Adventures on Blue Bandit Farms

[Calendula]

I figured I might as well write down what we're doing and share it with people that understand. Particularly since recently our farm has hit The Year of the Birds.

So hello! I live in Michigan with my boyfriend. We own a small farm with Nigerian Dwarf and Nubian goats, Rex, Mini Rex, and Angora rabbits, a Toulouse goose, Bourbon Red turkeys, Cayugas, Buff Orpington, and Call ducks, and then a mixed breed flock and Icelandics.

As you can tell, lots of birds. I also have three (failed) barn cats, and three dogs. Two are English Shepherds that help on the farm, including catching escapee birds.

Anyway, so to start, here's a few pictures of my boys! My two mixed breed roosters (father and son), my Icelandic boy, and then two keeper Icie roosters!

 

[chrissynemetz]

You have some really awesome looking boys!!!

 

[BY Bob]

Handsome roosters. Look forward to hearing your storie .

 

[N F C]

Thanks for sharing photos!

I've always been intrigued by Icelandics but so far haven't raised any. Anything you'd care to share about them?

 

[Calendula]

Thank you! I actually grew up terrified of roosters after being attacked by so many when I was little, but the Buff Orpington boy in my profile changed my view. He's the father and grandfather of my two mixed breed boys!

@N F C I haven't had them super long (just since this spring), but I had been reading up on them for years. They're considered a landrace (hence why they aren't accepted by the APA from my understanding). Not sure how much they weigh, but I think my rooster is probably around the 5-6 pound range and my girls just a little under that. They lay fairly well -- I almost daily get an egg from each of the hens. They can come in basically any color, so no two Icies look alike! They also tend to forage more than the other breeds, so feeding costs for them are lower than other breeds.
I live in Michigan, so what first piqued my interest was seeing a picture of this Icie hen walking through deep snow with a chick on her back. I'm excited to see how these guys do this year. Also planning on keeping quite a few of the youngsters for multiple breeding pens in the spring.

 

[N F C]

Thank you! I actually grew up terrified of roosters after being attacked by so many when I was little, but the Buff Orpington boy in my profile changed my view. He's the father and grandfather of my two mixed breed boys!

@N F C I haven't had them super long (just since this spring), but I had been reading up on them for years. They're considered a landrace (hence why they aren't accepted by the APA from my understanding). Not sure how much they weigh, but I think my rooster is probably around the 5-6 pound range and my girls just a little under that. They lay fairly well -- I almost daily get an egg from each of the hens. They can come in basically any color, so no two Icies look alike! They also tend to forage more than the other breeds, so feeding costs for them are lower than other breeds.
I live in Michigan, so what first piqued my interest was seeing a picture of this Icie hen walking through deep snow with a chick on her back. I'm excited to see how these guys do this year. Also planning on keeping quite a few of the youngsters for multiple breeding pens in the spring.

Thanks for the info on your Icelandics! That they come in any/every color is part of what I like about them. Didn't know they were such good layers. Thanks!