Icelandic Chickens

[suchcutenails]

Yay! My babies are starting to hatch! They are Icelandic babies with a broody Buff Orpington

There are six, so far with five more to come! Now I'm so anxious to see what they look like as they grow! They already have beautiful colors

 

[suchcutenails]

Yay! All eleven hatched!

 

[yochickiemomma]

Yay! All eleven hatched!

Congrats they're so cute n fuzzy!
I'm a nervous momma right now waiting for mine to hatch. Mine are due to hatch the 10th and 14th if all goes well.

 

[snhchick]

One of my Icelandic hens seems to be making a real effort to hatch her (and probably her sister's) eggs. At first she was acting really boody, but she'd easily abandon the eggs to go play with the roo and other hen. The past two days, she's been on the eggs full time (I think; I'm at work during the day). Sorry if these questions are super basic, but I wanted to post them here in case there are any needs specific to Icelandics.

1. We are both new to this. Does she need to have food and water available inside the nesting box or will she eat and drink when she needs to?
2. If she leaves the eggs again, how long can she be off them before they become duds?
3. Should I try to check to see if she actually has eggs under her? I have one ceramic egg in the nesting box.
4. I'm hoping if she does hatch chicks that they will just remain in the coop with everyone.
5. I've marked my calendar for 21 days. How soon can I candle the eggs and expect to see anything?

Thanks!

 

[Icies]

Congrats to everyone with chicks!!

 

[NotAFarm]

One of my Icelandic hens seems to be making a real effort to hatch her (and probably her sister's) eggs. At first she was acting really boody, but she'd easily abandon the eggs to go play with the roo and other hen. The past two days, she's been on the eggs full time (I think; I'm at work during the day). Sorry if these questions are super basic, but I wanted to post them here in case there are any needs specific to Icelandics.

1. We are both new to this. Does she need to have food and water available inside the nesting box or will she eat and drink when she needs to?
2. If she leaves the eggs again, how long can she be off them before they become duds?
3. Should I try to check to see if she actually has eggs under her? I have one ceramic egg in the nesting box.
4. I'm hoping if she does hatch chicks that they will just remain in the coop with everyone.
5. I've marked my calendar for 21 days. How soon can I candle the eggs and expect to see anything?

Thanks!

1. She does not need food and water inside the box, but she does need access to it.
2. My hens will get off the nest and eat, drink and poop and return when they want. Some will take a dust bath. The amount of time off usually depends on outside temps while she is off. You'd be surprised how tough eggs are.
3. Try checking after dark. Use a flashlight to get close to her, use the flashlight as a "guard" and point it underneath her, use your other hand to reach under for any eggs. Mark all the eggs she has with a pencil on the end(s). This will let you know if eggs are being added to the nest during the day and which are the original eggs. Check in this manner every night until you are sure she isn't allowing any other hen to lay in the nest. She will eventually realize you aren't going to bother the eggs...maybe.
4. How big is the coop? How many chickens in there? Is there outside/run/free range access?
5. I candle eggs under my broody at 10 days. You should be able to tell by then which eggs are developing.

 

[snhchick]

Thanks for all the great info. She did leave the eggs for a while yesterday and I took a peak. Looks like only three eggs. I only have two hens and a roo. They have a protected pen, and I also let them do some free ranging. The coup is 4'x5'.. The food is right next to the nesting box and the water is outside, but only about 2 ' from the coop door. I'll try to check again to see if there are more eggs and mark whatever is there now. Thanks!

 

[melissL82]

Hello everyone! I'm new to the icelandic breed and so far loving them. I bought 3 day old chicks in the hopes that at least 1 would be a girl to add to my current girls. Unfortunately, I think that's all I'll get for girls. So I'm wondering if you could help me out to determine if these are girls or boys.they are 4 weeks old as of yesterday, I'm pretty sure the one one the left with the larger waddles is male but I'm still unsure about the one on the right. It's bigger than my female and has a large comb but no waddles...next question is selling...I am unable to keep roosters where I am so at what price would someone sell one of these little guys for?

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[yochickiemomma]

Can you post some head shots a little closer up? I don't want to guess without a better look.

 

[Kyanite]

Sorry, I'm not much help in sexing those chicks, but they sure are cute! I just got my own first Icelandics not that long ago. Mine are now two weeks old. I'm told that these birds can give even the most experience chicken keeper heartburn trying to figure out sex. I think it's because there is so much variation withing the breed, to include combs which we are use to using to identify cockerels. My five chicks were purchased straight run, but they are all developing at the same rate as far as feathering out goes. I've successfully picked out cockerels of other breeds just based on how quickly they feather out on the wings and tails compared to their siblings, but that won't be possible with my Icelandics... unless I got all pullets!

I hope that's not the case. I do have a couple that are larger and more robust than the others, but that' about the only difference other than their colors.