Icelandic Chickens

[NotAFarm]

RJ,
Right now I have a New Hampshire (German Line-came from kathyinmo four years ago and my neighbor got all of them except two hens-I got eggs back in May for broody hens to hatch) cockerel who will be one in May. I have two GNH pullets hatched at the same time as the cockerel (who is in isolation) and two four year old GNH hens, the originals I kept from the group Kathy sent me.
I have 17 Icelandics adults,
10 Icelandic chicks hatched Easter weekend and
eggs under broodies, yet to be determined
....so 5 German Line New Hampshires and 27 Icelandics
= 32 +- eggs under broodies here.

While working in the yard today, I had a chance to listen to the flock doing their day to day things. I love hearing how Audun and Jökull work together to keep everyone safe. The mommas were busy teaching their chicks all about dusting, scratching in flower beds (bad momma) and where to find the "common" waterer.
I did have to "school" Jökull last evening. All the main flock was up on the roosts and Jóka and her chicks entered the coop to go to the broody coop. Jökull got off the roost and was trying to breed the broody who was all about protecting her chicks and the chicks were peeping frantically. I ran him out of the coop and wouldn't let him back in until both broodies with their chicks were "tucked in" for the night. He gave me wide berth this morning and if I heard a hen "disagreeing" with his advances (and Audun wasn't around to set him straight) I "tsked" at him and he gave ground to me. He is basically a good guy but he isn't quite a year old and it is his first spring.

I hope he learns everything his father can teach him about being a great flock leader. Love me some Audun!!

 

[NotAFarm]

Oh, and I candled Gula's eggs...and have the bruises to prove it. Only one of the two Icelandic eggs was fertile. I chose the largest egg and next to largest from the day I gave eggs to her. I believe the largest egg is Anna's. She is one of my original 6 year olds. I chose the egg for that reason but I don't think she will let Jökull near her and Audun has never liked Anna much. I was hoping to get a chick that I knew was hers...no such luck. The other egg is looking good. It will be the only one Jóka gets to keep. My friend's eggs look good. We'll see what we get on Thursday/Friday.

 

[arconfederate]

Well NAF I am certainly not tired of your birds with chicks photos. I enjoy them a great deal and I have a bad case of chick envy. I know that as a beginner here, I will be asking 'that' again, but hey it is BYC and that is how it works. So how many birds do you folks keep that are Icelandic, and if you also have others, what are they. I would like to 'learn' the ropes here and be able to speak with some working knowledge of the posting group.

So I would be more than excited to see your birds, learn about them and your thoughts, listen to any insight you might wish to share and perhaps items that i do not even know to ask. I do know that I be loving me some Icee chickens.

Best to all and your birds,

RJ

What he said, for me too! I also greatly appreciate photos, advice, ideas, etc. I'm old but not too old to still learn.

 

[RJSorensen]

Well I do not like to 'build' on the Sabbath, but did not feel as well as I would have liked to yesterday. So I am out putting together a new brooder spot for the chicks that are pipping and zipping as I type this. Should have them in hand Tuesday or Wednesday and the wife and I are VERY excited to begin our adventure with Icelandics. So that might take my 'free time' today. I am glad to have a co-newbie in this regard arconfederat… and as such it will be fun to enjoy these with him as well.

I am at about page 375, and just want to say that I appreciate those of you whom have kept the flame going here. The new folks joining this thread owe a great deal to those who have kept this channel open for the benefit of the new people. I look forward to populating these pages with pictures, questions, any insight I might gain. In time perhaps I can offer advice and or suggestions. I love chickens and chicken people for the most part…

I am going to use a heatlamp and one of my Brinsea brooder plates, I have one of each size. I am putting this new spot in my wood shop, on a shelf of a rack system. So it will be six feet long and three feet deep, the height will be three feet as well. Should come in handy over the coming years for many 'things.' No matter what, I never seem to have enough pens and such. Looking forward to sitting in a building with a nice floor, enough light and at a comfortable height. I have 'several' setups that require me to reach in from the top, and as you know, the birds don't like things coming in on them from above. This is the reason I am making a 'special' place for the new birds. i want to try to be hands on with them, and not give them drama for no reason. We will see i suppose… experience is a great teacher for sure.

NAF thank you for sharing your birds and such, it is nice to know the birds other folks have in a thread such as this. I am still hoping that there will be others whom will share with me a few things regarding their setup.

Best to all and your birds,

RJ

 

[arconfederate]

Well, went into lockdown last night. Out of the 10 eggs, two were developing. I saw movement in both of them so I'm hopeful that they are ok. they are due Wednesday or Thursday. I think that I'm going to try the heating pad/cave idea this time. If that doesn't work like I want, I still have the heat lamp set up.

I went to the flea market Saturday. They had 3 people there with chickens, ducks and even a few pigeons. The ducks were all crowded together and a few of them didn't look healthy. Nor were they a breed that I wanted. One person there had a huge number of hens in a small area. They looked ok but weren't for me. The last vendor had mostly bantams but again not any that I was really interested in. I mentioned Icelandics and while I didn't get the hollow stare, I'm not sure that he'd heard of them. He did confirm that he didn't know of anyone in our area with them. Maybe that will change this week.

 

[RJSorensen]

Morning… just saw this and wanted to send good hatching vibes your way. I got a tracking number this morning so in a day or two I will have some chicks as well.

Best,

RJ

 

[NotAFarm]

Well, went into lockdown last night. Out of the 10 eggs, two were developing. I saw movement in both of them so I'm hopeful that they are ok. they are due Wednesday or Thursday. I think that I'm going to try the heating pad/cave idea this time. If that doesn't work like I want, I still have the heat lamp set up.

I went to the flea market Saturday. They had 3 people there with chickens, ducks and even a few pigeons. The ducks were all crowded together and a few of them didn't look healthy. Nor were they a breed that I wanted. One person there had a huge number of hens in a small area. They looked ok but weren't for me. The last vendor had mostly bantams but again not any that I was really interested in. I mentioned Icelandics and while I didn't get the hollow stare, I'm not sure that he'd heard of them. He did confirm that he didn't know of anyone in our area with them. Maybe that will change this week.

Morning… just saw this and wanted to send good hatching vibes your way. I got a tracking number this morning so in a day or two I will have some chicks as well.

Best,

RJ

 

[RJSorensen]

Thank you NAF, we are twiterpated… or something like that. Our first Icee babies.

 

[drumstick diva]

"Sending good hatching vibes your way,"

was previously the only line I coined that hadn't been taken over by everyone and his brother.

But, they say "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery." "They," being the ones who "imitated."

I think I will have to start speaking in" tongues" to put "my" stamp on everything

 

[arconfederate]

Thank you all for the good wishes. This morning the smaller egg was rocking around a little. Good luck with your new batch RJ. Keep us informed!