Icelandic Chickens

[coldupnorth]

No problem! Tell us how your last hatcher turns out. Question for the group- how do Icelandics do in the snow? Do they actually forage (or even go outside) when there is snow on the ground? My other girls won't touch the ground if there is any white stuff. Just wondering... NOT wishing for snow, though!!! Lol

Mine will go out but they are not particularily fond of the white stuff. They will forage/dig if the ground is within reach under the snow. The won't go where it is deep

 

[kathleens1979]

Just an FYI for any Icelandic people in Illinois- there is a rare breeds show tomorrow at Garfield Farm. It looks like it might be near Chicago. Lyle Behl will be there exhibiting some of his Icelandics. I have a graduation to attend or I would so be there!

 

[mlm Mike]

Quote: That's about how mine are.

 

[Turkeyrangler]

Here is my Icelandic Saga if you will. First off I haven't made a post in years. There are a number of reasons for this the main one being that a little over two years ago I lost most of my birds in one night to a weasel. I killed the weasel, but lost all my EEs including my rooster. Kind of took the wind out of my sails. I was left with one Buff Orpington and three EE/BO cross hens. Enough to supply my wife and I with eggs. This last fall I told a friend at work that I was thinking of getting a new rooster. About a week later he told me of a women on Facebook giving away an Icelandic cockerel because her other Icelandic cockerel was beating him up. Not knowing anything about the breed other than they were somewhat rare I looked them up and after reading a little bit I knew I wanted him. The lady I got him from said I should start my own flock. Her small flock was out of the David Grote flock. A month ago I contact her again and asked if she was willing to sell me a dozen eggs. She agreed and when I picked them up I discovered that she had started them in her incubator as they had been laid. This meant that I would have a week long staggered hatch hatching from one to three eggs a day. She had dated each egg so that was helpful. I set up two incubators; one with a fan and egg turner and the other with just a fan. Kept the humidity around 30-35% in incubator #1 and 60-70% in incubator #2. Since installing the computer fans in the incubators I find keeping the temp in the LG incubators at 99.5 relatively easy, but they are in my bedroom with a very stable temp. I candled each day and as they got close to their internal pip I then would moved them to incubator #2 to hatch. They all hatched on day 23 due to being transported 20 miles and cooling a bit. Out of 12 eggs I hatched 10 chicks. Considering what they had been through I'm beyond happy about it. These are tough little birds. Guess I'm back in the game now. BTW..I picked up another dozen eggs which she didn't incubate and I'm starting them today. They should hatch around 6th of June. Here are some pictures. Only have 9 chicks in the pics due to one still being in the incubator drying off. I keep a brick on the incubators since we have cats.

Icelandic Rooster


Chicks






Setup




Thanks for looking.

 

[drumstick diva]

Turkeywrangler - Beautiful rooster, and great looking chicks - do you have any that may be crested? Probably too soon to tell. Glad you are back here.

 

[kathleens1979]

Turkeyrangler, very pretty rooster and good looking chicks! You have the chromatic opposite of my small flock. I just hatched a batch of chicks 7 weeks ago and they are all shades of dark (although various colors mixed in- a couple of their moms are mottled). You seem to have all light chicks. Very nice!!

 

[Turkeyrangler]

All of these chicks are from David Grote's flock. That is where she obtained her birds. Not sure of what group they are from, but I am absolutely sure they are all Icelandic since she has never had birds before. I'm guessing that more than a couple will be crested.

 

[NotAFarm]

Hello, Icelandic lovers!!

I was gone a few days and upon return, have broody number four. I gave her eight eggs. The other three are sitting tight. The Easter Hatchalong chicks look like they doubled in size! I'll have to get some updated pics of them.

I hope everyone's chicks and flocks are doing well.

Seinna, The Other Mary

 

[drumstick diva]

Mary would you rather be called Seinna?

 

[kathleens1979]

Isn't that an earth-toned brown color??? Is that your alter-ego?

I get to go meet Lyle Behl this week, guys. I am getting eggs Thursday. I know this is really, really nerdy of me, but I am SUPER excited!!! I am never star-struck. Never have had the desire to meet celebrities. I kind of think all that is pretty vacuous and silly, but I can hardy wait for Thursday!!! I am meeting an Icelandic chicken celebrity... Squee!!!