Icelandic Chickens

[ChickenHwk]

I am new to this post and am new to the Icelandic breed. About a month ago I bought a pair of Icelandic chickens. The guy that I bought the chickens off of also gave me 6 hatching eggs. I am happy to say that 5 out of the 6 eggs hatched out. One of the chicks looks like a mixed breed though. I would like to know if Icelandic chickens produce offspring with feathering on the cheeks? The chick almost looks like an Easter Egger.

I just ordered some Icelandic chicks from a guy in NH, they are supposed to ship within the next few days, I cant wait.

 

[The Sheriff]

Welcome ChickenHwk and good luck with your hatch. It does sound like you might have gotten some mixed breed birds. The first one I got (flew into my yard) is an Icelandic/EE cross. She lays very pale green eggs. I don't hatch them since she's not pure Icelandic. Are your eggs bright white or just slightly beige tinted? My understanding is that pure Icelandics lay white eggs, although there is someone who posts here who says he has pure Icelandics that lay brown eggs. I am skeptical. Keep us posted!

I have four babies as of this morning, and one more trying to pip. I started with 11 viable eggs under four broodies. Two died in the shell without pipping and four were stomped in the shell. Two of the broodies are first timers and yesterday the temp was 110 degrees so I guess we are lucky to have the ones we have. We weren't here yesterday and hatch day was supposed to be today or tomorrow but with the heat I guess they came early. Trying to maintain two houses, get one sold, move and hatch babies is nearly impossible. The chickens are all moving to the new house tomorrow but for now I have a nursery ward set up on my patio.

Here's Skye with one of her two babies:

Here is Judge Judy with her baby.

The Divine Miss M's baby is still drying off so she refused a picture. My BCM pullet, Raven is trying to hatch the last egg out in my isolation coop in the garden. I have hope but she's a little crazy and this is her first time. I candled the egg and it is moving but just barely so. We'll see what happens. I have a feeling this is just going to get crazier when we move to the new house with the temporary coop. Wish me luck!

 

[Happy Chooks]

Geez, it doesn't look like you're getting ANY eggs to eat! They all went broody on you!

Are any of the newer Icelandic's you hatched laying yet? Or is it all up to Lukka? (not like you're gonna get any eggs out of that girl!)

 

[ChickenHwk]

The one Icelandic that looks like a mixed breed is only a chick, so I am going to have to wait 6 months for it to start laying. I actually think it is a rooster because it is larger than the others, which could also mean that it is a mix. One other one kind of looks like a mixed also. This one looks like it is a mix between a barred rock and an Icelandic because it has barring on it and looks like it is also a little bit bigger than the others. I just recieved 10 Icelandic chicks from NH, I hope they are pure!

Thanks for your help,

Ethan

 

[kathyinmo]

How are all the new babies, Mary? I know you are very busy with all that is going on in your life.

Hey, Kelly, are you gonna post a picture of that coop you made? It IS finished, isn't it?

Remember a little while back, and I told you about Brita wanting to roost above the 6 foot gate, and then I showed you her picture? ...... WELL, look what sisterly influence has done now! This is tonight, about an hour ago .....

 

[Happy Chooks]

They look so grown up Kathy! And they are gorgeous!

As far as the coop goes..............................The outside is almost done. DH and I got the roof put on today. I still have to build the door and the ramps, but other than that the outside (of the coop, not the run) is done. I'm going to work on the inside a bit tomorrow.

 

[The Sheriff]

The babies are fine Kathy. We only got 4 out of 11 because the broodies were not separated from the rest of the flock and some of the eggs got squished and two were late quitters. First timer BCM Raven was a lousy broody so she stayed behind to live with a neighbor. She's still broody and sitting on two mutt eggs. The neighbor was thrilled to have her and I was thrilled to leave her! So my silkie, The Divine Miss M has one chick, Judge Judy has one, and Ameraucan supermom Skye has two. They all survived the move yesterday and are settled into private quarters. It's a flipping cluckfest down there.

Everyone else settled in nicely in their temporary digs, even blnd Lucy. The geese are having a hay day exploring the whole five acres but never leaving the property desite it's not being fenced completely. Our new pond has a major leak so the excavator will be wroking on that tomorrow to try to determine what's going on.

My new house looks like the epicenter of a major earthquake but little by little we'll get moved in. Even with all the mess I am happy, happy, happy to be here! I have been up for thre hours and 2 cars have driven by! What a difference. As soon as I locate my camera and my glasses I'll put up some new pics. Until ten, I better go unpack boxes.

Mary

p.s. Your girls are beautiful little scoflaws! Don't plan on sending them back. We don't tolerste excapes and evading officers here at the prison!

 

[CoopCrazy]

Hey everyone.. Just wanted to apologize for still not getting pics on here.. The kiddos are doing great Bulwify is turning out to be an awesome roo and is very gentle with Wendol.. I promise to get pics on here asap.. My work doesnt allow me on BYC anymore ( they think its giving us viruses..Whatever

) and have had some family issues.. So please dont be upset that I havent gotten em on here yet,,,

 

[cheryl98117]

I have finally talked my husband into allowing me to bring some of these birds home... But I have to wait until spring... Is there anyone in Washington state with these birds yet? And I supose the biggest question would be, will anyone have a pair available in the spring? If so, what would the price for the birds and shipping be? Or would these birds be shipped at all? I have never ran an incubator, and am a tad bit unsure if I would even be successfull running one... But I am not completely apposed to trying my hand at hatching eggs.

I really would love to join you all in establishing this breed here in the U.S. as I think they are wonderful birds.

Thanks!

 

[Happy Chooks]

Mary (The Warden) has been shipping pairs. She's got so many broodies right now, that I'm sure come spring she'll have some extras. She's in Northern CA so it wouldn't be too bad to ship them to WA. She's in the middle of moving right now, so she's not on much at the moment, but I'm sure she'll respond as soon as she can.