Icelandic Chickens

[The Sheriff]

My hatch is over. Of fourteen eggs locked down, 7 hatched. Well, one is still zipping but looks good. The other seven died without pipping. I elected not to open the eggs. I candled and they were obviously gone. This rarely happens so I have to assume it was the result of the power failure. The power was off for several hours Friday morning and the eggs were barely warm when we got the generator going again. The other thing I noticed is that the ones that did hatch are much sleepier and quieter than normal. They are right here next to my desk but hardly peeping, just sleeping. Usually they are running around causing trouble as soon as they dry off. I hope they look better tomorrow.

The two little pasty butt babies from the earlier hatch moved back out to the big brooder today and I only had to clean one of them once. They are still very active and eating and drinking. They are so tiny I don't know how they keep going but they do. I hated to move them but I needed the little brooder for the new babies. They were glad to be back with their buddies though!

We have a storm coming in tomorrow with wind, rain and snow expected. We rarely get snow here. It is supposed to last through the weekend. Michael and I are both worried about another power failure. He is going to fill the motor home with diesel tomorrow so it will be ready to bring home if we need it. The generator runs for days on 150 gallons of diesel and we will have electricity in there for the brooder.

Mary

p.s. If you are wondering where Happy Chooks has been, her internet equipment fried during the power failure on Thursday.

 

[NotAFarm]

Yay, Lukka!! That girl knows what she wants and did the hard work to get it! I hope the others get the message that their favorite nest is "occupied" for the next three+ weeks. You won't have to worry that those eggs will get too cool in a power outage!!!

Mary, If you talk to Kelly, tell her we miss her and hope she's able to be back soon!

Kathy, I love the little one hiding under it's sibling.......

Camelot (Mary, why did I think your name was Kim?), It's interesting to see the color patterns within your flock. Can you tell which hen lays which egg? Is that how you know the chipmunk chicks are from your brown hen? I can tell a difference in the two eggs I get each day but don't know whose-is-whose because I've never "caught them in the act".

I'm so anxious to start seeing some action here but I'm determined to let them "do it themselves" and not incubate, so the wait continues for Spring to arrive. I hope it's not too late this year, I'm soooo over winter!

Seinna, The Other Mary

 

[Camelot Farms]

Quote:
I think you thought my name was Kim cause it it is

My white hen lays in the dirt...no matter how hard I try to convince her not to and my brown hen lays in the box. Kathy and I are going to trade eggs in a few weeks so that will give me some more diversity. I just thought it was interesting that with the diversity of the Icelandic genetics, that my chicks are so 'non-diverse'.

 

[NotAFarm]

Quote:
I think you thought my name was Kim cause it it is

My white hen lays in the dirt...no matter how hard I try to convince her not to and my brown hen lays in the box. Kathy and I are going to trade eggs in a few weeks so that will give me some more diversity. I just thought it was interesting that with the diversity of the Icelandic genetics, that my chicks are so 'non-diverse'.

Okay, I just saw The Warden's post about pics and wondered!

When are you getting eggs from Kathy? If you want, I'll send what I collect at that time and maybe you can hatch them together. I sent GreyBear 11 eggs collected over the past week, he should be getting them today or tomorrow. I'll be interested to hear/see what colors he gets!!

 

[Jake Levi]

Hi

I am very much for preservation, besides Heritage Chickens also have Heritage endangered rabbits, and am active on our 4 cnty Search & Rescue, the motto for S&R is "That Others may Live". I think that applys to our Heritage Breeds also and the Icelandic Chicken is certainly Heritage.

I live in Northern MI but would drive down to Ohio, IN or ILL to pick up eggs or a few chicks. I dont want to start any chicks or eggs before mid April at least here. The turkeys I am getting wont be here til late June.

For this year would be very happy with ten to twelve Icelandics. Just to get them started up here too.

I cooperate with our local 4H at the cnty fair, to date they have only shown recognized breeds but I think I could talk the judges into a 'trial' showing of Icelandics. I give them chicken and other poultry books every year for the class winners.

 

[Jake Levi]

Hi Andy

I dont like the crossing that goes on so rampantly, if someone has an ongoing project then thats what it is but just crossing doesnt help anyone.

I have one small 'run', but those are hatchery chickens and are being replaced, just had them a couple years.

This year I am trying something new for me, singles, pairs and trio pens, my two main LF Heritage breeds are RC RIRs, and Partridge Wyandottes, I want to track both breeds on laying their first year. The Icelandics would be kept the same, rear the roos separately, and then pair them off. A lot more work and pen building but I am the opposite of a 'crosser' I want to KNOW who is from who. I really do like the way so many here make pets of their chicks, I have long done that. I like to walk up to a rooster or hen and pick it up and it to be quiet in it, used to have some turkeys that way too, a strain I cant find donw here in the states the Wishard a free breeding free flying bronze. Maybe one day I will find some.

I dont have any bantams , probably wont, just housing and doing what I want to with the LF will occupy enough time and resources. As it stands I am hoping to have 12-15 pullets of each breed. Could start with 6-8 of the Icelandics.

 

[Jake Levi]

One last post: re Incubators

I noticed that many here are hatching very small egg numbers, which is great, but what incubators are you using? I have a Hovabator with turner, have looked at a couple other small incubators,

what are the ones used by you folks?

 

[The Sheriff]

Quote:
I think you thought my name was Kim cause it it is

My white hen lays in the dirt...no matter how hard I try to convince her not to and my brown hen lays in the box. Kathy and I are going to trade eggs in a few weeks so that will give me some more diversity. I just thought it was interesting that with the diversity of the Icelandic genetics, that my chicks are so 'non-diverse'.

Sorry, my bad on the name mistake but look at the time of the post. It was well after my bedtime! I'm old and senile. Just ask Kelly. If she ever gets an internet connection again.

 

[Camelot Farms]

Quote:
Hi Jake. I use a $44.99 LG with no turner and no fan.

I have great success with mine. Around 85-95%

 

[Camelot Farms]

Quote:
I think you thought my name was Kim cause it it is

My white hen lays in the dirt...no matter how hard I try to convince her not to and my brown hen lays in the box. Kathy and I are going to trade eggs in a few weeks so that will give me some more diversity. I just thought it was interesting that with the diversity of the Icelandic genetics, that my chicks are so 'non-diverse'.

Sorry, my bad on the name mistake but look at the time of the post. It was well after my bedtime! I'm old and senile. Just ask Kelly. If she ever gets an internet connection again.

LOL...I answer to most anything.