Icelandic Chickens

[NotAFarm]

Sounds like a busy time of the year for everyone.

Jake, I hope you are right on getting two pullets....I'm seeing too much pink on many of mine... They seem to be handling the cold fine. Both broody hens are still mothering them....not unusual for the SLW, Heidi, but Elska has usually weaned hers at this age. She is finishing a molt and I think the three "hot bodies" huddled under her keep her warm so she's happy to keep them around!

Are Grima and Gjoska still laying? Their two sisters that are a bit younger are laying now and are some of the only eggs I'm getting. None of the hens have started back since their molts. I have a New Hampshire pullet and an Araucana pullet that are also laying now. My only RIR, from a Standard of Perfection bred line, has not started laying and she is 7 months old.

Red, Thanks for the comb info. My hens with single combs seem to get more floppy/messy as they get older. Eldur is the only cock I've kept with a single comb and his crest was not as full as Galsi's is at the same age. Time will tell whether his crest will give way to his comb.

Mike, Congrats on Sunna doing so well...........and on the peas scaring off the hawk! I'm glad to hear you'll be increasing your Icelandic flock in the spring!

Myrth, How is the barn reno coming?

 

[Jake Levi]

Hi Mary

Yes, they are laying, as well as one of my older pullets, I put a heat lamp out there this week, along with a waterer heater so I am expecting most to get into laying gear.

In the spring I am going to be rehoming at least 6-7 pullets and hens, along with a this years hatch mottled rooster, very bright, he is a august hatch, also will be 3 of his hatch sisters, plus laying pullets, and a couple of year old hens. So, around 7-8 pullets and hens, a real nice starter flock. I will be keeping about the same for me.

I am hoping that the two Sept hatch are pullets. So far one of the four is for sure a cockeral, on the combs two are short and very wide, two look like starting SCs. The crested pullet I am for sure keeping, she may also be a RC, I am sure hoping.

Gose is now as big or bigger then the two older pullets, and taking his place as flock meister. But, still enjoys being held, what a guy ! He also eats treats from my hands.

We had two mild days, thankfully, but tonight winter is back. Tis the season.

Enjoy all, deer season starter here yesterday, it sounds like a shooting range. I will go out next week, this weekend I am staying indoors except when walking the pup or chicken care.


Jake

 

[drumstick diva]

Mimddh fantastic win - BEST OF BREED - wowza

 

[drumstick diva]

Not A Farm, hope you escaped the storms passing thru today - they said 11 reports of tornadoes. I was bonding with the tiny closet in the basement till I heard storms moved out of the area. I was starving- should put a mini refrigerator in there.

 

[NotAFarm]

Yes, no tornado shelter should be without a stockpile......a mini frig wouldn't do you much good if the power went out.......but then again, you would have to eat all your supplies to keep them from spoiling so maybe it is not such a bad idea! Make sure you have some ice cream in it!

I had just gone out to the barn when the brunt of the storm hit. The power went out (stayed off for about 3 hours) and the hail was making quite the racket on the west facing metal roll-up door and the metal ridge vent. I keep a flashlight handy in the coop so turned it on and made sure everyone was accounted for and closed up the big door so no one would be chased out into the storm. I left the east and south facing pop doors open for light and air flow. Once everyone calmed down and the rain let-up, I dashed to the house. We decided since the electricity was off and the Bears game was delayed, we would take a trip to Menards (40 min from home). We got a few things we needed, and some others we didn't need but wanted, and returned home in time for the electricity to come back on. We saw lots of leaf, corn stalk, etc debris and a few branches down but nothing major. The wind is howling now but it looks like the worst is past us.

I know there are some BYCers that live in the Peoria/Washington area that may have been impacted and my prayers are being said for them and others were in the paths of the different storms.

 

[mlm Mike]

Thanks Diva!

Fortunately the we didn't get as high of winds as some places, lots of rain. The electricity flickered once, but it wasn't even out long enough for the generator to start up.

 

[RedIII]

Eep! I hope everyone is safe with the stormy weather tearing through. That's one thing I'm grateful for where I live. I think we get a maximum of two tornadoes in the state per year, and I've only ever seen one here once.

I had to laugh yesterday. I let my chocolate cockerel out of his cage for a minute, and my three Icelandic pullets were standing right there. Two of them took off, but the third decided she was boss and started jump kicking the cockerel. He didn't know what to think of it at first, and I grabbed him before anyone got hurt. It seems I have quite the spunky girl.

 

[NotAFarm]

I had a bit of free time and got a few pics of the chicks. I must say that I may have been mistaken about the number of cockerels in this bunch....I usually hate being wrong but this time I hope I was! Here is the light chick that Elska is raising.........I'm hoping pullet, no sign of wattles and coloring is looking female to me.
Kelly, what do you think?

Here is a definite cockerel (left) that Heidi is raising.....I'm think the other one is a pullet. Pale comb and more monochromatic than the males I see here.



.....and one of Elska......looking not so fashionable in her molting tail......
(you can see her dark chick just above her back....pullet!! Yay!)

 

[mlm Mike]

Poor Elska. Hooray for more pullets!

 

[Happy Chooks]

I would agree with your sexing Mary. On your cockerel, my hen Briet has a comb/crest that does the same. I always think of it like a comb over.