Icelandic Chickens

[drumstick diva]

I would be inclined to take them away from her. When inexperience leads to death - that's when I decided mama doesn't get another chance.

I had that with raising puppies . One was a fantastic momma and would take in any pups you gave her. The other didn't care for her puppies throughout her lifetime. I would either raise them myself or have the other mom take them The bad momma would stomp on them decide to jump out of the whelping pen with puppies still attached nursing and knock them silly. Funny thing - her daughters were excellent mommas.

 

[kathleens1979]

Ten may have been too many for an inexperienced hen.  I would leave them with her. Scramble a couple of eggs and fed them.  Watch to see if they are all eating.  Is she digging and throwing bedding into the water and food? Do you have a place to put her outside with the chicks during the day that is safe?

She IS digging and throwing bedding into their food A LOT. Is that normal??? I check on them pretty often to clean it out, and I'm not sure how much they get to eat and drink because of this. Honestly, I didn't know I should have an outside place for them. My Aussie mama just took out her chicks when she thought they were ready and did her thing pretty independently. I guess I'm not supporting Harpa enough.

What do you suggest? I need an outside space that is safe and has food and water access for the chicks. Anything else? What do I do about the digging??? I took out the panel because that was creating stress for everyone and kind of made a little corner that is blocked off a bit with a couple boxes that she and the chicks can go in if they want to. What else do I need?

 

[NotAFarm]

Quote: They are going to dig. It is instinctive and they are going to want to be out. Can't fence those Vikings in for too long.

My system has evolved over the five years I've had broodies. Since all coops are different, things have to be customized to your set-up.

How old are the chicks? I leave mine inside with momma hen in a small separate area for at least three days. They need to get used to her and be big enough to keep up with her. I will have to get pics of the converted rabbit hutch. After three days, I take them out in the morning and put them in my "chicken tractor". The flock can see them and they can see the flock. This also gets the hens and chicks used to me picking them up. I making a Sshh sound as I move them.

I also have a low structure attached to the main coop with access by a "pop door". It has a sand floor. If I have more than one broody at a time, I will use it for the same purpose, rotating the groups so they get used to both areas. Here is a pic of Anna sitting in the door that opens to the outside. You can see the "pop door" behind her. Sand makes a great flooring substance for momma to scratch in without burying the waterer or food.


Here you can see the whole side. The door on the left and the wire on the right side that has an old storm door window leaned against it to keep snow out. The door has a plastic covering on it in the winter. I use horse stall mats outside the main door and shovel that for access. The back of the barn/coop faces east....the addition faces south.



Making sure they are getting food and water is essential! It sounds like Harpa is trying to be an attentive mom but needs a space that is more separate.

We'll talk about this later!

 

[Turkeyrangler]

This week was not the best. Had to cull a guinea with a slipped tendon and lost an Icelandic chick that failed to flourish. Everyone else is doing well. Here is a pic of the older chicks. All of my 4-5week olds have crests in one form or another. I am so amazed at the colors they are throwing.

 

[kathleens1979]

Sorry about your guinea and chick! Animal husbandry can be tough! Your other chicks are looking good, though. Their colors continue to get better as they reach full maturity. It's part of the fun of Icelandics!

My broody is doing better. Thanks, Mary for setting my mind at ease that her behavior is normal. I watched her dig up pill bugs and feed them to her babies. I also pulled green worms off my kale and put them in a bucket for her. She fed almost all of them to her littles. The only problem she is still having is that she can't keep track of her remaining 6. She has a tendency to move on and leave one behind here or there. Next new broody I have is only getting 3-4 chicks max. My fault for saddling her with such a large brood for her first batch. Today, DH came home from church to hear one peeping in the gooseberry bramble. He attempted to shoo it out to Harpa who was across the garden, and when he did, he got stung by a hornet that was making a nest in the bramble too! I LOL'd, I have to admit. He was MAD at Harpa and the chick. Not a good mind set after being in church!!!

 

[KaldakurFarm]

This week was not the best. Had to cull a guinea with a slipped tendon and lost an Icelandic chick that failed to flourish. Everyone else is doing well. Here is a pic of the older chicks. All of my 4-5week olds have crests in one form or another. I am so amazed at the colors they are throwing.

Sorry to hear about your losses. Your chicks look great, I love that little blue/grey one on the left preening herself. Such a pretty color. My older chicks are about the same size now. Are yours flying yet? I had one escape the horse stall the other day - and boy was he mad when he realized he didn't know how to get back in . Fun stuff!

 

[RedIII]

Turkeyrangler, sorry about your losses. Your current group looks nice, though!

I am struggling a bit. I am contemplating halving my Icelandic flock. Long story short, the breeding thing is creating too much stress for DH and I. I feel bad because I love my girls and I'd really like to help the breed flourish. I have gone back and forth on this for a while. It doesn't help that I am having some health issues of late that are making it difficult to get outside and care for my birds. That's not fair to them. I am also really worried about selling a breeding trio into the wrong hands and then seeing someone exploiting them. Arrrgh

 

[Turkeyrangler]

Sorry to hear about your losses. Your chicks look great, I love that little blue/grey one on the left preening herself. Such a pretty color. My older chicks are about the same size now. Are yours flying yet? I had one escape the horse stall the other day - and boy was he mad when he realized he didn't know how to get back in . Fun stuff!

Mine are flying, but they are in a low brooder so they are limited to what they can do. The blue /grey was the only chipmunk chick I had in this bunch.This weekend they go out with the big kids. Put a low roost in with them this week and they are all on it at night.

Turkeyrangler, sorry about your losses. Your current group looks nice, though!

I am struggling a bit. I am contemplating halving my Icelandic flock. Long story short, the breeding thing is creating too much stress for DH and I. I feel bad because I love my girls and I'd really like to help the breed flourish. I have gone back and forth on this for a while. It doesn't help that I am having some health issues of late that are making it difficult to get outside and care for my birds. That's not fair to them. I am also really worried about selling a breeding trio into the wrong hands and then seeing someone exploiting them. Arrrgh

I completely understand. Had major health issues the last 2 years that are for the most part are resolved now, but I didn't increase my flock until I knew I could care for them properly. Sort them out by asking a good/fair amount of money. The seedy folks will get weeded out.

 

[Turkeyrangler]

Sorry about your guinea and chick! Animal husbandry can be tough! Your other chicks are looking good, though. Their colors continue to get better as they reach full maturity. It's part of the fun of Icelandics!

My broody is doing better. Thanks, Mary for setting my mind at ease that her behavior is normal. I watched her dig up pill bugs and feed them to her babies. I also pulled green worms off my kale and put them in a bucket for her. She fed almost all of them to her littles. The only problem she is still having is that she can't keep track of her remaining 6. She has a tendency to move on and leave one behind here or there. Next new broody I have is only getting 3-4 chicks max. My fault for saddling her with such a large brood for her first batch. Today, DH came home from church to hear one peeping in the gooseberry bramble. He attempted to shoo it out to Harpa who was across the garden, and when he did, he got stung by a hornet that was making a nest in the bramble too! I LOL'd, I have to admit. He was MAD at Harpa and the chick. Not a good mind set after being in church!!!

Great info on how many to let my hopefully broodies to have when they start next spring. I'll really limit the number of eggs I let them have.

 

[drumstick diva]

Hope all goes from here Kathleens