different areas of the country: in Vomb, the flocks were crested, meaning they had feathers on top of their heads. In Esarp and Tofta, the birds were non-crested. Today, the breed standard is to be non-crested.
You can find Swedish Flower Hens in four main colors: black, blue, yellow, and red. They all have bright red comb and wattles, orange-yellow eyes, and white-tipped feathers.
You’ll notice right away that this breed has a confident, poised stature. They stand tall and upright.
How Easy is it to Keep Swedish Flower Hen Chickens?
The Swedish Flower Hen is a calm, docile bird that is great for beginner and expert chicken owners alike. Their gentle nature makes them a great choice for a pet chicken or a show bird.
They are also known to be quiet, which is beneficial if you live close to your neighbors. They stand confinement well.
They are excellent foragers and free-range birds and are hardy to a wide variety of temperatures. Since they hail from Sweden, they excel in cold weather.
Special Care and Considerations for Swedish Flower Hen Chickens
As with all birds with a single comb, frostbite can be an issue. When the temperature drops, you can help to protect their comb with a bit of vaseline.
Other than that, they are a hardy, healthy breed that has adapted to be virtually free of health issues over many hundreds of years.
