Icelandic Chickens

[Hangtown Farms]

Yeah, the poor thing absolutely can't see forward.

Deb

yeah let alone hold its head up

 

[Jake Levi]

Freakachicks. Our hawks and foxes here would love them.

NOT a homestead chicken.

 

[mlm Mike]

here is my younger icelandic rooster. I really like his blue , black and white coloring

That's a nice looking youngster.

 

[Jake Levi]

He is going to be a beauty, very good posture and conformation. I look forward to seeing him as a yearling.

He should be an excellent 'ranger'.

 

[Twister-n-Dos]

Here are some photos of our Icelandics.


Twister





Dos




Twenty




Fifteen




Twister and Dos are from our first hatch, eggs we got from Lyle Behl. We only had those
two hatch out of 18 eggs. It was our first time incubating. We made mistakes and learned
lessons. Right away we ordered more eggs, figuring we could improve on a second try.
We also tried eggs from another breeder, thinking that a shorter trip for the eggs might
help with our success. This second batch came from Buck n' Run. She was very generous,
giving us more eggs than we ordered. The postal service was especially rough on this
shipment. The eggs were carefully packaged, but there was some breakage. It is probably
three airplane rides for a shipment to get here. That can't be good for eggs. For the second
hatch, 21 eggs went into the incubator, and we hatched 3. Two of those ended up being
cockerels, and one a pullet. One of those cockerels became a trouble maker with the rest
of the chickens so he is gone. So these four are our start.

We have not decided whether or not to order more eggs next spring, but we want to increase
our small flock. Every step of the way is new for us, so we are learning and making it up
as we go.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Welcome!

It is tough to get hatching eggs into Alaska. Michelle is another BYC member that has Icelandics and she's located in Alaska. If you decide to get more hatching eggs in the spring, she may be the way to go for you. She hasn't been on here in a while though.

 

[mlm Mike]

Looks like you have a really nice start. If it were me, I'd just start hatching my own eggs.

 

[Twister-n-Dos]

Welcome!

It is tough to get hatching eggs into Alaska. Michelle is another BYC member that has Icelandics and she's located in Alaska. If you decide to get more hatching eggs in the spring, she may be the way to go for you. She hasn't been on here in a while though.

Thanks!

We have thought that contacting Michelle would be a good way for us to go. Five hour road trip would be easy on eggs.
We don't know if she would welcome an unsolicited inquiry. Not sure how to contact her either.

 

[Twister-n-Dos]

Looks like you have a really nice start. If it were me, I'd just start hatching my own eggs.

Thank you.

We want to start hatching eggs from these birds. First we need to get eggs from these birds.
We are in interior Alaska. Long, cold, dark winters. Don't know what to expect with egg production in the spring.
Just enjoying the process at this point.

 

[Jake Levi]

Welcome to the thread ! Yours may be the northern most flock that there is, I think you are possibly north of Iceland, and colder. A great test of the breed. I am really looking forward to hearing of your flocks progress !

Check the back posts on here for one of Michelles post and then PM her. I agree, the five hour drive would be far easier on the eggs then shipping, thats a rough flight at best of times. Hatching your own eggs is a good thing to do but equally as well for your flock is increasing your gene pool.

You have some very nice looking birds, I personally think that the crests can enhance warmth just for more feathers on the head. Until someone proves different I will select for it.

I am very focused on seeing the Icelandic Chicken be recognized as a cold hearty Homestead breed and the free ranger that ensured its survival through the Icelandic winters. My other breed the Albertan Chantecler I am looking at for the same traits, they will share differrent sides of the same chicken house and have alternate days to free range. And comparable sized flocks of a dozen or so hens and two breeding roosters. Young birds will range with them until they are freezer size, or rehomed.

I am hoping to get some area 4H kids started with either breed next year. The more the better in this.

Life is good ! and better with Icelandic Chickens !