Icelandic Chickens

[The Sheriff]

I was feeding scratch to Isi and his layer girls this morning when who comes flying up from behind the barn with that "I need to go to the front of the line because I am expecting" look than Miss Lukka!

Isi did a little wing beat-down on her but I refused to make eye contact or acknowledge her in any way. Then I hid behind the barn and watched as she tiptoed back to her little hiding place not 20 feet from the barn. There is a granite outcropping, a little tree and some tall weeds. Both Michael and I already looked there! She must be in there pretty deep.

Tonight under the cover of darkness we will retrieve her and the future chicks and move them to safety in the barn. I plan to candle the eggs before giving them to her and will probably have at least one explode on me. It was well over a hundred degrees last weekend and she has been saving for at least three weeks!

Thanks for all the well wishes. You haven't heard the last of Lukka yet!

 

[kathyinmo]

X

 

[RedIII]

Well sad news this morning. I lost the Icelandic hen that was setting on eggs, she had about a week to go to hatch, she was dead on the nest, all we can figure is she got too hot but not sure,she had food and water and shade and air circulation around the nest, we were able to move the eggs under another hen that only had one egg under her, they were still warm but don't know if they will hatch. I hope so, I am down to two hens and two roosters on my Icelandics. i have had the worst luck with broodies this year, have had some really bad hatches and bad luck with hens. It is starting to get hot here, we had some rain about three days ago but they are forecasting 90s for the week. I am ready to stop trying to hatch till fall. when these last 7 hens get off their nest I am done till fall. Lynn

Thank you so much for the offer Kathy, I may try it later this summer, right now we are having all kinds of vehicle ordeals, I have had one truck in the shop for over a month trying to he clutch fixed, the auto trans is out in the other truck, we drove the van to Muskogee this weekend and barely made it home, it got hot twice before we got home, I have a friend coming to look at it this week. My wife's care isn't big enough nor would she hear to putting chickens in it!!! I would love the chance to run to Missouri though!!! Let me see what I can work out and I will let you know!!! Thanks, Lynn

Arg, Greybear, sorry to hear that you lost another hen AND that you've been having auto nightmares. I feel for you on both counts. I've had a raccoon wipe out all but one of my hens in my regular flock this year, and the remaining girl has a wounded leg. Plus, my truck got stolen last week and we just found it yesterday - more or less totaled. Here's hoping for better luck for you!

 

[RedIII]

Sheriff, glad to hear that your hen is safe! Naughty girl. My Marans did that to me. She was hidden pretty well, too.

And I gotta ask - did your rooster know where she was, at all? Because mine was sure clueless

He's not the brightest bulb on the tree.

 

[NotAFarm]

x

 

[Miss Molly]

Keep those Babies Coming Lukka

Glad she is safe

 

[Greybear23]

Red3 thank you so much, It seems to pour when it rains here, my son is gone to Fall Creek (church camp) and he is mostly all my help around here, with my back out, I can't do a lot so my 7 yo and I have been getting chores done, it's been so hot though!!! Have not lost any more birds yet(knock on wood!!!) they are predicting rain here Thur. so maybe a cool down for a few days, thanks for the support all!!! Mary so glad Lukka came home and hope all goes well with the candling, fingers crossed for all good ones!!! Lynn

 

[debs_flock]

My Cream Legbars went into lockdown today

I have nine (I had one clear and two very early quitters).

Thursday

Deb

 

[NotAFarm]

x

 

[mlm Mike]

Lukka is back!


Cooper12 - IMO 1/3 acre should be fine for two roosters, it really sounds like the older,dominate one just want to keep reminding the younger one who is in charge.