Hedemorahöna
Gallus gallus domesticus
✨ Fait Amusant
The Hedemorahöna is the only breed in the world that naturally produces both normal-feathered and silky-feathered individuals within the same flock — both feather types occur from the same gene pool. The silky-feathered 'ull-höna' variant developed independently in Dalarna's cold climate, providing extraordinary insulation that allowed the breed to survive Swedish winters that would be fatal to most domestic chickens.
One of Sweden's most extraordinary and genetically remarkable native breeds, originating from the town of Hedemora in Dalarna county — a region of deep forests and harsh winters in central Sweden. The Hedemorahöna is uniquely adapted to extreme cold; some individuals develop a silky-feathered variant (sometimes called 'ull-höna' or wool-hen) with the same barbicle-free soft plumage as a Silkie, which provides exceptional insulation in sub-zero temperatures. The breed appears in Swedish agricultural records from the 17th century and is listed by the DAD-IS database as a critical genetic resource and by the Scandinavian Poultry Standard as a priority conservation breed.
🏷️ Race
Hedemorahöna (Hedemora Hen)
💭 Tempérament
Calm, hardy, self-sufficient, cold-tolerant, gentle
📏 Taille
Small-Medium (1.8-2.3 kg)
⏳ Espérance de vie
5-8 years
🎨 Couleurs
Extremely variable — all colours present; silky-feathered individuals ('ull-höna') occur naturally within the breed
🌍 Origine
Sweden — Hedemora, Dalarna; documented from 17th century; DAD-IS critical resource
🏠 Habitat
Free-range; evolved for the long, harsh winters and short summers of central Sweden
🍽️ Alimentation
Layer pellets; effective forager during the short Scandinavian growing season
🎯 Usage
Dual Purpose
🥚 Couleur des œufs
Tinted
👑 Type de crête
Single
🏅 Classe EE
Large Fowl