Icelandic Chickens

[Jake Levi]

I have some eggs in the incubator right now that Mary brought me along with the youngsters, so as they hatch they will winter in the basement. My raised pens will have most of the wire covered with plastic and there will be a light bulb up near the roosts, it wont be Miami Beach, but warmer then hunkering under a bush or a hay feeder in Iceland.

Isi's single comb is minus the tips it had, and the rest is thicker, winter does come here, seriously. Last year I tracked our temps with Icelands capital, and it was colder here, not as long though. I think I will try this year also. Got to refind that google page.

Life goes on, a wet fall here, along with a cool one, leaves are falling like crazy now.
Life goes on.

 

[NotAFarm]

Good Morning!

Jake I hope all of them hatch for you......and that you get more pullets than cockerels!

I moved Elska to a broody coop and she took the move fine so I gave her five eggs last night. When I moved them, I heard peeping coming from one of them!

It won't be long now!

 

[Jake Levi]

Elska is the girl !!!

By now you should have a new peeper !

I am just hoping to have 12-15 hens/pullets going into winter. That will be a nice working flock for me. I am for sure going to have some extra cockerals available . Next year I will be looking very closely at them for Rose Combs and Crests for the keepers.

It will be.

 

[NotAFarm]

I peeked last night when locking up and she has one chick and another that was almost out........so I left quickly so I didn't disturb her. I heard peeping from Heidi's nest but left without checking.......she is a big girl and didn't want to risk any of the chicks/eggs getting smooshed. I'll try to get some pictures later today. Our high is only going to be 63 F so it will have to be a short session for the little ones!
Here is Elska in her cardboard box nest. This was a box I used to take two pullets to a friend down the street. It had shavings in the bottom and air holes around the top. I kept it for future transfers and had it sitting next to some alfalfa and grass hay bales that I get each year to put in the coop during the winter (deeper bedding and something for them to scratch in and find some "greens"). She and a couple of others started laying in it after I found their hidden "tire nest". I let them keep using it since it was clean and accessible for me........knowing they would try to find another place if I moved it. I removed eggs each day and put one plastic egg in. I didn't tell my "chicken chore buddies" about the nest so checked it as soon as I got home. There were the five plastic eggs and one egg in the nest. I took the egg and replaced it with a plastic one, just to make sure she was broody and not just on the nest laying an egg. Sure enough.......broody........but I didn't want to start more eggs this close to winter so I'm glad Heidi had plenty to share.

 

[lalaland]

congrats! what fun, hope to see more pics.

 

[lalaland]

identity check:

icelandic? or not?

mrs murphy:




I'll post updated pics of the roos in a minute.

its just that I have to butcher excess roos in a week or so and I don't want to make any mistakes in my choices.

 

[mlm Mike]

Elska!

 

[drumstick diva]

ELSKA

 

[Twister-n-Dos]

Ended up with some great crests this year.

 

[NotAFarm]

Ended up with some great crests this year.

Looking good Twister!

identity check:

icelandic? or not?





its just that I have to butcher excess roos in a week or so and I don't want to make any mistakes in my choices.

lalaland, I have had Icelandics with colors very much like these so they could be........whether they are Icelandics is not based on their color but on their genetic purity.....if their parents were pure Icelandic, then they are Icelandic......regardless of color. If you are not sure of their breeding/genetic purity, please don't use them in your Icelandic breeding flock.