Bohuslän-Dals Svarthöna (Swedish Black Hen)

Beetle green foraging machine!

Where do I start? I can't recall how or when I first heard about the Svarthöna. I always thought Ayam Cemani chickens were fascinating, but I never imagined bringing them to Alaska to endure the extreme cold; that thought never crossed my mind. I was thrilled when I learned about their distant relative, the Svarthöna. I had never seen one in person and knew little about their true personality, only what I had read until I spoke to someone who had a flock living in North Carolina. Ironically, she was originally from North Pole, Alaska. Svarthönas were a mystery to me; all I had heard were good things about them. Finding available stock was neither easy nor affordable, but I do not regret the time and money I invested in acquiring them. They are incredibly friendly, personable, beautiful, and a bit scrappy. Though they may be smaller than the average chicken, you wouldn't know it by their demeanor. I never have to worry about them being singled out or bullied; every person and chicken they encounter seems to love them, and they easily return that affection. They have truly found a permanent place here on the farm.

About

The Bohuslän-Dals svarthöna, also known as the, Svart Hona or Swedish Black Hen, is a landrace breed characterized by its fibro melanistic trait, which gives it a completely black appearance, both inside and out. This fibro melanistic mutation originated in Asia and made its way to Old Sweden nearly 400 years ago. Over the centuries, this breed adapted to the cold climate of Sweden. According to the national poultry census, there are currently fewer than 500 Svarthöna left, making them even rarer than their distant relative, the Ayam Cemani. These birds are relatively small, weighing between 4 to 7.5 pounds. The hens tend to be very broody, laying between 200 to 250 small to medium-sized white or cream-colored eggs each year, even during winter. They are known for their good temperament, often friendly and docile, while also being hardy foragers. Our flock is sourced from Greenfire Farms, which imported Swedish Black Hens from Sweden in 2012. We have enjoyed having these birds in our flock; they are social and entertaining, both with us and their coop mates. We will maintain a closed flock and continue breeding with the aim of preserving health, vigor, conformation, production, and temperament. There are many websites with breed descriptions and standards. The Proposed standard by the Rare Poultry Society of the UK (RPS), along with the Society for the Preservation of Poultry Antiquities (SPPA), are two good references.

The Society for the Preservation of Poultry Antiquities is an organization that works with and recognizes all breeds of domestic poultry.  Their objectives are to perpetuate and improve rare poultry breeds, sponsor awards and shows to encourage more exhibiting and better breeding, and help each other locate rare stock.  If you wish to join the SPPA, please get in touch with Dr. Charles R. H. Everett, 1057 Nick Watts Road, Lugoff, SC  29078

Chicks:

They are not auto-sexing at hatch, meaning their sex is not evident at hatch. We offer straight-run chicks.

Hatching Eggs:

We are pleased to announce that hatching eggs will be available soon! Currently, we are preparing for the breeding season.

Live Birds:

I typically do not keep hens for sale, but if you're interested in pullets, hens, or roosters, don't hesitate to contact us for more details.

Citation

  1. Svart Hona. ​The Rare Poultry Society. (n.d.). https://www.rarepoultrysociety.com/svart-hona.html

  2. Farms, G. (n.d.). Swedish Black Hen. Greenfire farms - swedish black hen. https://greenfirefarms.com/swedish_black_hen.html

  3. Hudson, J., Joseph HudsonJoseph Hudson has been raising chickens for over 15 years. In 2018, Victor, & Joyce. (2023, October 2). Svart Hona Chicken: Appearance, temperament, eggs & raising tips. Chicken Scratch The Foundry. https://cs-tf.com/svart-hona/