Icelandic Chickens

[cherylcohen]

My Dad is in surgery right now so I'm not hovering over the bators I have 3 Icelandics, one wheaten & one blue wheaten marans hatched. The other six Icelandics haven't pipped yet. 3 more wheatens pipped.

A question for you guys I've been hatching for over a year & 1/2 now and I've always put food and water in the brooder. I had someone tell me that if you withhold FOOD for 2-3 days they won't get poopy butt and gives them a good chance to absorb yolk. Does anyone have an opinion about that? I spoil all mine from day one and can't imagine doing that but I also know that they are still absorbing the yolk.

 

[kathyinmo]

Bob's Henhouse :

Along the lines of what Mary had to say... It seems all the Icelandics carry all the diversity of the species in each of them. Hence, when they breed, they are passing along all the genes to their offspring, the next generation, which is why breeding for a particular look, size, or purpose is not likely to be effective. As such, mixing one flock with another for genetic diversity doesn't seem like it would be necessary. (Although it is always fun to get new blood

)
This is just my untrained, ignorant 2 cents worth, which after inflation probably leaves me owing money.

I agree with you, Bob. It seems to me that a good example is the ones found on the uninhabited island (for 60 years). They seemed to flourish without concern for genetic diversity. I am not concerned in the least about it.​

 

[bambi]

Cherlycohen, My prayer's are with you and your family.

 

[kathyinmo]

Quote:
Cheryl,
I have read many old publications (early 1900s), and it seems they all (or most) agreed with that. Think about this .... chicks that are shipped have no food or water, and they do fine. I have done it both ways, and noted no difference.

 

[donnie]

I am hoping that i am on kathys list for some icelandics , i think they will have a field day in my horse barn , picking at grain and scratching around ..

anyone else here have any hens that are laying , id like to be able to get some diverse coloring and some with the little topknot , in the flock of icelandics i hope to obtain, soon , and to help preserve the breed

 

[NotAFarm]

Quote:
Cheryl, I'm saying a prayer for your Dad, you and your family.

 

[cherylcohen]

Quote:
Thanks it's been a rough couple of weeks

 

[Happy Chooks]

Cheryl.......I hope everything is okay.

I'm thinking of you.

 

[donnie]

Cheryl ..

hope all is well

 

[centrarchid]

Bob's Henhouse :

Along the lines of what Mary had to say... It seems all the Icelandics carry all the diversity of the species in each of them. Hence, when they breed, they are passing along all the genes to their offspring, the next generation, which is why breeding for a particular look, size, or purpose is not likely to be effective. As such, mixing one flock with another for genetic diversity doesn't seem like it would be necessary. (Although it is always fun to get new blood

)
This is just my untrained, ignorant 2 cents worth, which after inflation probably leaves me owing money.

If all Icelandics were gentically identical, then one bird could have all the diversity of the breed. If diversity low you might get good repressentation by using a sample of a few dozen birds from multiple populations in Iceland. If diversity is high, more birds would needed to ensure diversity of Icelandic population is repressented by conservation efforts in the U.S.​