Icelandic Chickens

[debs_flock]

Deb, it is a good thing I'm not your neighbor. I would so be in trouble with all of those tempting little chicks running around

Good luck finding homes for them!

You mean you aren't just supposed to keep everything you hatch?

 

[AletaG]

Looking at the youngsters closely and I am thinking that I am going to need to do another incubating, it seems like almost 3/4s of this years crop are cockerals. Not good, I will know a lot better in a couple of weeks. It could be an August hatch coming up.

How old? Mine were culled as cockerels, I took 'em home anyway, and at 14 wks, 2 are pullets for sure. Now, I know no one pulled a sex change on the little mites. Just guessing with the small comb on the male... (pics in the thread about a week ago...)

 

[Jake Levi]

I will grow them all out probably to the first molt, no shortage on roosters here, I have Isi and two of his sons, will rehome one of them to a MI breeder if they want an outcross.

One of the cockerals looks like it might be a blue wheaten, I am really curious what he is going to look like. They will all get grown out so I can see what they do, and who has the most growth, that will be a factor on keeping any.

 

[Jake Levi]

I am growing out some of Bjorns youngsters, he is the Black Breasted Duckwing son of Isi's, and his offspring are all showing dark feathering but with a wheaten cast to them, very different from any I have had to date. The ones by Magnus, Isi's big son look like his parents and Isi, generally all very light,

its fascinating to see the color differences from the two half brothers.

The next clutch in the incubator will all be by Isi.

 

[Jake Levi]

Well, where is everyone?

I am setting the eggs today, hoping for some pullets at least.

This is the summer that wasnt here, 57 this morning, a record wet July, and one of the coldest. I have 4 blossoms on almost 40 tomato plants, not good towards a canning season. So far August is following July in coolness.

Life goes on, and will be looking back at over $1/can of tomatoes fondly, I think.

 

[zstand]

I can relate on the weather and tomatoes, Jake! Cool, wet summer has my garden a little slow. I do have Icelandics coming out of the incubator pretty steady this weekend (16 so far). I hope you have a full hatch with lots of pullets! Zak

 

[karimw]

We are having the same here, Jake. For us though it's beautiful. 75 days 60 nights. Not ideal growing weather for us either, but it looks to be bountiful! The fruit trees especially are making up for last year.

So, finally cleaned out my camera and I have some older pics of the 2 hatches from Jakes eggs:
6 from first hatch:







6 from the second hatch + 1 Delaware, with Icelandic mama

 

[Jake Levi]

Thems all beauties Kari !! Whats not to love !!

Looking closely at my youngsters it looks like 60% cockerals, 40% pullets. All subject to change of course,

I just plugged the incubator in, its in my bedroom, lower humidity, I really like the looks of Bjorns dark wheaten roosters, I am for sure going to grow them out, just to see what they are. Bjorn is to be rehomed, anyone here in MI can add him to their flock. He is great with the hens, nice temperament, and a beauty.

I have his father and half brother, and several sons to study.

Life goes on.

 

[RedIII]

Well, where is everyone?

I am setting the eggs today, hoping for some pullets at least.

This is the summer that wasnt here, 57 this morning, a record wet July, and one of the coldest. I have 4 blossoms on almost 40 tomato plants, not good towards a canning season. So far August is following July in coolness.

Life goes on, and will be looking back at over $1/can of tomatoes fondly, I think.

Hahaha, I'll trade you on the weather. It has been HOT here, though this last week wasn't quite as bad. We've had a good number of days that got up to triple digits in temps this summer. The end of June and then July were killer. The hose gets left on at a trickle almost every day to ensure that the flock has water all the time, since they go through what's in the water containers pretty quickly. I have my eight rebel hens penned in the run right now to keep them out of neighboring yards, and they can drink more than two gallons of water a day.

My Icelandics are due to hatch this week. These eggs are all from coldupnorth, so I am really excited to see what I get. Laurie has been so sweet about sending me eggs, and this last time, I let them sit for three days before incubation, as opposed to one. I don't know if it's the PO here in Salt Lake or what, but stuff sure seems to get roughed up! Ohh, and as a bonus, since all three of my Icee hens have been confined to the run and away from the BR rooster, technically I could start mingling them with the Icee roos in a week here, and then collect eggs in two weeks

If I dared, anyway. I'll see what I can get out of this hatch, first.

I've been watching the feather development of my chocolate chick, Eik. He sure likes to hold his little tail nub upright, which really made me wonder if he was even an Icee, but he does have feathered shanks, so the mystery continues.

Not sure yet what he is, but he's a beauty.

Kari, love the chicks! That white one with the gold head is sure cute.

 

[Jake Levi]

Usually the newest sperm rules, even after a week, if they look different I'd try after a week.

It seems I have some Birchen Iowa Blues, I was thinking that the very dark chicks are SP but they arnt, these are nice whatever they are. Otoh, I have some SP IBs that I thought were Delawares ! Oh well. I like it better this counting.