Icelandic Chickens

[RedIII]

LCS, I have heard of cockerels as young as four weeks old trying to crow, albeit other breeds. My Icelandic boys didn't start until they were at least 12+ weeks old, but I'm sure some can start younger.

I've started collecting another round of eggs for incubation. Now I have to figure out if I have the guts to incubate more eggs right now :/

 

[NotAFarm]

I've hatched a couple of times late....don't like doing it here in Illinois because you never know what October holds. Last year we had a snow in October

....but if you have a set-up that allows for the change in weather, I say go for it!!

Here are a couple of pictures from yesterday...

Gula now has her two sleeping in the rafters with the flock:


So does Gunnur:


Glima's two sleep in the nest box with her. Here they are eating some mealworms:



Gerpla and her two out free-ranging:


I got my original Icelandics from The Sheriff four and a half years ago and Anna soon became my favorite.



I haven't hatched a pullet that looks like her.......until this year!

The difference is that Hanna has a small crest and Anna has none...her sister is Hæna. Hæna does not have the evenly spaced mottling that Hanna has, but Anna didn't have it until she was two.

 

[LittleChickSpy]

So pretty! I love seeing the older Icelandics. I swear mine look different every time I look at them. I think my black pullet may look a lot like Gunnur all grown up. Beautiful.

Red, I just set 63 eggs this past week. No Icelandics (though kicking myself for that right now), but fun silly breeds and crosses for my layer coop and to take to the next poultry swap here in October. I am in the South, though, so don't have to worry much about cold or snow until at least November. Even then is pretty rare (last year, of course. Maybe 3-4 other times in my 30 years).

 

[Happy Chooks]

My 6 week olds hit the ground for the first time today. They loved it so much. I fell in love with this fella today, when he hadn't previously been one of the frontrunners. I think he may be one of my keepers. He has dark legs, when almost all the other cockerels have yellow legs.


My other 3 contenders. I really like 2 of the other 4, too, but I guess have to narrow down somehow.
Far left has always been my buddy. He was a charcoal chipmunk chick, different from all the rest.
Middle I love his coloring and comb for diversity. He was a really cool light caramel/tan chipmunk, also different from the other chicks.
Right is filling in so differently than the other roos. I love how mottled/patchy he is.


Maybe I'll narrow down to these 4 and then cull based on personality, if I need to.

I'm not convinced that the one on the far left is a male. My Briet had a large comb like that at that age and she is a hen. Do you have any more pictures of that bird? I'm not seeing male in that picture. Middle is questionable also. Far right is absolutely male.

 

[gimmie birdies]

do you see my chipmunk on the top pic? looking forward to seeing what he looks like.

 

[LittleChickSpy]

I'm not convinced that the one on the far left is a male. My Briet had a large comb like that at that age and she is a hen. Do you have any more pictures of that bird? I'm not seeing male in that picture. Middle is questionable also. Far right is absolutely male.

I'm pretty sure of both, but will get some more pictures of them. They're 7 weeks today. I was already happy with hatching 8 cockerels and 9 pullets. Would be thrilled with 6 cockerels and 11 pullets, but I know that's just crazy wishful thinking.

Plus, if you think those are questionable, I have one other that is even more so. We'll just go ahead and say 5 cockerels and 12 pullets. Right? Pretty sure that's what I hatched.

 

[mlm Mike]

do you see my chipmunk on the top pic? looking forward to seeing what he looks like.

It's blending in pretty good.

 

[mlm Mike]

I think I got all my Icelandics hatched this spring in one photo:

 

[CoopCop]

I´ve got 32 Icelandic eggs in the incubator now. Out of 36 ordered 32 made it intact. Have hopes of hatching a good starter flock of them and maybe getting more eggs from another line to add diversity. Bonus is they came packed in some kind of wool (alpaca maybe?). I will use that coyote trapping this winter (they like the smell and it holds scents well) so the packing will help protect the chicks twice over. Just nervously waiting and monitoring temperature now.

 

[Happy Chooks]

I think I got all my Icelandics hatched this spring in one photo:

Lovely mix of colors.