Icelandic Chickens

[Mc620]

Os

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Icelandics  do have leg feathering. Those with it are not crosses. Not many have it but it does show up. It is rare. I have had a couple in Sigrids line.  That's as pure a line back to the Vikings as there is.

We have cold winters here also. Too much minus weather.   The big single combs do get frostbitten if the Roosters are not protected. Our northwest winds blow a steady 13-20 mph, most of the winter. Often more. My chickens arenot in a chicken house but in raised open fronted pens. I did cover the open front after a severe cold snap but the plastic just broke the wind. I did add a heat lamp to the pens.

The big single combs get frostbit. Crests and feathered legs put a little more protection on the head and legs. Along with them I also want pea combs.
[/quote I am following the icelandic breeding agenda and they dont allow it either and thats what I am breeding for and doesnt show in my flock and thats my choice I quess I do have pea combs rose walnut and straight in my flock. Also have behl birds david grote and lisa richards line soon some harvey ussery breeding towards the standard and keeping them the way are as a preservation flock

 

[Jake Levi]

What is 'os' ?

 

[Jake Levi]

One week down towards the Easter hatchalong, so far so good. How many others here in on it?

 

[NotAFarm]

One week down towards the Easter hatchalong, so far so good. How many others here in on it?

Hey, Jake!

I've been out-of-town for the past week. My Easter Hatchalong eggs are in a neighbor's incubator. I'll be candling them in a day or two to see how they are developing. I'm hoping the hens are feeling broody by the weekend so I can bring some of the eggs for them to hatch and raise.

 

[Jake Levi]

Hiya

I miss broody hens, big time, Icelandics at their best ! I am thankful for my incubator but would prefer a couple broodys.

On the downhill now, about ten days to go. Turn the turner off about the 25th, sooner if I see piping, mine have always been early birds.

Today putting the brooder together, a big dog crate with heat lamp, about 3' from the incubator. Shavings in a ring , home sweet home until they can go outside.

 

[Jake Levi]

If this hatch is like past Icelandic ones I expect to see piping about a week from this eve. We shall see, no spikes or power outs, a major plus for broodies. But so far so good.

I am really looking forward to them hatching, then the fun begins.

Let the good times hatch !

 

[Mc620]

set 24 icie eggs in the bator tonite from my richards and behl lines fingers crossed good hatch as only done a few batches and where shipped eggs so hopefully eggs from home birds do well

 

[Jake Levi]

Good luck. I have only had shipped eggs other then 8 of my own , so far so good. I candled 3 of this lot and they showed veins, I didn't want the top off longer so called it good.

I only had one bad hatch from shipped eggs and it was cold, and the eggs were in the carriers car for hours and I have no way of knowing what they were exposed to. This present set of eggs were the best packaged of any ever. And they came fast, literally overnight.

I will be looking for pipping to begin next Friday, my Icelandics have the majority been precocious, I honestly think that is something from the breed developing in a cold climate, quick developing would be a survival advantage.

So far so good, the turner goes off next Thursday.

 

[Mc620]

Good luck on lock down! I have done two batches of shipped eggs got 8 first time and 8 hatched second but two died following day. Those just started laying so will wait awhile before try those unless a hen goes broody.
These eggs now are from my first birds behl and richard lines lot of mottles and rose combs cant wait to see what they produce

 

[NotAFarm]

I finally got a chance to get over to my neighbor's house to candle the eggs.....of the 19 Icelandic eggs, three were pulled. One was clear, one had a blood ring and one looked like a quitter, maybe day five?
I now have two broodies; one pullet and one hen that raised two sets of chicks last year. I will be moving them tonight to "private quarters" and see if they stick. I will split the 16 remaining eggs between them if they continue to sit on the new nests.

that they accept the new accommodations.