It is somewhat slow, but well worth reading right from the beginning of this thread. Especially Sigrids article with the link early in the thread.
My personal preference for a flock is with two roosters, either free ranging or switching hens and roosters if penned in small groups. I try to...
I have had it on two of mine, and I know the strain was pure from Sigrid. I would look very askance at anyone who says they shouldn't have it, or most other traits. We have a treasure house in the gene pool, that is a wrong attitude for the breeds welfare. Save the genes, don't discriminate...
No hens here so no broodies, just the eggs in the hatcher due for Sunday but I have always had early hatchers so will be watching from Thurs on and expecting many on Sat. We shall see what will be.
Counting down the days.
Good luck. I have only had shipped eggs other then 8 of my own , so far so good. I candled 3 of this lot and they showed veins, I didn't want the top off longer so called it good.
I only had one bad hatch from shipped eggs and it was cold, and the eggs were in the carriers car for hours and I...
If this hatch is like past Icelandic ones I expect to see piping about a week from this eve. We shall see, no spikes or power outs, a major plus for broodies. But so far so good.
I am really looking forward to them hatching, then the fun begins.
Let the good times hatch !
Hiya
I miss broody hens, big time, Icelandics at their best ! I am thankful for my incubator but would prefer a couple broodys.
On the downhill now, about ten days to go. Turn the turner off about the 25th, sooner if I see piping, mine have always been early birds.
Today putting the...
Icelandics do have leg feathering. Those with it are not crosses. Not many have it but it does show up. It is rare. I have had a couple in Sigrids line. That's as pure a line back to the Vikings as there is.
We have cold winters here also. Too much minus weather. The big single combs do...
I like the comb, good start, what I am looking for is eggs from stock with pea combs, crests and leg feathering. I have heard though that Grote doesn't want leg feathering which I see as a survival trait in our climates.
Icelandic Numbers
Does anyone here have an 'educated guess' on how many Icelandics there are here, and in Canada?
I stopped in TSC today and as usual browsed the magazine/book racks, 6-8 mags/books on chickens but not a thing mentioning Icelandics. Several were supposed to be comprehensive...
A number of new breeders now, I am interested in all of them, Grote and others. Much to get updated on.
Winter is still strong and hale here . But spring is coming !
A very interesting article. It parallels what I am asking about.
.http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2014-04/nesc-ado041814.php
Thanks for sharing. I bookmarked the site. Looking for more.