Icelandic Chickens

[Happy Chooks]

Mary, I know about your feathering issue (I've read about it here and on your site. Would I see it in day-old chicks, or would I have to wait a few weeks to know if any of mine will have it as adults?. I realize it's recessive, so if I don't "see" it in this group, it doesn't mean I won't see it in the next generation.

I'm not Mary, but I have experience with this. It will take a few weeks. You'll notice that they start to look "ratty" as their feathers come in.

 

[Ravie]

Thanks! I was hoping that because these look fluffy and perfect, they'd stay that way.

 

[The Sheriff]

Congrats on the hatch Ravie. The feathering issue is not immediately evident in chicks but is after a few weeks. Hopefully you won't get any and the next generation won't either. Many people have hatched Icelandics without any funny feathered friends. I thought removing all roosters except Isi would solve the problem but I am not sure it has. That is still iffy to me. I wanted to take one last drastic step to find out and that effort is underway.

they stay fluffy and perfect. Awesome hatch rate! What incubator did you use?

Mary

 

[The Sheriff]

Kathy please share again your broody buster technique. It is mass chaos here!

 

[The Sheriff]

BTW I asked my neighbor yesterday about the geese and goslings and she replied "I have them on the island in my pond."

 

[Ravie]

Hi guys,

Well, I guess I only have 19. One hatched out with an unabsorbed yolk sac. I isolated it in the bator, but it ended up bursting the yolk sac and died within a minute or so. Very sad.

I use two LG incubators. With computer fans installed. My hatch rate has been astronomical. About 98%! I've hatched probably close to 100 birds this year, including chickens and ducks which I incubate together. I think the trick is that I stay at home during the day, and I don't sleep well at night. I monitor the dang thing constantly. I usually don't get any sleep at all from days 19-22.

Right now, I'm running on fumes. ZZZzzzzz!

 

[kathyinmo]

X

 

[kathyinmo]

 

[RingedTeal]

 

[The Sheriff]

Kathy! OMG!

Hey I have a little coop with a wire floor. It is small like a rabbit hutch off the ground about 18 inches. That ought to do it!It doesn't have a separate yard space so I would have to keep them inside or they would just take up residence in another nest box. I am going to try to let the other two up here by the house hatch some babies but that's it! The three Icelandic broodies are going to be the first to go. Let my friend deal with it, right Kelly?