Icelandic Chickens

[NotAFarm]

After much thought and consideration, our family will be downsizing our flock/breeds considerably this Spring. Feed costs, time and space constraints are major factors in this decision. We get far too many eggs to use for ourselves and I am not good at "selling" them. I am more likely to give them away and upkeep is too expensive for that. Most of my Icelandics will have to go, even though I just love them. I will keep one small group of a rooster and 4-5 hens. The reason for this decision on the Icelandics is two-fold; one being my daughter uses our chickens to show for 4H and Icelandics are not part of the standards so can not be shown and second the few people that do buy eating eggs from us are not looking for medium white or tinted eggs. Yes, I could sell hatching eggs from them but am not in the mood to question everyone's motives for getting Icelandics or questions about their purity because I am not the "right" breeder. Yes, my birds are pure and I am careful about keeping them apart. Some of them lay a fairly tinted egg and that is because my original starter flock from a breeder was part of experiment of breeding tinted egg to tinted egg genes - eggs just get darker was the result. I hope to keep the small flock of Icelandics till after no one is in 4H and showing chickens and then I can get out of the other breeds. Most of my Tolbunt Polish will be going too, but I will keep a couple hens in with my layers because they are so funny to watch.

This has been an extremely hard decision for me, but it has to be done for the time being.

Laurie, We all have reason for having our flocks and I understand completely your decision to downsize.

I am doing some of that myself. Do you have some one to take the extra Icelandics?

 

[coldupnorth]

Mary - I do not have any definite places for them right now. I have 4 roosters and approx. 9-10 hens to go with them. Two of the roosters are just cockerals that I hatched last Fall and they are penned together so I would like them to go together. I would like the roosters to go with hens in groups; like a starter flock. It's just so hard to know what is the best way.

 

[kathleens1979]

Kathleen I love the crests on your babies

Very nice Kathleen

Thanks you guys! They are sooooo cute with their little crests! My hatch had mostly crested babies in it. They are all sweet, but I love the little top knots!

 

[kathleens1979]

Mary - I do not have any definite places for them right now. I have 4 roosters and approx. 9-10 hens to go with them. Two of the roosters are just cockerals that I hatched last Fall and they are penned together so I would like them to go together. I would like the roosters to go with hens in groups; like a starter flock. It's just so hard to know what is the best way.

Laurie, We all have reason for having our flocks and I understand completely your decision to downsize.

I am doing some of that myself. Do you have some one to take the extra Icelandics?

It is really hard to downsize with anything living, if you are doing it right, I think. There's a responsibility we should feel for the stewardship of all living things. I'm really sorry to hear about your flocks, but I think downsizing can sometimes be liberating too! Hugs to you both!!!

 

[ConPollos]

You

After much thought and consideration, our family will be downsizing our flock/breeds considerably this Spring.  Feed costs, time and space constraints are major factors in this decision.  We get far too many eggs to use for ourselves and I am not good at "selling" them.  I am more likely to give them away and upkeep is too expensive for that.  Most of my Icelandics will have to go, even though I just love them.  I will keep one small group of a rooster and 4-5 hens.  The reason for this decision on the Icelandics is two-fold; one being my daughter uses our chickens to show for 4H and Icelandics are not part of the standards so can not be shown and second the few people that do buy eating eggs from us are not looking for medium white or tinted eggs.  Yes, I could sell hatching eggs from them but am not in the mood to question everyone's motives for getting  Icelandics or questions about their purity because I am not the "right" breeder.  Yes, my birds are pure and I am careful about keeping them apart.  Some of them lay a fairly tinted egg and that is because my original starter flock from a breeder was part of experiment of breeding tinted egg to tinted egg genes - eggs just get darker was the result.  I hope to keep the small flock of Icelandics till after no one is in 4H and showing chickens and then I can get out of the other breeds.  Most of my Tolbunt Polish will be going too, but I will keep a couple hens in with my layers because they are so funny to watch.

This has been an extremely hard decision for me, but it has to be done for the time being. 

Until you can rehome your Icees, this might help your overage of eggs:

Since Vikings are the rage right now, due to the TV show, I'd think some people would love to buy even medium white eggs from some of the 3,000 remaining rare Viking chickens in existence. Especially if there's a Scandinavian society or restaurant of some kind near you.

You can donate extra eggs to your local churches, food pantries, homeless shelters, etc., and take the dollar amount as a tax deduction.

I'm planning to use my eggs to cut down my dogfood bill and my grocery bill, then donate to feed the needy, and after that sell any there's a market for, either at a farmers market, or by advertising on localhens.com or craigs list. But I'm looking at selling as a last resort, just in case there are no buyers.

In the country, eggs aren't that exciting since everybody's got friends and family giving them eggs. But city dwellers do get excited about farm eggs, especially if there's anything unique about them.


My daughter used to work in management for a couple of upscale natural grocery store chains, and they did buy local produce, honey, etc., from folks who walked in asking who to see about that.

Chef Rocco de Spirito was recently on TV explaining that Italians eat way more eggs daily than we do, and he shared some recipes. He even made hamburger buns that were mostly eggs for his gluten free and low carb customers.

For my dogs, I can feed them scrambled eggs with rice or potatoes or beans or bread and oil, plus a children's vitamin pill for breakfast instead of their usual kibble. Then feed kibble for dinner. Or I can give 1/4 Cup less kibble and replace it with an egg and oil, plus a starch, twice a day. Also leftover veggies. I think my kibble is about 100 calories per 1/4 Cup, maybe a bit more. I feed Diamond Hi Energy, 2 Cups per day to my big dogs. It's concentrated so they don't eat as much and it saves me money at $24.95 per 50 lb bag at TSC.

 

[WindyHillFarm]

Mary - I do not have any definite places for them right now. I have 4 roosters and approx. 9-10 hens to go with them. Two of the roosters are just cockerals that I hatched last Fall and they are penned together so I would like them to go together. I would like the roosters to go with hens in groups; like a starter flock. It's just so hard to know what is the best way.

Oh how I wish I were closer to you. I'd be happy to give some of these guys a good home. We are looking for Icelandics but they are hard to find! I really like @ConPollos suggestions abut what to do with all those eggs. We have a strong market locally for eggs from happy country chickens (especially if they have any color to them!) and we feed lots of them to our dogs. We eat lots of them ourselves and trade them for other things, too. Hope everything turns out well for you.

 

[NotAFarm]

The flock out enjoying the beautiful weather yesterday afternoon....

 

[ConPollos]

Oh how I wish I were closer to you. I'd be happy to give some of these guys a good home. We are looking for Icelandics but they are hard to find!  I really like @ConPollos
 suggestions abut what to do with all those eggs. We have a strong market locally for eggs from happy country chickens (especially if they have any color to them!) and we feed lots of them to our dogs. We eat lots of them ourselves and trade them for other things, too. Hope everything turns out well for you.

Thank you, I forgot to mention looking for a Scandinavian restaurant to sell them to. I like to make organic ice cream, so I'm looking forwards to using my own eggs in it. Viking Ice Cream might be a good seller made from the milk of icelandic sheep and icee eggs. Viking Icee Cream Lol

 

[drumstick diva]

The grass is REALLY greener at your house Mary.

 

[coldupnorth]

ConPollos - great suggestions for the eggs. Many of them I already do - donate to the food shelf, bring them to church and work, feed them to the dogs and scrambled back to the chickens. The area we live in has many people of Finnish descent , but no specific restaurants related to the nationality (not sure why). The natural food stores have a good supply of farm fresh eggs and medium white/tinted eggs do not seem to be in demand. I love the idea of Viking ice cream! Yum! I prefer to bring them to the local food shelf but their fridge space is very limited so I have to call the day before distribution to find how much room they have available. Work doesn't always make that feasible. The homeless shelters and such are not close by so it is not often that I get that direction. I do blow out some of the eggs and decorate them for ornaments/decorations. Those I usually donate for the church bazaar and other charity silent auctions.

Mary - Your grass is so green! How happy your flock must be with that!