Breed profile
Swedish Flower Hen
Sweden's largest landrace, and the pattern is the name. The millefleur 'flower' marking — feathers tipped in a white V over a black, blue, buff or red base — comes from the landskap of Skåne in southern Sweden. The breed nearly vanished in the 1970s and was rebuilt from three flocks in the villages of Esarp, Tofta and Vomb; fifteen birds reached the United States in 2010, which is why US sourcing still runs through a short hatchery list. Production is solid for a landrace: the hatchery estimates 150-200 large light-brown eggs, sometimes more, into a fourth or fifth year.
The egg numbers
| Eggs per year (first laying year) | 150–200 |
|---|---|
| In-lay rate | ≈3–4 a week |
| Strain note | One hatchery: 150-200, sometimes more, with production continuing into a fourth or fifth year. Another line: 4-6 pale brown to tinted eggs a week. |
| Egg color | brown |
| Egg size | large |
| Starts laying | 16–20 weeks |
| Winter laying | strong |
Body and climate
| Form | standard |
|---|---|
| Strain | heritage |
| Comb | single |
| Leg feathering | clean |
| Leg color | varies |
| Distinguishing features | millefleur "flower" plumage — white V-tipped feathers over a black, blue, buff or red base · some birds carry a small crest, others none · landrace — not admitted to any show standard |
| Mature hen weight | 5.5 lb |
| Mature rooster weight | 8 lb |
| Weight note | One hatchery: 5.5 lb hens, 8 lb roosters; another's table: 5/6.5 lb (its own prose says roosters 6-7); the breed standard: 2.5 kg hens (5.5 lb), 3 kg cocks (6.6 lb). |
| Cold hardiness | good |
| Climate note | One hatchery calls the line friendly, docile and cold hardy and says it doesn't slow down in winter; the other credits the Swedish landrace background for strong hardiness. |
Character
| Temperament | Calm, gentle and friendly with people, especially appealing for families with children. One table: friendly, calm. |
|---|---|
| Broodiness | moderate |
| Broody note | Variable — some hens sit, some never do; another table lists 'Occasionally'. |
| Good first breed | Yes |
What this means for your setup
Cold-country bird: one hatchery calls the line cold hardy and says it doesn't slow down in winter, and the other credits the landrace background — the winter-laying habit is a real planning asset up north. Crests vary (some birds carry a small top knot, others none, per both hatcheries), so wet-weather bedding care applies to some of the flock. Broodiness is variable, and sourcing is the real constraint: one hatchery's breeding program only began in 2025, and the breed remains outside every show standard.
Gear that fits this breed
Coop Size Calculator
turn 5.5-lb hens into coop, run and roost numbers
Egg Calculator
turn the 150–200 egg-a-year range into a hen count
Best Heated Waterers
strong winter laying only pays off if the water isn't frozen
Swedish Flower Hen FAQ
How many eggs do Swedish Flower Hens lay?
Estimates run 150-200 a year and sometimes more, with production able to continue into a fourth or fifth year; one line lays 4-6 pale brown to tinted eggs a week.
Why are they called Flower Hens?
The millefleur plumage: many feathers carry a white V-shaped tip over the base color, giving a flowered look. The Swedish name Skånsk Blommehöna translates as the Scanian flower hen.
Are Swedish Flower Hens rare?
Globally yes — the breed is listed as at risk/endangered in DAD-IS, with 1,123 birds in 85 Swedish flocks in 2019, and it came close to extinction in the 1970s. US supply is small: fifteen birds arrived in 2010.
Do Swedish Flower Hens lay in winter?
One hatchery page says the line doesn't slow down in winter, and the other credits the Swedish landrace background for strong hardiness — a genuine cold-climate laying trait.