Icelandic Chickens

[ConPollos]

I haven't had time to read this entire thread yet, so forgive me if this has been asked and answered: By the time I buy Icelandics I'll have six GCs, six BAs, 13 EEs including a cockerell, so will Icelandics be too agressive/mean to join my flock of docile breeds? or do they get along well with mixed flocks? Are the roos easy or aggressive?

 

[NotAFarm]

I haven't had time to read this entire thread yet, so forgive me if this has been asked and answered: By the time I buy Icelandics I'll have six GCs, six BAs, 13 EEs including a cockerell, so will Icelandics be too agressive/mean to join my flock of docile breeds? or do they get along well with mixed flocks? Are the roos easy or aggressive?

My flock has, over the years, contained non-Icelandic breeds and everyone has gotten along fine. I do not keep roosters of multiple breeds though. I want to make sure my Icelandics are kept pure and the only way to truly do that is to have only Icelandics. I have three hens, at the moment, that are not Icelandic. Two lay a medium brown egg and one lays a blue egg. This way, I only incubate or let hens sit on white/tinted eggs that I know are pure. Anything that I have hatched over the years that is male or lays a white egg is rehomed....like the silkie that hatched for the Easter Hatchalong...if will be rehomed whether male or female.
What is the reason you are getting Icelandics? It doesn't sound like you are planning to separate them at all.

 

[RedIII]

I haven't had time to read this entire thread yet, so forgive me if this has been asked and answered: By the time I buy Icelandics I'll have six GCs, six BAs, 13 EEs including a cockerell, so will Icelandics be too agressive/mean to join my flock of docile breeds? or do they get along well with mixed flocks? Are the roos easy or aggressive?

They are feisty, but mine have done fine alongside other breeds. I, too, keep only Icelandic roos, and all of my white egg layers are strictly Icelandic. The roos may fight with each other, but they learn pretty quick that humans are to be respected.

 

[kathleens1979]

I also have a mixed flock- Icelandics, EEs, and Australorps. They all get along fine, even though the EEs and Australorps are mild mannered. The Icelandics are a lot sleeker, smaller, and quicker than my bigger girls, so even though I only have 3 Icelandic hens and 10 other hens, they don't ever have a problem with each other that I've seen. The Icis do seem to stick together. They like to range and roam more than my other breeds do, and I'll see them roaming off in the field together when our other hens are in the yard. Our Ici rooster gets along fine with everyone. He's the funniest roo we've ever had. He makes little clucking noises whenever he finds something good to eat and calls the girls over to snack with him.

Hann! Nice boy and tons of personality. My fave of our Icelandics.

 

[ConPollos]

I a

My flock has, over the years, contained non-Icelandic breeds and everyone has gotten along fine. I do not keep roosters of multiple breeds though. I want to make sure my Icelandics are kept pure and the only way to truly do that is to have only Icelandics.  I have three hens, at the moment, that are not Icelandic.  Two lay a medium brown egg and one lays a blue egg.  This way, I only incubate or let hens sit on white/tinted eggs that I know are pure. Anything that I have hatched over the years that is male or lays a white egg is rehomed....like the silkie that hatched for the Easter Hatchalong...if will be rehomed whether male or female.
What is the reason you are getting Icelandics? It doesn't sound like you are planning to separate them at all.

I'm planning to either separate them, or not separate them, depending on what I learn between now and August. I have three sheds in a row under one roof, and have converted the middle one into a coop so far. I can make the adjoining sheds into separate coops or can join them into one big coop, or one big and one smaller.

I want Icelandics to enjoy them because of my Viking heritage, but I have to be sure I can keep them and my other chickens happy and safe, or I won't get them.

There are a lot of things to consider. I didn't know about the Icees when I ordered 12 EEs plus a cockerell. It's too late to cancel.

I'm building a big pen like suzeggs run, and a smaller 4 x 8 version. But I don't think Icees want to be in a pen, so I have to think more about safe free range options for them, if possible.

If I learn enough, I'll breed them to help preserve the breed, but not for money. That's down the road. I have my neighbor to guide me as he's been breeding chickens for decades.

 

[drumstick diva]

Mary, I hope you are okay

.Did that massive tornado come anywhere near you last night? I was hiding in the basement closet with a flashlight and weather radio till they finally gave the all clear.

 

[kathleens1979]

Mary,  I hope you are okay

.Did that massive tornado come anywhere near you last night?  I was hiding in the basement closet with a flashlight and weather radio till they finally gave the all clear.

Mary, I was wondering that too. Hope you, the hubs, your son, and all the chickens are okay!

Diva, are you also an Illinois native? We got a bit of hail and a ton of rain, but no tornado, thank heavens! My girls and Hann were standing outside the coop trying to get in- their door blew shut, poor babies!

 

[drumstick diva]

Kathleen, 50 years ago there was a tornado right by the hospital my niece was born in 4-11. That was very scary.

 

[mlm Mike]

I certainly hope we hear from Mary soon.

 

[NotAFarm]

I'm here and all is fine. Just some wind here, no damage. The tornado was just north of I-88 which is 15-20 miles north of me. It is nice to know that all of you were thinking of me. Please remember all to those that lost so much in that tornado. We were watching the weather channel as a storm chaser was following it. Very scary stuff.