Icelandic Chickens

Update:

As you can see Fall is in full swing here. It is so pretty! Michael was working with the donkeys on the other side of the chicken fortress.

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Just to put "pretty" in perspective, here is Martha Stewart mid-molt! She knows she's a hot mess. She used to nap in Michael's lap every afternoon. Won't even let us pick her up anymore.

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It was a really beautiful day, temps in the high 70's so I decided to let the month olds into the yard for the first time. Let me start by saying this group is the friendliest of all the chicks I have ever raised. They run to me whenever I open the brooder and fight to be the first one picked up. I am so over-the-moon about these babies.

They stood at the doorway when I opened the brooder and looked down the ramp like it was the edge of the Grand Canyon. Then one by one they flew out into my lap. I was sitting nearby in a lawnchair. First was this adorable little girl:

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Just look at that face!

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Then my little shy girl, with the beautiful blue crest.

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Couldn't you just eat her up?

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One by one the boys flew out to my lap or shoulder.

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Here's the whole crew 3 boys, two girls (of course!)

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They dug for treats:

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Ran for their lives a couple of times:

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They needn't have worried. Here's what they rest of the crew was up to!

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They played all day outside and in the big coop until dusk when I put them back in their brooder. They may get one more day to play outisde, maybe two, then we are in for an abrupt change in the weather.

Thanks for looking!
 
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They are adorable Mary!

We are supposed to be up to 76 today as well. I was in Utah Sunday and Monday and it was so COLD!
 
Congratulations Gramma Kathy!!!!!
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Mary, it was a gorgeous day yesterday. Looks like the babies had fun "exploring". Is the lattice new? I don't remember seeing lattice when I was there.
 
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Good grief no it's not new. It is all around the foundation of the house under the wrap-around porch. We hate it and I am looking into alternatives. I have found some cultured stone deck skirting that I like. Probably have to wait until Spring to install it when we don't have to worry about the weather. Until then it will just be ugly.
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Quote:
Good grief no it's not new. It is all around the foundation of the house under the wrap-around porch. We hate it and I am looking into alternatives. I have found some cultured stone deck skirting that I like. Probably have to wait until Spring to install it when we don't have to worry about the weather. Until then it will just be ugly.
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Ahhh, I just didn't see it from my vantage point on top of the deck.
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Yep, I am back again with baby pics.

I had given four eggs to my silkie a few days before they were due to hatch. She sat on them all day then abandoned them during the night. I found them stone cold with no movement the following morning. After four hours back in the incubator they began to show slight movement. Yesterday was hatch day and three made it out by them selves. Today we watched the movement and peeping in the last little egg come to a near stop without a pip. The last little guy was shrink wrapped big time and required a bit of assistance. He finally got out but the inner membrane was dried and stuck to him. He was unable to move his wings at all and barely his legs. We worked at removing it with warm water and a q-tip all afternoon. I finally have almost all of it off and he can move his wings and stand up. He is the super tiny little red one on the left.

No blondies in this group. Two chipmunks, a dark, and the little red head. Here is my technique for getting them to stand in a line. I line them up and threaten them.
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I have another week until my last batch hatches. Then I will have upwards of 34 Icelandic babies to raise over the winter! I hope to sell some at the Stockton Show in January. Here's hoping my little guy has enough chutzpah to make it! Can an Icelandic have chutzpah?
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