Icelandic Chickens

[LittleChickSpy]

My Icelandics are 5 weeks old today. Who wants to guess what I have here?

I think these are pullets:









I think these are cockerels:













And, these aren't as clear, to me:

^I thought cockerel for a whie, but that was mainly based on personality


^I have thought pullet for a long time, but her comb is turning pretty pinkish


^No idea. I keep going back and forth.


^? Pullet?


^My guess would be cockerel here, but not sure.

My husband doesn't understand why I can't just wait to find out.

 

[LittleChickSpy]

LOL, I think roo 3 and 6 are the same bird. Looks like I missed someone!

I'll have to figure it out tomorrow.

 

[NotAFarm]

LCSpy, The last one is a cockerel, the third to last Is also a cockerel. The next to last appears to have willow legs and I haven't had a cockerel in four years with willow legs. Pullets, yes, but never a cockerel, so it appears the next to last has willow legs (or the picture color off) so I would say pullet on it despite some pinking in the comb. But then,, your line is not the same as mine so maybe you'll have cockerels with willow legs....the joy of Icelandics is they are so different from one another! The fourth and fifth from the bottom look more like pullets to me than cockerels.
Watch their behavior for clues. Males than are not dominant in the group will not show their "stripes" as quickly since it is way of showing their submission to the more dominant ones. Removing the questionable ones from those you are sure of will give the questionable ones a chance to show their true colors.

Did you notice how Kelly snuck the "handsome weanlings" in on my pic?

I knew they were both cockerels but she had to rub it in! The single comb guy is dark without showing red, at this point anyway, and the rosecomb guy has quite a bit of red on his back.

Here is a weanling that Kelly can't call handsome....unless she want's to insult my pretty girl!
Note her leg color...

 

[LittleChickSpy]

Thank you! Very pretty lady there! Interesting about wllow legs.

I figured out who I missed. The last in the pullet section has a twin sister. So, it appears I may have 9 pullets and 8 cockerels. Not bad! I may try to keep 3 boys. I love juat about all of them.

 

[gimmie birdies]

I just got my first Icelandic chick today. I lucked out the breeder was only 3 hrs away round trip.

 

[guzmanbg]

I had 6 Icelandic chicks, which were very difficult to sex. At about 2 months old, there seemed to be only 1 cockerel and 5 pullets. That changed a few weeks later- now I have 1 pullet and 5 cockerels! Icelandic chicks are really hard to sex. I did have a wheaten color cockerel with willow legs so can't sex by leg color. I have ordered more fertile eggs since 1 pullet is not enough. It is difficult to pick the male though, and I have narrowed it down to 2 males (a silverish one and a grey one).

 

[NotAFarm]

I just got my first Icelandic chick today. I lucked out the breeder was only 3 hrs away round trip.

Congratulations on joining the wonderful world of Icelandics!

I had 6 Icelandic chicks, which were very difficult to sex. At about 2 months old, there seemed to be only 1 cockerel and 5 pullets. That changed a few weeks later- now I have 1 pullet and 5 cockerels! Icelandic chicks are really hard to sex. I did have a wheaten color cockerel with willow legs so can't sex by leg color. I have ordered more fertile eggs since 1 pullet is not enough. It is difficult to pick the male though, and I have narrowed it down to 2 males (a silverish one and a grey one).

There ya go.........all different! That's why we love 'em!!

I love my Icelandics and find only two things about them difficult.....keeping them in when they want out

and choosing between the cockerels

but everything else is the best!! My flock is helpful with sexing....the young cockerels will not go too near the two main cocks once they are a couple of months old but the pullets don't worry about them. The hens will bother all the youngsters but seem to pick on the pullets more than the cockerels. My flock free ranges most of the time so I have a chance to observe how they all interact. Love my Icelandics!!!

PS.........missing you Jake!

 

[gimmie birdies]

I want to see if I like them and maybe I will make them my main bird. we will see.

 

[drumstick diva]

Yes, where is Jake?

I think maybe he was supposed to have some surgery - or not! Whatever I read on the threads gets kinda mixed together in my feeble mind.

 

[drumstick diva]

That's right I think he had to rehome most of his birds because he wouldn't be able to take care of many afterwards.