What’s so special about the Svart Hona? Well, aside from its stunning looks, there is so much more to love about this breed! In this Svart Hona Breed Profile, I hope to introduce you to this rare, extremely fun breed to raise! They caught my eye several years ago when I saw a photo of one on Instagram. I was determined to get my hands on a few! Now I have been working with the Svart  Hona breed for 5 years and have learned a lot about this remarkable breed! Whether you’re new to raising chickens and looking to add some variety to your first flock, or you have been working with chickens for many years and want to try your hand at a rare breed, either way you should learn more about Svart Honas!

a Svart Hona hen standing next to a tree stump in the chicken coop enclosure
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General Svart Hona Breed Info

Name: Svart Hona (Swedish Black Hen)

Origin: Sweden

Conservation Status: rare

Variety: black

Size:

  • cocks- 7 lbs.
  • hens- 5 lbs.

Class: not recognized by the American Poultry Association (APA) 

a broody Svart Hona hen standing in the bright sunshine in a grassy yard
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Svart Hona: Appearance

The characteristic that most stands out about the Svart Hona is their color, they are completely black. Black is their only variety. Not only are they all black on the outside, but they are also black on the inside too!

Everything about them should be black, their eyes, ears, inside their mouth, bones, flesh, skin, organs, wattles, combs, legs, and feathers! The all black color comes from a gene mutation that causes black pigment cells to reproduce rapidly. This gene causes the all black pigmentation called fibromelanosis. Hence it is called the ‘fibro’ gene.

Svart Honas adapted to their colder climate in Sweden, thus they are a small, sturdy breed that can endure cold weather very well. The hens weigh around 5 pounds and the cocks can get up to 7 pounds.

Hens should have a small, single comb (some strains have flopped combs) and small wattles. The cocks should have a large, single comb and large, oval wattles. Because of their large combs and wattles, Svart Hona cocks are prone to frostbite.

a very nice Svart Hona cock with large prominent eyes, a tall single comb, and a minimal mulberrying
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Svart Hona: Purpose

Purpose: ornamental, eggs

Svart Hona hens are decent layers, laying around 250 eggs a year. Their eggs range from small to medium in size and are a creamy, white color. The hens do like to go broody and they make great mothers. They are also great winter time layers, and the hens will often keep up production well into the cold winter months with minimal supplemental light.

Svart Honas can be used for meat, although they are not a real meaty bird and their meat is black. 

And of course, Svart Honas make great eye-candy in your backyard! They are definitely a conversation starter and will draw anyone’s attention if you have a few mingling in your flock! Svart Honas can be shown in poultry shows, however, since they are not a recognized breed by APA, there is no specific breed class for them to compete in. This makes showing the Svart Hona professionally very challenging.

Svart Honas do make good 4-H show birds though! They are intelligent, quick to learn, and add variety to the 4-H poultry shows!

a line of Svart Hona chicks perched on a buffalo plaid lined crate
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Svart Hona: History

The Svart Hona is also called the Swedish Black Hen. They get their name from their home country of Sweden. The name ‘svart hona’ literal translates as ‘black female’ in the Swedish language, although Svart Honas are obviously both male and female.

Where the Svart Hona came from is not known for sure. Most resources agree though, that they were first created in Indonesia. Then they were imported from Mozambique to Sweden in the 1800s. Sweden’s neighbor, Norway, may have also played a role in getting Svart Honas into Sweden.

Norway may have had birds that carried the same genetic mutation that the Svart Hona has. Svart Honas are extremely rare, both in the United States and in their home country. A census taken in Sweden estimated that there were only 400 Svart Honas left in their country. They are considered a landrace breed in their home country.

Svart Honas were not imported into the United States until 2012 and it is still hard to find quality strains. Svart Honas are more rare then their cousin the Ayam Cemani.

A close relative of the Svart Hona is the Ayam Cemani. Ayam Cemanis are another all black, rare chicken breed. They originated in Indonesia and have a gamey appearance.

Another breed that may look similar to the Svart Hona is the Sumatra. Sumatras are small, black chickens best known for their showy appearance, ability to fly well, and many spurs. They too, are very black in color, although they do have some mulberrying (purple color) in their face. They are also not black all the way through like the Svart Hona and Ayam Cemani. Another difference is that the Sumatra has a pea comb. 

a Svart Hona hen free-ranging the yard
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Svart Hona: Personality

Svart Honas are generally a friendly breed, although some cocks can be more protective then others. The hens can be very docile if they are handled frequently and properly. Svart Honas make excellent showmanship birds and can be trained very easily.

They are a smart breed and are often near the top of the pecking order. The cocks do best if they have quite a few hens to care for (over 10). The hens are quiet compared to some other breeds. Each Svart Hona has its own distinct personality, which can be very amusing at times!

Svart Honas do have quite the personality that will shine though in interactions with other flock members. They seem to have a short temper but can generally get along once a functional pecking order has been established. Having a rooster amongst the hens also helps keep harmless squabbles to a minimum.

Around people, Svart Honas have a ‘could care less’ attitude. They love you if you have treats, but will go about their usual business if you don’t have treats. Of course, birds that have been handled frequently from a young age will bond with you and show more affection.

a young Svart Hona cockerel looking at Grubblies Layer Feed bag on a wooden pallet
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Svart Hona: Special Care

Raising and caring for Svart Honas is really no different then any other breed. The cocks usually have excellent fertility for breeding and the hens make good mothers. Fertility rates are usually best in late spring and then throughout the summer. Hatching Svart Honas can require some patience, as Svart Honas chicks tend not to be in a hurry to get out of their shell. The chicks are slow maturing and the pullets don’t tend to start laying until about 24 weeks. 

Svart Honas are very cold hardy and can withstand warmer temperatures just as well. The cock’s combs and wattles are prone to frostbite though, and you must also provide plenty of shade during the summer. Because they are all black, they can be more prone to heat related stress and the sun can actually bleach their black feathers.

Svart Honas are excellent foragers and love to free-range. The cocks are very aware of their surroundings and make good flock protectors.

Svart Honas are an assertive breed but they don’t tend to be aggressive. They will be near the top of the pecking order but they get along well with other chicken breeds. Svart Honas are friendly but not docile. 

a Svart Hona chick backlight against a light background with orange and white flowers
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Quality Svart Honas

Svart Honas are one of the rarest breeds in the Untied States and finding quality stock can be very tough. When looking for quality stock here is what you want to avoid:

  • mulberrying on the comb and wattles
  • white earlobes
  • silver streaking (white feathers)
  • white on toenails and beak
  • gray skin
  • gray or green on the bottom of the foot
  • pink or white inside the mouth
  • brown eyes
  • flopped comb
  • more than 5 spikes on the comb
  • leggy or gamey body shape

Svart Honas do not have a breed standard yet, so, although the traits mentioned above are undesirable, they are not disqualifications. Quality Svart Honas should be completely black, have a single comb with 5 points, no feathering on the legs or toes, and have 4 toes. They should have a compact body, medium length legs, a properly angled tail and prominent eyes.

a black Svart Hona cock with glossy plumage, a dark face, and nice body conformation
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Where to Find Svart Honas

Because Svart Honas are so rare, you are not likely to find them listed in hatchery catalogs. If a hatchery does sell Svart Honas, be leery of the quality of their stock. To find quality Svart Honas you are better off going with farms who specialize in Svart Honas and use strict breeding and culling practices (meaning they don’t breed birds that have undesirable traits).

The Black Feather Farm founded by Alexa Lehr (yup, that’s me!) offers Svart Hona hatching eggs, unsexed chicks, cockerels, pullets, hens, and roosters. Availability varies depending on the time of year, hatching schedule, and breeding program. To stay updated on what’s available or to get on the Spring 2021 waiting list, visit blackfeatherfarm.net.

Supporting my small farm business as it grows would mean a lot to me! However, due to location or availability status, you may feel inclined to check out these other two sources of quality Svart Honas:

When inquiring about getting quality Svart Honas, I recommend you ask for photos of the breeding parents as well as some background history on the flock. Such as how the breeder acquired the birds they have, the health background of the flock, and the personality of the birds.

a young Svart Hona pullet with a compact body, properly angled tail, and completely black plumage
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Svart Honas would make a great addition to any homestead flock! The hens are excellent layers, continuing to produce well into winter, and the cocks makes great flock protectors! Not to mention their completely black appearance is a real attention grabber and the fact that they are black on the inside too makes for an intriguing conversation starter. The earlier pioneers didn’t have access to such a rare breed, but as modern pioneers we can enjoy the variety and uniqueness that rare breeds add to the homestead!

With that being said, make sure you are getting weekly tips on how to care for your homestead flock by signing up for our modern pioneer newsletter! You’ll get our ebook on Raising Chickens like a Pioneer plus lots of other helpful tips and resources!

by Alexa

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Svart Hona Breed Profile- the Svart Hona is much more than a striking bird to have in your homestead flock, this chicken breed is black from the inside out and has so many amazing characteristics that make it a great homestead chicken breed! | The Pioneer Chicks | raising rare chickens | rare chicken breeds | poultry breed profiles | #svarthona #chickens #rarepoultry
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Svart Hona Breed Profile- the Svart Hona is much more than a striking bird to have in your homestead flock, this chicken breed is black from the inside out and has so many amazing characteristics that make it a great homestead chicken breed! | The Pioneer Chicks | raising rare chickens | rare chicken breeds | poultry breed profiles | #svarthona #chickens #rarepoultry
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