Icelandic Chickens

[tommysgirl]

Yesterday, I cleaned out the coops in preparation for this storm we are getting. First, I took the shavings bag and worked on the juvenile coop where my 5 week old chicks are. Then, I went to the big coop. I placed the partial shavings bag on the storage shelf and went to work shoveling. Not even 10 minutes went by and I start hearing this crinkle crinkle noise. I looked in the shavings bag, and this is what I found:


That's an Icelandic for you. This is the same girl that went broody in a shavings bag. She was very upset with me when I booted her and used the shavings.

This is funny. Maybe if I put a shavings bag in the run Hatti will start laying.


Hi everyone. I haven't posted here in a while. I have 2 Icelandic pullets who are just over 7 mos old. I purchased them as chicks from juststruttin who got them in an egg swap from thebirdguy. I had two cockerels and had to let them go but kept the girls. The boys are however alive and happy and looking forward to getting some ladies some time soon.

To be honest I wasn't so crazy about my Icelandics initially because they were so afraid of me but I have come to really like them and their quirkiness so I came over here and looked thorough your pictures and saw some lovely lovely boys and girls. 3 of the 4 chicks I got were partridge color with gold head and necks. One of the boys was black with silver penciling. I haven't seen him since he was about 2 mos old but he was crested and super handsome. I would like to have more in blue/black/silver color pallet so was thinking of hatching some with a broody this spring and was wondering about maybe getting eggs from someone who has a lot of those colors in their flock. I don't know enough about genetics to know how likely it would be for those color traits to be passed on but would like to see more of it. Can anyone here help me? Thanks.

 

[coldupnorth]

Red - your babies are growing up beautifully!

 

[Happy Chooks]

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

If only I were getting some eggs! With 10 Brodie's this year, I really don't need to push my luck.

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.

They don't play by the rules! But I love my hens and wouldn't trade them for the world.

This is funny.  Maybe if I put a shavings bag in the run Hatti will start laying.


Hi everyone.  I haven't posted here in a while.  I have 2 Icelandic pullets who are just over 7 mos old. I purchased them as chicks from juststruttin who got them in an egg swap from thebirdguy.  I had two cockerels and had to let them go but kept the girls.  The boys are however alive and happy and looking forward to getting some ladies some time soon. 

To be honest I wasn't so crazy about my Icelandics initially because they were so afraid of me but I have come to really like them and their quirkiness so I came over here and looked thorough your pictures and saw some lovely lovely boys and girls.   3 of the 4 chicks I got were partridge color with gold head and necks.  One of the boys was black with silver penciling.  I haven't seen him since he was about 2 mos old but he was crested and super handsome.  I would like to have more in blue/black/silver color pallet so was thinking of hatching some with a broody this spring and was wondering about maybe getting eggs from someone who has a lot of those colors in their flock.  I don't know enough about genetics to know how likely it would be for those color traits to be passed on but would like to see more of it.  Can anyone here help me?  Thanks.

Genetics knowledge won't help much with icelandics. They don't play by the rules. You will still get an assortment of colors in the offspring.

 

[tommysgirl]

well I am game regardless

Kind of part of the unpredictable package right?

 

[RedIII]

Red - your babies are growing up beautifully!

Thank you! If not for great people on the forum like yourself, I wouldn't have them.

well I am game regardless

Kind of part of the unpredictable package right?

It's so much fun to see what you get!

 

[Sebrightsrock]

Here are a few of my Icelandics:









These guys are all from the same hatch.

 

[Sebrightsrock]

Also here is a chick that the girl above hatched out.

 

[tommysgirl]

Thanks for sharing your lovely birds! Clearly they all l have a little bit of a rainbow in their genetic makeup.

I like that too. I thought because the colors of 3 of my 4 were so similar that maybe there was some predictability...but that would not be very Icelandic like would it.

 

[NotAFarm]

Red, Great looking group! Nothing happier than an Icelandic free ranging!

Welcome back tommysgirl! Icelandics do have a tendency to grow on you...so much to love....they are such an incredible breed.

Sebrightsrock, Love the color of your hen!

High for tomorrow is forecast to be 16 F early in day with 2 to 4 inches of snow and then falling to -6 overnight........ugh..

.....is winter over yet?! ...........and I don't want to hear how it doesn't start until the 21st either! I've had enough cold and am ready for Spring......and that picture of Sebrights chick just makes the desire for Spring even greater! Love my momma hens and chicks!

 

[drumstick diva]

Not a fARM - totally agree with you. I used to decide on Valentine's Day(when the mailbox was empty) that, that was enough of winter. The next day would be spring - regardless of the calendar.