Icelandic Chickens

[debs_flock]

I agree, it did not look like an Icelandic to me. I've never seen one with a skull like that.

 

[NotAFarm]

Perhaps Mike will come along and let us know If he has any with the vaulted skull. He has hatched eggs from Icelander's lines so maybe the trait is unique to them.

 

[mlm Mike]

I have not seen a vaulted skull in any I hatched. It is also not mentioned in the Icelandic Chicken description (English translation) http://icelandicchickens.wordpress.com/erl-official-description-icelandic-chicken/

 

[EledaWV]

Can someone tell me how to determine a "vaulted skull" in the first place? Its head doesn't feel any different than the other chicks...

 

[RedIII]

This is NOT where I got him, but I did find this photo of a vaulted icie when I searched it? http://www.berrytanglefarm.com/icelandics/

Are you referring to the black one partway down? Wow, I've never seen a vaulted Icelandic. And Berrytangle Farms has a good reputation, too. What in the world?

A breeder that got eggs from me has had a rumpless chick hatch out from her Icee pair, and I can guarantee I didn't cross any of my birds. She keeps all of her breeds in separate pens, too.

I admit I'm feeling a little baffled, now. How would a vault gene have shown up in the Icelandics, other than cross breeding? Or rumpless? Is anyone familiar with those genetics?

 

[RedIII]

Can someone tell me how to determine a "vaulted skull" in the first place? Its head doesn't feel any different than the other chicks...

I'm not sure how to tell by feel. I think we may have to check with people that breed something like Silkies. I will go pose the question on my state thread - we have a few folks there who deal with vaulted breeds.

 

[mlm Mike]

Can someone tell me how to determine a "vaulted skull" in the first place? Its head doesn't feel any different than the other chicks...

Here is a nice diagram of vaulted and non-vaulted skulls: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/435248/vaulted-skulls/0_100#post_5395126.

 

[debs_flock]

Oh, and surprise chicks.

DH does all the feeding and chores (I know, I'm spoiled) so I don't necessarily look in all the coops. I was out at the chickens this morning and heard the chick distress call. I started looking around to narrow down the sound and standing at the top of the ladder in the Icelandic coop were two chicks calling "Mommy, come and save us!" I went into the coop to be the surrogate mommy and they ran down the ladder. That would have been fine until they poked through the fence next door into the Orpington pen where they got pecked. I saved them from them from there, then they ran next door in with the Cochins. Fortunately the behemoths in there ignored them. Then they ran through the next wire in with the Longcrowers, who also ignored them. They are now in a bin in the back bedroom with the call duckling that hatched a few days ago. I'll have to set something up for them with their mom.

 

[Phoenix Farms]

We have a local fair coming up soon and I was wondering if I should show my Icelandics? What class might they be in?

 

[Happy Chooks]

I agree, it did not look like an Icelandic to me. I've never seen one with a skull like that.

I thought the same.

We have a local fair coming up soon and I was wondering if I should show my Icelandics? What class might they be in?

Icelandics are considered landrace fowl. They are not accepted in the SOP, so they wouldn't be able to be shown in a class.