Icelandic Chickens

[Jake Levi]

My Icelandic chicks have always been precocious. Pipping earlier and hatching early, I had one I name Speedy because she was doing laps in the hatcher while others were hatching.

Likewise in the brooder. I am going to be having a mixed brood so it will be fascinating comparing them to the Delawares and Iowa Blues.

That is going to continue on now from now on I hope.

Life is good, and better with Icelandic Chickens !

 

[Mac14]

Now following this thread!

 

[RedIII]

Warning: Boring chatter ahead!

So, I've just had an interesting experience. First, let me back up and explain that there seems to be a large number of Icee chicks in the states that hatch out with the chipmunk coloration, like we were talking about before. I've wondered if this is a dominant coloration in the flocks that have been imported, or at least with Sigrid's line.

Okay, now - Several weeks ago, I had one of my Wyandotte hens go broody and commandeer a handful of eggs from the other hens in my yard, and I didn't have the heard to take them away from her. They were just little barnyard mixes, but whatever, chicks are cute. I am pretty sure that the Icelandic roos were responsible for fertilizing 95% of the eggs my flock was laying.

Out of five eggs, my hen hatched two, two were infertile, and one was fully developed and dead in the shell. Of the babies that hatched, one came from an egg from my RIR, and is a red-colored chick. The other chick's mother was my blue Wyandotte, which is the best I can guess. This one looks much more like the typical Icelandic chipmunk color, though I think I can see some faint blue peeking through. The chick that died in the shell was all silver, had slate legs, and came from my OE, who is totally buff in color.

So, why in the world am I mentioning this here? Because with all of the colors Icelandics can throw, in my little batch of barnyard mutts, it looks like the Icelandic chipmunk color was dominant over the blue of my Wyandotte, the red color of my RIR was dominant over a more typical Icelandic coloration (I have yet to see a red Icee) and somehow, A silver chick was produced from my buff OE. The OE hen is half BO, half EE, so I really don't know what other breeds there are there, but it all leaves me wondering................What colors could come from my Icelandic flock?

I'm not a pro on genetics at all, and never have professed to be one, but I found it all interesting. I have three precious Icee eggs collected from my girls that I gave to another broody hen today. here's hoping they hatch, and that I get some healthy babies from them! I'm looking forward to seeing what colors they end up as.

 

[Jake Levi]

The chipmunk is a normal beginning of a recognized Icelandic color, for the pullets often wheaten, or darker, for the roosters any number of dark colors, often the blackbreasted red wings, They are fascinating to watch develop, and yes it is usually one of the dominant colors and patterns.

Why on earth do you consider this boring chatter ?

That doesnot compute. I am wondering if after reading the first 3 words of the post if some others might just have skipped the thread over.

For myself I am ALWAYS glad to see those chipmunks. May they continue on ! Not a freaking thing boring about them !

 

[RedIII]

Hahaha I meant boring in that I was talking about my mutts, in part, and not just Icelandics

You know, I hadn't even thought about the chipmunk thing more until you mentioned that. Even with the black chick I hatched earlier this year, I noticed some faint, chocolatey brown chipmunking on her back. It wasn't very visible in some lighting, but it was there.



Heehee, sorry, couldn't help but see my little baby again. I sure wish she had made it.

And, even with these mixed breed chicks, I have noticed some faint chipmunking on the RIR X chick. I will try and get some pictures up of them.

Just curious, but has anyone here had roos that did NOT have the chipmunk color pattern as babies? Both of my roos had some form of it when they were chicks. One was darker browns and one was white/very dark brown, but they definitely had the pattern.

 

[coldupnorth]

Hahaha I meant boring in that I was talking about my mutts, in part, and not just Icelandics

You know, I hadn't even thought about the chipmunk thing more until you mentioned that. Even with the black chick I hatched earlier this year, I noticed some faint, chocolatey brown chipmunking on her back. It wasn't very visible in some lighting, but it was there.



Heehee, sorry, couldn't help but see my little baby again. I sure wish she had made it.

And, even with these mixed breed chicks, I have noticed some faint chipmunking on the RIR X chick. I will try and get some pictures up of them.

Just curious, but has anyone here had roos that did NOT have the chipmunk color pattern as babies? Both of my roos had some form of it when they were chicks. One was darker browns and one was white/very dark brown, but they definitely had the pattern.

My Icelandics hatch out either chipmunk striped or white (sometime with a hint of color on its head). One of my roos was white as a chick and is growing out white. I'm guessing he will get color as he grows.

 

[Hangtown Farms]

Now following this thread!

welcome to the thread.
What part of Northern California are you from?

 

[Mac14]

welcome to the thread.
What part of Northern California are you from?

Thank you! I'll pm you where I'm from.

 

[RedIII]

Well......turned my Icelandics loose with the rest of the flock tonight. So no more egg collecting for a while. My pullets aren't even laying right now *fist shaking icon here* I've got a grand total of three eggs under one of my broodies. Wish me luck and let's hope that they're fertile?

I hope everyone's had a splendid Memorial Day

And thank you to any veterans or those currently serving that have helped to protect our home.

 

[samjonsson]

Hi I am new and just finishing my very amazing coop that seemed like it took forever. My husband who was born and raised in Iceland was the mastermind

to this Amazing coop and I thought wouldnt it be amazing

if he had a hen or two of his own. I then was just looking around the forum and discovered that there were icelandic chickens. Now I need to find out how I could get 1 or 2 for my husband.I already have 6 chicks 5 weeks old ...2jersey giants, 2 red stars, and 2 delawares... It would be nice to find some girls close to my girls age... so they can grow up together. I think he would be so amazed if you could, I live in Bucks county Pennsylvania area and would love to get a couple of sweet beautiful icelandic girls for hubby..I will drive a distance if need be.