Icelandic Chickens

[debs_flock]

Too hard to pick is definitely a problem here, too...

Last Spring, when I got some month old GNH chicks shipped, I asked kathyinmo to send me a black Icelandic pullet if she had one. Forsaela was the lucky one she picked!.....or I should say, I was the lucky one! I think she will add a new dimension to my flock. If Brad's cockerel is hers, that means she carrys mottled and I will be anxious to see if any of my 6 by Falki are mottled and what she throws from Eldur later this year. I have two more of her eggs due tomorrow and one more next week. Then she went broody again so she is raising four chicks from her own eggs and one from one of my original hens. If she follows what my other hens have done, she'll be laying again by mid-May and go broody again....

..........but she is not related so we'll see....

I love the mottled.

 

[RedIII]

Welcome, bcluff! I think you will find that the Icelandic breed is highly enjoyable, and not just for any one reason

They are a treasure, for certain.

Welcome to the thread, they are a wonderful breed.


I have a pullet that just moved up to the big girl pen that is also all black & silver, very unique. She is the first I've had with that coloring. My girls are all shades of brown with varying amounts of blue in them. Now I'm going to have to look though the growout pens for comb types. They've all been the typical huge rose type combs and lately I've started getting some SC's, all twisted of course because of the crests.

I need to take pictures of my cockerel I'm keeping. It's so hard to pick, with no standard to cull to, you just pick what you like and I like them all!

Yep. This is why I intended to have only one cockerel, but ended up keeping two when my first two Icee's both turned out to be boys. I couldn't decide on who was my favorite. One of them has a huge single comb and no red or brown on him, so I'm glad I kept him for breeding. But the other has a rose comb, red and blonde feathering on his back, and he has the best disposition I've run across with any of my roosters. I can still pick him up and carry him around, and he rarely gets upset about it, unlike his brother........

Well, the last two Icee eggs in my bator that looked promising have kicked the bucket. I really have a nasty suspicion that it's my incubator. Those eggs were all perfectly healthy when I put them in, aside from some loose air cells from shipping. I'm still putting that dumb bator away, but I have a friend with a different kind of bator that has had great success with her hatches. She wants to try some of my Icee eggs in about a month to see how they do. I hope that's all the issue is

 

[Mahonri]

All of my Icelandics are gone.

I'm very sad, but happy that they will be in a place where they can reproduce.

I'll ask Bryce to come here to report on the flock.

 

[debs_flock]

All of my Icelandics are gone.

I'm very sad, but happy that they will be in a place where they can reproduce.

I'll ask Bryce to come here to report on the flock.

He's already found us Dar and reported in,

 

[mbmess2003]

Other Mary...I took a couple pics of his wings and body. Will post them on Monday

 

[NotAFarm]

Other Mary...I took a couple pics of his wings and body. Will post them on Monday

 

[RedIII]

All of my Icelandics are gone.

I'm very sad, but happy that they will be in a place where they can reproduce.

I'll ask Bryce to come here to report on the flock.

Sorry

I think if I had to get rid of any of my chickens, I'd cry. Especially the Icees.

 

[tommysgirl]

Hi! Hoping to pick up some chicks next month and was curious about the term "flighty" as it applies to Icelandics. In your mind does it help them get into trouble...ie flying into a neighbor's yard or does it help them avoid trouble...being able to escape the neighbor's dog...or both, they will fly over the fence but be able to get away from the dog.

When free ranging, do they hang with the flock....my existing flock are all heavy bodied, non-flyers...or can I expect them to go off on their own? Lastly do the return to the coop at night? If not, do I need to worry about them or will the find a place in a tree and be happy and safe?

Thank you!

I just need to know what to expect...I still want em regardless

 

[bcluff]

All of the chickens are put up in their temporary coop while we finish the run! Its already been such a great experience to see how beautiful they are! Ill be taking pics when we put them out into their new home!

 

[RedIII]

Hi! Hoping to pick up some chicks next month and was curious about the term "flighty" as it applies to Icelandics. In your mind does it help them get into trouble...ie flying into a neighbor's yard or does it help them avoid trouble...being able to escape the neighbor's dog...or both, they will fly over the fence but be able to get away from the dog.

When free ranging, do they hang with the flock....my existing flock are all heavy bodied, non-flyers...or can I expect them to go off on their own? Lastly do the return to the coop at night? If not, do I need to worry about them or will the find a place in a tree and be happy and safe?

Thank you!

I just need to know what to expect...I still want em regardless

Mine are both flighty as in they get into the neighbor's yard, and they don't always like to be handled. They seem to be very aware of animals/people around them and will move away quickly from anyone or anything they don't want to be near, but I still keep an eye on them and usher them into our yard when they stray. They love to range and will hang out with a couple of my other more-adventuresome chickens, such as my Leghorn or my BR, but I have seen them wandering around the yard alone, too. They just kind of do what they please.

And, mine will return to the coop at night, but sometimes they insist on roosting in the bushes near the run. They like to get up high and be away from the ground. One of my roos loves to perch on top of a bird feeder I have 7 feet off the ground, when he can.