Icelandic Chickens

[centrarchid]

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All above X2 except change alleles to chromosome types and use term population instead of breed. We do need to be able to cite original work comparing Icelandics to other chickens.

 

[gallorojo]

Sorry to intrude on this thread.

Just a thought-Is it possible that the chickens, on Iceland, were once rather uniform on an individual farm, or in one village, or in one valley? But-they had great diversity BETWEEN farms, or villages, or valleys? Later, as the breed dwindled, perhaps many different flocks from different parts of the island were amalgamated for preservation purposes, creating the explosion in visual diversity?

Is this what happened? This could be a way to explain things that would satisfy everyone .

If it's actually the truth/reality. ????

Apologies, have great luck with your birds!!

-Chris

 

[chickenboy1]

My favorite chicken she is the best at raising chicks

 

[AK Michelle]

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It is my understanding (correct me if I'm wrong) but it was the SAMENESS of the animals on each island (compared to similar animals on other islands/breedig populations) which helped Darwin with his theory... if the animal species on the Galapogos had all had the scatterbred appearance of the Icelandics, he would NEVER have been able to come to his conclusions. But the fact that these isolated breeding populations QUICKLY and COMPELTELY organized into UNIRFORM species is what gave him the clue.

Again, I'm just looking for proof that this phenom has happened ANYWHERE else with any other species... That would help me "believe"! Yes, I read the first several pages of this thread, plus other net research, and everyone basically says the same thing but I am failing to find SCIENTIFIC proof. I'm NO scientist! I can't spell any of those big words! : ) But I have done things like research the "blue" color in American Am Staffs to locate why it is unknown in "real" American pit bulls, for instance, and am willing to dig and do serious research before I make up my mind on something. And in NO WAY am I casting any doubt on the integrety of anyone selling Icelandics, as the few I know I know to be honest folks. But honest people can be wrong, or mislead. And every time I look at those chickens I say "genetics are inbred - appearance is scatterbred, how is that possible?" And by inbred I mean considering the very few number of chickens which "started" the breed 900 years ago, plus the very few used to start the breed in US.

Can anyone point me to the origonal Icelandic person's work on these birds? His genetic research for instance? And thanks for the kind words about my chicks, they are cute little dudes. Again, thank you for any and ALL info!
Diane Jessup

I don't have any of Jake's extensive education or credentials but I want to chime in anyway.

Mustangs

The wild mustangs come in any number of colors. In fact many breeds of different species have multiple colors listed in the standards. But most breeds have been bred for a trait to conform to that standard. the Icelandics have not. They have all the similarities that Jake mentioned (and white ear lobes) but they were never bred for a particular color.

If a polish has few head feathers it's culled not bred, if a golden retriever has the wrong hair type it is "pet quality" and not used for breeding, in the old days, before people started interfereing with breeds to "Standardize" their looks, there was more variety. In every corner of every world there are "poor quality" members of every breed and species, we call them culls or pet quality, we geld them, spay them, keep them from reproducing because they are not the way WE want them.

The Icelandics have suffered no such restrictions. If you look back in time, there was much more diversity to wild herds. In the present day, there is very little that hasn't been subjected to human meddling.

Just my two cents worth...

 

[AK Michelle]

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That's what I have in my coop. I zip tied an old feed bag to the top so the birds roosting on the roof couldn't poop on the occupants

When the chicks move from the brooder to the coop I let them live in the cage for a couple weeks, by the time they can't squeeze through the bars anymore it's safe to open the door and let them co-mingle

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Kathy, I love the poof on this one in the middle.

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Michelle, I use dog crates as broody boxes. I have had them inside the barn near the coops and inside the coop part of the barn itself. Keeping the doors on the crates allows me to separate the broody or let her out when I want her out. I have a small roll of wire that I use to "section off" the area around the door so she can move about put not too far and keeps wandering hens from getting into her nest. I keep food and water in small containers inside the crate. When the chicks hatch, I make sure they can reach the water by using a chick size waterer and by placing it low with no obstacles and use an ice cream tub lid or paper plate for gamebird startena crumbles. I have a couple of separate coops (a tractor that I use for meaties and a two section coop) that are outside the main coop in the yard. When the chicks are a couple days old, I will move momma and chicks to one of these. I then use the wire roll to "section-off" the area near the door to prevent the other chickens from "invading" their space. The chicks can fit through the wire holes (2 x 2) and when I notice they are getting brave enough to forage away from mom, I remove the wire and let mom take them around the yard as she sees fit. She will usuallly return the chicks to their own space for a while and then she will take them to the coop when she feels it's time. I will go out and get some pics for you if you want!

I'm loving all the responses, you all give me such good ideas. I also have used sections of fence wire (mine is 2 X 4 holes) as barriers with chicks moving out from the brooder. Thank you!

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Yay Shawn!!!

Good luck with the hatch

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Google Icelands weather, it's not that cold there. I live in one of the coldest climates in this group, I've suffered very little frostbite and most of my roos (Icelandics, show birds and mutts alike) have plenty of big combs and wattles. I was worried about the wattles on my beloved Kelinn but Kitty, my grand champion millie did just fine, each and every winter hits -35F and we don't keep the birds inside or add anything more than a heat lamp. I don't treat their combs or take any sort of precautions, the birds manage on their own.

 

[The Sheriff]

Boldogkennel,

"chumped" Really? Just as a point of clarification, you sought me out for the eggs not the other way around. If the genetics of the Icelandic chicken was so crucial to you, wouldn't it have made more sense for you to do that research first before obtaining the eggs? I could respond a lot more to the comments in your posts but I chose not to. Think you were misled if that is what you want to think. I do hope your concern over your little flock of Icelandics not being "pure" results in your selling them as "mutts" to someone else. A lot of people would really enjoy them.

 

[centrarchid]

AK Michelle,

Your two cents states much more clearly what I attempted.

The meddling concept as it relates to damage to genetic variation is grossly understated when emphasis is on breeding to a standard, especially when the number of breeders is small.

 

[AK Michelle]

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At least I'm learning something about genetics. And I've also learned we have some really well educated people on this thread who are very very generous with their knowledge.

Thanks to sll who have taught me something today

 

[AK Michelle]

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Wow, Thanks!

I've had a lot of animals over the years, some purebreds, some mutts. My "training" is all through personal observations and experience.

 

[AK Michelle]

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Wow, Thanks!

I've had a lot of animals over the years, some purebreds, some mutts. My "training" is all through personal observations and experience.

I think we also have to consider the differences in vocabulary and conceptual understanding between inside the show ring people and outside the show ring people. To me it's kinda like an engineer talking to an artist, they are both speaking english but neither one can follow the others thoughts or ideas.

I'm an artist, my birds are eye candy. And man what a show they give me every single day! And the show even comes with eggs