Icelandic Chickens

[RedIII]

We could use a lot more snow here, too. I like having drinking water in the summer. It's been in the 50's and 60's here in the daytime, and yesterday we got a splash of rain. Well, it's better than nothing. Guess I'll put the garden in early.....

Is anyone doing the Easter Hatchalong this year?

 

[mlm Mike]

Well, it seems my girls are settling the whole breeding thing themselves. Two of my hens keep escaping the run to visit their boyfriend (who is conveniently from a different bloodline) and then putting themselves away at night. I'm fine with that!

And, one of my girls laid an egg the other day! First one from my entire flock since last Autumn.....or Summer. I can't remember.

Snow? I'm on day 9 of clearing the driveway from the past 19+ inches - age is really slowing me down. When I pop in and out of BYC and am gone for hours - that's from "sudden nap syndrome" I shovel for half an hour then conk out.

We could use a lot more snow here, too. I like having drinking water in the summer. It's been in the 50's and 60's here in the daytime, and yesterday we got a splash of rain. Well, it's better than nothing. Guess I'll put the garden in early.....

Is anyone doing the Easter Hatchalong this year?

Yes, Kelly is Hosting the Hatch A Long, I'm what is hopefully called helping, the other Mary has entered. Those are the ones I recognize from this thread so far.

 

[NotAFarm]

We could use a lot more snow here, too. I like having drinking water in the summer. It's been in the 50's and 60's here in the daytime, and yesterday we got a splash of rain. Well, it's better than nothing. Guess I'll put the garden in early.....

Is anyone doing the Easter Hatchalong this year?

Yep, I'm in. I'll be using anyone who is broody at the time and if no one is, I'll start eggs in the incubator and move them when some one goes broody....you know it will happen.....just a question of when!

 

[drumstick diva]

Good Idea Mary.

 

[mlm Mike]

Quote: Great idea. I'm not hatching anything indoors, or using an incubator this year. If anything hatches it will have to be from a broody. I need to get my numbers down.

 

[bramblewood]

New member here!! Just acquired my first Icelandic chicks, and I'm super excited about them They are just over a week old in these pics, and yes there are 2 older Salmon Faverolles in the mix as well. Fingers crossed for pullets! If they were crested, would I already see signs of that? Just curious Will there be a noticeable difference in comb development between the sexes in this breed? Thanks in advance for any info anyone can give me

 

[NotAFarm]

New member here!! Just acquired my first Icelandic chicks, and I'm super excited about them They are just over a week old in these pics, and yes there are 2 older Salmon Faverolles in the mix as well. Fingers crossed for pullets! If they were crested, would I already see signs of that? Just curious Will there be a noticeable difference in comb development between the sexes in this breed? Thanks in advance for any info anyone can give me

and to the Icelandic thread!! Where did you get your Icelandics?

In my flock: Crests vary in size and sometimes you can tell relatively early who is crested but not necessarily how big the crest will be. Icelandic cockerels mature quickly and you will see color in their combs much earlier than the pullets and their wattles grow quicker than the pullets. I had one pullet in the four years of raising chicks that had me fooled because of the color of her comb (single) and the size and color of her wattles.

Here is a pic of some of my six week olds (in '12), you can see the little beginnings of crests on four of them and the fifth did not and does not have a crest at all. You can also see which one is a cockerel by color of comb and wattles:

 

[bramblewood]

Thanks so much! I'll be keeping a close eye on my little ones as they mature If I'm iffy on gender I might post some more pics when they're older! I got these chicks from Just Fowling Around farm, in north central Washington state. I think he said they're from the Buel line, or maybe Vala? Anyway, he tried to pick chicks that he thought looked like girls, so we'll see what I wind up with Excited to see them grow up!!

 

[RedIII]

Welcome, bramblewood! That is a mighty fine batch of chicks If you've got some from Vala's line, I think you have a good chance of the blue feathering showing up. I need to get some birds from her.

I agree with Other Mary (NotAFarm) crests vary in size and appearance with my flock. I have one crested roo and three crested hens, out of eight birds total. The females definitely seem to be crested more often. It will be exciting to see what you have!

 

[RedIII]

Well, looks like it's almost time to fire up the dreaded incubator. I have seven Icelandic eggs collected, yay! Aiming for a full dozen. I had to move a bazillion sheets of plywood to get to a big nest, and half the eggs were too old. But I still have eggs (Two of my girls are free ranting, atm)