Icelandic Chickens

[mlm Mike]

Quote:

Keep the snow there, do NOT send it here!

 

[NotAFarm]

Okay- a couple of questions for all you experienced Icelandic keepers out there- 1. How do you manage free range time for your flock? I can tell the Icelandics LOVE to free range, but I'm afraid they will get eaten. How do you deal with their desire to be free and foraging? We have a 6 ft. high run and they flew over it with no problem at ALL. Containment would have to be in a covered run, but I don't really want to do that since they love to be out so much. Thoughts? Methods for keeping your birds safe and happy at the same time? Opinions on what is best for Icelandics? 2. Anyone have experience keeping two breeds separated successfully? I had six other roosters when Mary gave me my new babies. Hann became the big man on campus when I gave my other roos away. I don't have any plans to breed my two Ameraucana hens with an Ameraucana roo in the future, but if I were going to, they would have to be sequestered away from the Icelandics. This sounds like too much work, but I am still curious if anyone has done this with breeding pens successfully. I am paranoid about the genes in the Icelandics, so I don't want to mess that up. Has anyone done this successfully? Unsuccessfully? Stories or advice to pass along would be great.

During the five years I have had my Icelandics, I have kept a couple of different breeds (Auburn Javas, German Line New Hampshires). I always kept the Icelandics in my main coop. When young, the other breeds were with the main flock. When they matured, the male and females I was keeping were kept separate. The Icelandics have always free ranged and have a tendency to go to the coop early. I would lock them up and then let the other breed have some free range time in the evening. I made the decision to let the other breeds go but kept a couple of the GNH hens. Since they lay a brown egg and don't go looking for sneaky places to lay their eyes, no problem with keeping any from being hatched.
As you have seen, the Icelandics can fly relatively well. They are wary and predators will not find them an easy target. I did lose a couple of juvies just after their mother weaned them and they were learning to be on their own. They were not with the main flock. I then lost their mother to the same red-tailed hawk as she had been broody and was weaning her chicks so was away from the flock and her weanlings. Safety in numbers is especially true with chickens. They alert for each other. What predators are you most worried about?

 

[mlm Mike]

Mary I believe you misunderstood, I had asked that you NOT send the snow here. It's still coming down at a good pace. I might have to get the tractor out and shovel the drive.

 

[NotAFarm]

At least at your house it looks like someone is enjoying it............

 

[kathleens1979]

During the five years I have had my Icelandics, I have kept a couple of different breeds (Auburn Javas, German Line New Hampshires). I always kept the Icelandics in my main coop.  When young, the other breeds were with the main flock.  When they matured, the male and females I was keeping were kept separate. The Icelandics have always free ranged and have a tendency to go to the coop early.  I would lock them up and then let the other breed have some free range time in the evening. I made the decision to let the other breeds go but kept a couple of the GNH hens.  Since they lay a brown egg and don't go looking for sneaky places to lay their eyes, no problem with keeping any from being hatched.
As you have seen, the Icelandics can fly relatively well.  They are wary and predators will not find them an easy target. I did lose a couple of juvies just after their mother weaned them and they were learning to be on their own. They were not with the main flock.  I then lost their mother to the same red-tailed hawk as she had been broody and was weaning her chicks so was away from the flock and her weanlings. Safety in numbers is especially true with chickens.  They alert for each other.  What predators are you most worried about? 

We seem to be pretty safe so far- no ranging dogs, coyotes (but we only hear them at night), some hawks and a couple of bald eagles, but we haven't lost any chickens to them. I guess I am just concerned because I hear so many horror stories of people losing their entire flocks to something. This is the most freedom we have ever "given" our chickens (really they just took it

). I want to make sure I'm doing the right thing just letting them range. It sounds like you guys do it without too many issues, so that really sets my mind at ease!! So far so good... Fingers crossed.

 

[drumstick diva]

Mike, you didn't tell ME not to send you snow - so to avenge Notafarm, I'm am sending you the 4 inches I discovered this morning - only have 1/3 of an acre but, maybe I can scrabble up some of the neighbors snow too - he isn't using it either.BTW I am charging the shipping and containers to you. I think they will accept cash . THE SNOW IS FREE!!

 

[drumstick diva]

OH the puppies are so cute.

 

[NotAFarm]

Quote: Kathleen, As long as they return to the coop at night, I would suggest just opening the run door and letting them roam. If they are not returning, that could be a problem since coyotes, owls, feral cats, etc have an advantage when they are sleeping out in the open. When I wanted to have eggs from a particular pair, I put a piece of "deer netting", the kind sold at TSC, Menards, etc that is light weight plastic, over a dog kennel run (attached to my coop). It will not keep predators out but will keep the Icees from going over the top. I had a 12 x 12 x 6 pen and the netting fit across it. I needed to put a "support" in the center to keep the snow from making it sag. I learned that after a heavy snow had it sagging within a couple feet of the ground. It did not break but the small openings in the netting held the snow and I was afraid it would collapse the panels inward from the weight.

 

[kathleens1979]

Kathleen, As long as they return to the coop at night, I would suggest just opening the run door and letting them roam.  If they are not returning, that could be a problem since coyotes, owls, feral cats, etc have an advantage when they are sleeping out in the open.  When I wanted to have eggs from a particular pair, I put a piece of "deer netting", the kind sold at TSC, Menards, etc that is light weight plastic, over a dog kennel run (attached to my coop). It will not keep predators out but will keep the Icees from going over the top.  I had a 12 x 12 x 6 pen and the netting fit across it.  I needed to put a "support" in the center to keep the snow from making it sag. I learned that after a heavy snow had it sagging within a couple feet of the ground.  It did not break but the small openings in the netting held the snow and I was afraid it would collapse the panels inward from the weight.

Perfect! That's what I wanted to know- I'm opening the door and letting them roam. Thanks , Mary! Just wanted to make sure this is what other people suggest.

 

[NotAFarm]

@kathleens1979 , I don't know what your place is like but do you have cover for them to hide from aerial predators? I have lots of plants, bushes and trees that help provide cover for them.


On another note, some of you may have seen my post on the Easter Hatchalong thread but here it is again...
of the 13 eggs I set from my flock, only 4 are developing. Audun either has too many girls to cover (16 total) or he is aging out.

This makes me sad since he has been "The Man" for 4 years. I know he has been doing the deed but don't know if he is covering all the hens/pullets. I hope it is just that there are too many girls........