Food for thought, a number of solutions come to mine, but they all boil down to the integrity of the breeder, as in breeding all of our livestock. Without integrity on the part of the breeder a buyer has nothing.
I have seen this in some very high priced breeds of livestock, notably in cattle, paper hangers are a hundred bucks a dozen. Without trust in the breeder the papers are worthless. Ditto, horses, dogs and all other breeds/species of animals.
So, caveat emptor, and I really donot think the Icelandic Chicken is for everyone. They really arnt. Right now there is a lot of interest in them because they are new, I really thing much of this interest will wane as more people come to realize that their coveted chickens arenot immediately recognizeable to the casual observer as Icelandics. No "WOW !! Thats an Icelandic !" I would much rather people said " What a beautiful chicken!! What is it?? "
There is no one single observable characteristic that identifys them to the casual breeder as Icelandics, and frankly I think that is great, it will prevent many casual chicken keepers from buying them and making mutts out of them.
Right now, among RIR serious breeders there might be 50, who keep on average 50 breeders, and winter over maybe 25-30. While hatcherys produce thousands, but the hatchery birds are extremely different from the birds that the breeders produce. Side by side they usually dont even look like the same breed, because they arnt, commonly hatcherys are cross breds.
Again much the same with some of the color phases of Wyandottes. In fact there are a couple 'breeders' who are working on new colors that are known crossbreds.
I dont want to see this happening to the Icelandics, I feel far safer for their future with their future in America, and Canada being with serious breeders to have them because they prize them for what they are. And want NO outside breeding in their birds.
I had two nice small breeding groups of Wyandottes and RIRs earlier this year. THey were rehomed with some youths who wanted a start with the breeds , for 4H and home flocks. I am happy with where they are. And very happy with the young flock that I have of the Icelandics.
They will be the only chickens that I have . Hopefully along the way I can get some other serious folks started with them. To me it will be a sad day that I hear of a hatchery producing 'Icelandic Chickens'. Much the same as when I hear of a new dog breed being recognized by AKC, its the kiss of death to that breed as a productive sporting or working breed.
Nuff, we have some very serious, and very generous folks here who prize their Icelandic Chickens, that to me is the best possible insurance for the future of our breed/landrace, whatever you wish to call them. To me they are both, the fit the discription of both terms. Off my soapbox.
Life is good, and better with Icelandic Chickens and Pack Goats!
I have seen this in some very high priced breeds of livestock, notably in cattle, paper hangers are a hundred bucks a dozen. Without trust in the breeder the papers are worthless. Ditto, horses, dogs and all other breeds/species of animals.
So, caveat emptor, and I really donot think the Icelandic Chicken is for everyone. They really arnt. Right now there is a lot of interest in them because they are new, I really thing much of this interest will wane as more people come to realize that their coveted chickens arenot immediately recognizeable to the casual observer as Icelandics. No "WOW !! Thats an Icelandic !" I would much rather people said " What a beautiful chicken!! What is it?? "
There is no one single observable characteristic that identifys them to the casual breeder as Icelandics, and frankly I think that is great, it will prevent many casual chicken keepers from buying them and making mutts out of them.
Right now, among RIR serious breeders there might be 50, who keep on average 50 breeders, and winter over maybe 25-30. While hatcherys produce thousands, but the hatchery birds are extremely different from the birds that the breeders produce. Side by side they usually dont even look like the same breed, because they arnt, commonly hatcherys are cross breds.
Again much the same with some of the color phases of Wyandottes. In fact there are a couple 'breeders' who are working on new colors that are known crossbreds.
I dont want to see this happening to the Icelandics, I feel far safer for their future with their future in America, and Canada being with serious breeders to have them because they prize them for what they are. And want NO outside breeding in their birds.
I had two nice small breeding groups of Wyandottes and RIRs earlier this year. THey were rehomed with some youths who wanted a start with the breeds , for 4H and home flocks. I am happy with where they are. And very happy with the young flock that I have of the Icelandics.
They will be the only chickens that I have . Hopefully along the way I can get some other serious folks started with them. To me it will be a sad day that I hear of a hatchery producing 'Icelandic Chickens'. Much the same as when I hear of a new dog breed being recognized by AKC, its the kiss of death to that breed as a productive sporting or working breed.
Nuff, we have some very serious, and very generous folks here who prize their Icelandic Chickens, that to me is the best possible insurance for the future of our breed/landrace, whatever you wish to call them. To me they are both, the fit the discription of both terms. Off my soapbox.
Life is good, and better with Icelandic Chickens and Pack Goats!
