Icelandic Chickens - Page 259

I had to refresh twice, it was the same one I've always seen.

Quite the little cutie!

HA.... It does!   How very appropriate for me! 

The brooder design is very close to mine, except the bottom legs and frame under the first level is 2 by 4, two upper sections are 2 by 2s, and two units have 3 tiers of 24" height,  but the hens get the 4' high pens for pairs.  Have several units 6' long divided into two 3' long pens, for single roosters. 4' high also.

Tried to follow the KISS principle.

Re: the Genetics of the Icelandic Chicken:

Have there been any actual studies on them?  The different chromosome count of its own should get them a different species placing.

I have been very curious about this. Has anything been done in Iceland about this?

For this reason alone people should be very careful of not crossing them with other domestic chickens.

Levi,

Amen to that, you are for sure on the same page with those of us who have the preservationist mindset. Outcrossing these Icelandics is a destruction of a unique species that will do nothing but leave people duped, some will be claiming to have "Icelandics" when they have outcrossed mutts and it is just really counter productive in any regard.
To answer your question about research, we need to regain contact with some folks but it was told and you will find it if you search this thread that a research report was coming our of Iceland at the end of January or early February. Lets keep our ears open! I am currently trying to run this down!

Andy in Fredericksburg

Andy,
I was just thinking about you.  How are the chicks doing? Can you post some pictures of them? I would love to see them.

Well, I do believe I have an egg eater here. The past 3 days I have got one egg, and that was because I was their when it was laid. Today I found an empty egg shell.... well, half a shell. I am gonna have to rig up a trap nest or something, I think.

A trap nest? Do tell.... what is a trap nest?

A trap nest traps the hen in the nest, and she stays there until you let her out.

http://www.themodernhomestead.us/article/Trap+Nests.html

So you can see who's laying and collect the eggs, if you get 2 eggs instead of one you know someone is eating the other one?

Well, the door closes when just one chicken goes into the nest. When I go to let her out, I can see if there is an egg in the nest. If not, I will assume she is eating it. If it is not the girls? I dunno.  Someone mentioned putting a sacrifice egg in the pen, with food coloring in it or on it, and the way to see who is eating them ..... the food color would be on their face.  I may try that.