Icelandic Chickens

[RedIII]

Thanks Turkeyrangler. Re the small chick thing - I have had two like that. Thy just fail to thrive and I think they may have something wrong internally, because both chicks I had were constanty crying. One passed on it's own but the other was one I had to put down myself and I remember crying before and after the deed, even though the chick seemed very peaceful while I was holding it. I think it knew I was trying to help it. It's definitely better for them to not have to suffer.

Edit: I take no responsibility for silly typos. Ridiculous phone.

 

[Turkeyrangler]

Red III, I have two more that are a lot smaller than the rest from my two week olds. My only black chick and a chipmunk that I had to help out of the shell because it got shrink wrapped. Neither is crying, but they are just so much smaller. The black one has had pasty butt on and off since it hatched but I've been able to stay on top of that, probiotics and ACV has helped some. I'm hoping it grows out of it. The other one has really no issues, just very small. When I picked up the eggs I noticed when I candled them that they were a bit porous so I'm thinking that the diet was changed and so these chicks are not thriving as well as the first batch. Don't know for certain though.

 

[mlm Mike]

This week was not the best. Had to cull a guinea with a slipped tendon and lost an Icelandic chick that failed to flourish. Everyone else is doing well. Here is a pic of the older chicks. All of my 4-5week olds have crests in one form or another. I am so amazed at the colors they are throwing.

Sorry to hear about the culls. The older chicks look like they are doing good.

Turkeyrangler, sorry about your losses. Your current group looks nice, though!

I am struggling a bit. I am contemplating halving my Icelandic flock. Long story short, the breeding thing is creating too much stress for DH and I. I feel bad because I love my girls and I'd really like to help the breed flourish. I have gone back and forth on this for a while. It doesn't help that I am having some health issues of late that are making it difficult to get outside and care for my birds. That's not fair to them. I am also really worried about selling a breeding trio into the wrong hands and then seeing someone exploiting them. Arrrgh

Red, you don't have to be a breeder to help the breed flourish, keeping a small laying flock and occasionally buying from a breeder helps. So does sharing your knowledge with others.

 

[icedragon2610]

I have just read your posting and can so relate to your excitement in receiving these gorgeous birds. I have 19 3 week old Icelandics running around in an enclosure in my laundry in Northern Alberta. I love the ticking on their feathers and the colourful mix of colours. I am specialising in cold tolerant heritage birds given my location and am passionate about the need for biodiversity in all animals and like yourself want to keep unique breeds alive. I so enjoyed this post and cannot wait to see them grow up and breed.

 

[Turkeyrangler]

Sorry to hear about the culls. The older chicks look like they are doing good.

Red, you don't have to be a breeder to help the breed flourish, keeping a small laying flock and occasionally buying from a breeder helps. So does sharing your knowledge with others.

I had the math wrong and they are 5-6 week olds rather than 4-5 week olds. They are all fully feathered and ready to move out with the big kids this weekend which is good because I have guineas that need to be moved from their small brooder in the house to the big one in the garage. These are the DW's birds but somehow I got stuck taking care of them. My focus is on the Icelandics.

 

[drumstick diva]

good looking birds

 

[kathleens1979]

Red- I can relate to the stress of figuring out how to keep multiple breeds (multiple roos, really). Too much work in the end with the chores associated with a bunch of different pens, schedules, etc. Had to give up and pick one too.

Icedragon- welcome!!! So if you are specializing in cold-weather breeds, are you selecting for all rose/strawberry combs? Interesting project.

Turkey- interesting theory on runts. I will have to check out egg porosity (if that's even a word- lol) next time I have new eggs to set.

Question for group at large- what does everyone do with their extra cockerels? Sell? Butcher? Keep? I have an even split (4/4) of 10ish week olds (born the week before Easter- too lazy to count right now), and they are starting to crow and act a little aggressive toward each other. I'm processing my Marraduna Basque cockerels this weekend, but they are about twice the size of the Icees. So 1. What should I do with all my boys? 2. What do you look for when selecting stock? I want rose comb males, but the straight comb ones are much prettier this hatch... Dilemmas!!! Don't know who should stay and who should go...

 

[NotAFarm]

I struggled when I first got my Icelandics with what to do with multiple breeds. I had some Silver Laced Wyandottes (from a breeder) and some Auburn Javas. It was too difficult for me to juggle the different flocks. I like to free range my flocks and once every three days seemed to work okay for the SLW but the Javas and Icelandics wanted more time out. I found a home for the SLW rooster with a neighbor's laying flock and kept the two hens. The Javas went to two different friends, one got a trio and the other the two extra hens for her laying flock. Then I got some German line New Hampshires from Kathy. The roosters got along fine but couldn't be sure of egg purity without separating them. I kept two hens and a neighbor with kids in 4-H got the rooster and rest of the hens. Three of my Icelandic broodies are currently raising two chicks each from New Hampshire eggs I got from him at the end of May. I love those big orange chickens! My two hens are now three and I'd like to keep any pullets from the six chicks, the cockerels will have to go. I only keep males that are Icelandic and only keep non-Icelandic hens that lay a colored egg that cannot be mistaken for an Icelandic egg. I don't show and don't have children or grandchildren that need a "standred bred recognized" breed so Icelandics are my choice. They are the single breed that meets all my needs. They are not the choice for everyone.

@RedIII Like Mike said, you can help the breed in other ways than breeding them. Buy extra hens from someone for broodies or winter time layers, encourage someone who may want a hardy, homestead flock to try them, be honest about their need to "escape" and the necessity of keeping them pure. Not everyone wants to preserve the breed, they just want pretty hens or cocks that will protect their flocks. I have a couple of neighbors/friends that have gotten cockerels from me that wanted them when their previous male got picked-off by a predator. The Icelandics are doing a great of alerting their flocks and they love them.
@kathleens1979 As I said above, some of my extra cockerels go to people I know who ask for them, some are kept as possible future keepers (and to have available if an interested person wants a starter trio/quad) and the rest are sold at a weekly auction/sale near here. I don't take them myself, a couple of retired men I know to the sale each week and take them when I call. I never say they are Icelandics. They are simply labeled ___ week/month old cockerels. Most will be someone's dinner and some will go to someone looking for feathers for crafting. I wish it was possible to keep them all.......it is not. I will be making some tough choices come fall.
One of the "big orange hens" with Asta and her two Icelandic chicks. The blonde is just right Big Mama, the New Hampshire, and the chipmunk chick is just right of Asta.


Hola and her three Icelandic chicks out enjoying a rare dry day of free-ranging:

 

[RedIII]

Thanks Mike and Kathleen.

Kathleen, I lean toward the boys with a good temperament and respect toward me, above all else. They must respect me and be good to their hens or they go bye bye. Secondary traits I prefer are intelligence and nice body carriage or unique color. Hope that helps even a tiny bit. My extras usually go to freezer camp or get given away as barnyard mix roos.

 

[KaldakurFarm]

I have just read your posting and can so relate to your excitement in receiving these gorgeous birds. I have 19 3 week old Icelandics running around in an enclosure in my laundry in Northern Alberta. I love the ticking on their feathers and the colourful mix of colours. I am specialising in cold tolerant heritage birds given my location and am passionate about the need for biodiversity in all animals and like yourself want to keep unique breeds alive. I so enjoyed this post and cannot wait to see them grow up and breed.

Welcome icedragon . You and I are in the same boat - I'm up North near Ontario in MI, enjoying cold hardy breeds and I have a thing for the... unique. I like that word!!!