Icelandic Chickens

[Mc620]

my month chicks Grote line love this age very friendly

 

[Jake Levi]

A very interesting article. It parallels what I am asking about.

.http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2014-04/nesc-ado041814.php


Thanks for sharing. I bookmarked the site. Looking for more.

 

[Jake Levi]

A number of new breeders now, I am interested in all of them, Grote and others. Much to get updated on.

Winter is still strong and hale here . But spring is coming !

 

[NotAFarm]

I thought Jóka had given up her broody ideas. After removing her and putting her on the roost, she hadn't been in the nest again at lock-up........until last night. I don't want to give her eggs until Thursday, but since she is only 9 months old, I don't want her on the nest for too long either. We'll see what happens today. The forecast has us in the 50F range for today and tomorrow.

It will be drop next week but still staying between 35 and 45 most days. Great for us this time of year!

 

[ashleyzoso]

Yes!!!! David Grote has me on the list for shipping April 4-5th!!!! He'll be able to ship to NC by then.

***happy dance***

My husband is confused by my ridiculous level of excitement lol

 

[NotAFarm]

Yes!!!! David Grote has me on the list for shipping April 4-5th!!!! He'll be able to ship to NC by then.

***happy dance***

My husband is confused by my ridiculous level of excitement lol

My DH doesn't share my enthusiasm for my chickens either.....that is why we are here, to share in our triumphs and help when we fail!!

Congrats!!! It won't be long! April isn't far off, you'll need to be getting things ready!
I'm looking forward to seeing pictures of your new flock and set-up!

 

[hbhoffman]

HI All, I need your opinion on Icys. I have the opportunity to get a icy chick from good lines for free from a friend. The hard part: someone here (on BYC?) said they are escape artists. My friend who keeps my chickens-we have a flock together because of HOA issues here-says because of that she does not want one at her place. It is a well fenced in 1/4 acre yard. In your experience, Is that statement true?

 

[NotAFarm]

They love their freedom, and are good "flyers". My youngsters fly up to roost in the rafters, 10 ft off the ground. Very young and older birds fly up to a 1/2 wall, 4 ft high, or use a ramp/ladder ( just for that purpose) to get all the way up. This does not mean yours will ever leave the chicken yard if there is ample food and space and that they are not harassed or chased and feel the need to escape. You should be aware of the possibility of it happening. If she will be the only one you are introducing, I would say the odds are good she would be picked-on and have a reason to want to leave the yard. Are you willing to make an enclosure that you can keep her in until she feels safe and accepted? That would be the only way you could be sure she would stay around....and that is probably true of many breeds.

 

[ashleyzoso]

My DH doesn't share my enthusiasm for my chickens either.....that is why we are here, to share in our triumphs and help when we fail!!  
e  Congrats!!! It won't be long! April isn't far off, you'll need to be getting things ready! 
I'm looking forward to seeing pictures of your new flock and set-up!

I typed a big post and then lost it!

I'm super excited, my incubator should be here by friday. I think I have a friend's eggs lined up so I can participate in the hatchalong, and she'll keep those chicks. I just want to try out the incubator!
I've already got a setup for chicks as we've raised them a few times before.

I'm not sure what will end up doing with the hens we currently have. I'd like to sell them and move completely to heritage breeds having just icelandics for chickens and Ancona for ducks. My husband wants to keep both. We both agree that we won't get in any other new breeds though. I'll have to separate them for breeding purposes though.
I let them free range but we also have a small chicken tractor that we use when we want to have the girls concentrate on weeding and fertilizing one particular area though. We're also in the process of building some tunnels around the veggie garden.

 

[NotAFarm]

Quote: Do your other hens lay a brown, blue or green egg? I've had different hens in my flock throughout the years, but never a breed that has white/tinted eggs that could be mistaken for an Icelandic. Those eggs are always collected for eating eggs and never allowed to be brooded or incubated. If your current hens don't lay a white/tinted egg, you should be able to keep them as long as you are diligent about collecting eggs.