Icelandic Chickens

[Happy Chooks]

She's a troublemaker Jake. She coerces the other icelandics to lay there too. Then she goes broody in the darn thing! I need my eggs right now.

 

[NotAFarm]

Kelly, Nice to know that if you need a broody that you can put a shavings bag down and get one!

 

[mlm Mike]

What method has anyone used to remove rooster spurs? One of my roosters has spurs that are beginning to interfere with his walking.

 

[drumstick diva]

I've read about a "hot potato" way to remove spurs but that sounds too barbaric -

 

[Jake Levi]

Awww Kelley, but she's so cute in there !!



Re the spurs, tuck his neck and body and body under your arm and use that hand to hold both ankles tight, then with the other hand using a set of big dog nail clippers clip the spurs off, have some nylon loops made ready to put over the stumps, they will bleed some. Then pull them tight, use a styptic pen for blood, and spray on some Blukote.

It works for me, but for real dedicated spurers its freezer camp. Only have one this year.

 

[NotAFarm]

Mike, I have never removed or reduced the size of any spurs. Audun's spurs are quite long (he will be four in March) and curled at this point but I'm "chicken" to try and remove them. I know Kathy had posted about a method using pliers to apply pressure near the leg and "cracking" the outer hard spur "shell" loose to remove it and leaving a smaller "inner" spur. I remember her saying to have something on hand to stop bleeding. I couldn't find her post about it. I did catch Audun and attempt that method after she posted but could not bring myself to apply enough pressure to "crack" anything. I just put him back down and he kind of scooted away and then turned and looked at me as if to say, "What the heck was that?!" and then walked away to tend to his flock. I would like to see someone do it so I could learn the proper technique and not worry about injuring my birds.

Elska.....still coming out of her molt, but not as bad as Fina who you can see part of behind Elska:



The pullets...

 

[RedIII]

Mike - I actually did butcher a turkey last week, but his original purpose was as a dinner bird. The one that escaped has always ever been my pet because of how quirky she is. Sometimes I almost like the turkeys better than the chickens, haha.

Kelly, I think two of my hens are secretly plotting with your shavings bag girl. They like to hide their eggs behind an old bag of wood scraps in the garage, when they can get back there. Weirdos......

We've been getting some more snow and low temps here. I've been throwing extra shavings into the pens that my Icelandics are in. I know they're hardy, but I don't want to take any chances. Especially not with my little pullets. I may just put a heat lamp in the garage for them, since our old wall furnace is ka-put.

 

[mlm Mike]

Diva, I read about the hot potato method, don't think I could do that. I'll probably try the pliers method Mary mentioned. I found a video that shows it. Jake with the dog nail trimmers, how far down do you trim?

 

[RedIII]

I found some pictures on my camera that I took before all of this snow hit. These are the three pullets from coldupnorth's flock.

 

[mlm Mike]

Looks like they are having a good time!