Okay, I am officially jealous. How awesome for you to have so much diversity! Yay!
Icelandic Chickens
- Thread starter The Sheriff
- Start date
Okay, I am officially jealous. How awesome for you to have so much diversity! Yay!
Diversity is what its all about.
How many did Vala import?
How many did Vala import?
X2Okay, I am officially jealous. How awesome for you to have so much diversity! Yay!
Looks like lots of fun to watch.!Forsaela with her 10 learning what canned whole kernel corn is....number 10 barely got its bum into the frame (far left)...
They are so much fun to watch......
Watching my Icelandics ranging has always been fun, they really apply themselves with the rooster as the Flockmaster. Warning of threats, calling them to food, its fascinating to watch.
I had lousy incubation this season, faulty therometers, a power outage, and too high humidity, dispite that the Icelandics came through, the precocious ones in each hatch, I really think that was a survival issue back in Iceland, get out of the egg and get out about. My other breeds were always about two days behind the Icelandics.
I had lousy incubation this season, faulty therometers, a power outage, and too high humidity, dispite that the Icelandics came through, the precocious ones in each hatch, I really think that was a survival issue back in Iceland, get out of the egg and get out about. My other breeds were always about two days behind the Icelandics.
While I was out (mid morning) yesterday, my husband heard a shriek and then noticed one of our cockerels, Gunnar, was missing. We searched everywhere for him, and he didn't come home last night. I'm guessing something got him. RIP Gunnar 
How old was Gunnar?
I lost a juvie cockerel on Wednesday, he was missing at lock-up...no sign of him..no feather pile...just gone....Thursday morning I found out why when I was out opening-up coops and feeding. I heard a commotion, thought it was one of the young males getting a lesson from a hen but looked and saw a red tail hawk that came down from a tree, grabbed a brother to the missing cockerel (many screeched an alert too late) and flew off. They were both the "weaned" 6 week-olds and they often were out under the hickory trees ranging since the older birds would run-them-off from the main area once their momma weaned them. I caught their siblings and put them in a coop and kept the main flock inside for Friday and Saturday morning because I wasn't going to be home to keep-an-eye on things. I haven't seen any signs of it since but the flock is wary and I will be keeping an eye out and keeping those two "loners" in "lock-up" for a bit longer. The two other hens that have chicks the same age are still "mothering" them so they have an advantage of a constant protector. When those hens quit, I'll put all the chicks together and hopefully they will form a "mini-flock" within the main flock like the larger hatches do. It was frustrating to be right there within 100 feet or so and not be able to do anything.....
I lost a juvie cockerel on Wednesday, he was missing at lock-up...no sign of him..no feather pile...just gone....Thursday morning I found out why when I was out opening-up coops and feeding. I heard a commotion, thought it was one of the young males getting a lesson from a hen but looked and saw a red tail hawk that came down from a tree, grabbed a brother to the missing cockerel (many screeched an alert too late) and flew off. They were both the "weaned" 6 week-olds and they often were out under the hickory trees ranging since the older birds would run-them-off from the main area once their momma weaned them. I caught their siblings and put them in a coop and kept the main flock inside for Friday and Saturday morning because I wasn't going to be home to keep-an-eye on things. I haven't seen any signs of it since but the flock is wary and I will be keeping an eye out and keeping those two "loners" in "lock-up" for a bit longer. The two other hens that have chicks the same age are still "mothering" them so they have an advantage of a constant protector. When those hens quit, I'll put all the chicks together and hopefully they will form a "mini-flock" within the main flock like the larger hatches do. It was frustrating to be right there within 100 feet or so and not be able to do anything.....
I'm sorry you lost a few of yours as well. Gunnar was 18 wks, and has been free ranging for about 3 weeks. We lock them in every night as well.
That's a shame about the losses
It is so frustrating! Likely that hawk will be watching for another easy meal too.
Hawks, and owls, are big problems here, so runs have to be covered, will use netting now, but free ranging they are targets. I dont know of any way around it for when they are free ranging.
One thing I have going for us is that Isi is a great watch and alarm guy, which is why I call him the FlockMaster, he sounds an alarm before anyone else knows something is not right and the hens make a beeline for shelter. He also calls them when food is found, or I am throwing scratch grain around. I just wish he was about 3Xs his size to see if he'd take on a hawk.
One thing I have going for us is that Isi is a great watch and alarm guy, which is why I call him the FlockMaster, he sounds an alarm before anyone else knows something is not right and the hens make a beeline for shelter. He also calls them when food is found, or I am throwing scratch grain around. I just wish he was about 3Xs his size to see if he'd take on a hawk.
Mary, I am so jealous of your grass, I think I'll just come and camp in your yard!
The chicks I hatched for the nursery at State Fair, I've brought most of them home. One of the Icelandics is still the one I find running around on the carpet when I go to check my brooder tubs. It actually runs up to me for attention. When I left the fair yesterday, there was an Icelandic chick about half way zipped. The public has really enjoyed the show. I was so glad to share it with them, after the hundreds I've hatched, I still find each one miraculous.
My only problem now is the 80ish chicks I've brought home from the hatch over the 3 week run of the fair.
What to do, what to do...........
The chicks I hatched for the nursery at State Fair, I've brought most of them home. One of the Icelandics is still the one I find running around on the carpet when I go to check my brooder tubs. It actually runs up to me for attention. When I left the fair yesterday, there was an Icelandic chick about half way zipped. The public has really enjoyed the show. I was so glad to share it with them, after the hundreds I've hatched, I still find each one miraculous.
My only problem now is the 80ish chicks I've brought home from the hatch over the 3 week run of the fair.
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