Icelandic Chickens

[The Sheriff]

Thanks Sigrid and ditto to you and Sveinn!

 

[The Sheriff]

The Icelandics never cease to amaze us. Tonight I went to the big coop to lock up and found this, my wheaton Ameraucana Skye and her two Icelandic babies in the main coop, on the top roost, over 6 ft high. They have until now occupied a nesting box in a broody coop by themselves. They have never been near a roost until tonight. I left them to free range with the others today and they just put themselves to bed like the big chickens. Amazing creatures!

Still quite hot tonight, hence the outstretched wings.

 

[kathyinmo]

OH!!!! Good grief! I bet you were shocked when you saw that! That is simply amazing! Did you leave them there, or move them out? Skye wants the others to remember that she is retaining her spot on the top roost!

I love it!

Bleethur and Blamann free range all day, and put themselves to roost before dark. I keep thinking that one of these days they are gonna fly up into one of the trees and not come back down at night. So far, so good. They seem quite content to cover the area, and check in periodically. They must really eat alot while free ranging, because they sure do not eat much chicken feed. I have also noticed that with my other free ranging birds. Feed bill has gone done drastically.

 

[The Sheriff]

Quote:
I left them! Maybe I should go down and get them. That would cause a disturbance of epic proportions I am sure. Maybe I'll just peek in with a flashlight. Maybe I'll be up worrying all night. If they fall off they'll land on the poop board, not the floor. Its only about 18 inches below the roost. Worry, worry.

UPDATE: I just went down with my flashlight and checked. Each is under one of Mama's wings, still on the roost. All the chickens and geese are awake and freaked out by all the fireworks. We have lots of neighbors shooting the illegal stuff off in this tinder dry area. Go figure.



None of my Icelandics has ever tried to roost in a tree except my original Icelandic/EE cross Stella. She was a wild tree dweller when she joined our flock. We clip wings here because they just are not safe unless they get into the coop at night. We need to have a wing clipping party in the 2 month old coop soon. They are trying their wings more every day.

 

[kathyinmo]

I would worry all night, too! I am sure they will be just fine. It is just natural instinct for them. They look so cute up there!

I have a coon trap set tonight. I believe there was a coon out there last night. Last year I trapped 7 of them. All my birds are locked up securely each night with padlocks on every single door and pop-door. That still does not keep me from worrying. I have an appointment to go see about a Great Pyrenees (livestock guardian dog) this next week. There are 3 pups (8 weeks old), and they have been with their working parents. However, they do not have chickens.

 

[The Sheriff]

I have two of Lukka''s eggs in the incubator. I grabbed them from the cold nest three weeks ago when she got kicked out and moved to another nest. I tried isolating her in a broody pen with the eggs a few days ago and she freaked out and wouldn't sit on them. I let her out and she ran back to the big coop to her wooden eggs. I put the eggs back in the incubator and they are alive and kicking and due to hatch tomorrow. I just candled them and it looks like they have pipped internally. I will try to slip them under her in the morning and hope they hatch quickly, then I can move her and the babies. I had an ugly episode of the big hens stealing fertile eggs from the silkies and eating them so I can't risk leaving these eggs unsupervised. I am telling you, Lukka better take a break from the broody business pretty soon or she's getting boxed up and sent back to Sigrid! Just kidding...maybe.

 

[kathyinmo]

Oh yes, I remember that.

Does the excitement just never end with Lukka? That is about the broodiest gal I have ever heard of! She has to be the reincarnated Godess of Reproduction (if there is such a thing)!

I hope they hatch out with her tomorrow, and all goes as you plan!

 

[kathyinmo]

Any quilters here? Great chicken patterns found here ..... You could make table runners, place matts, etc ... They are all different, which reminds me of the Icelandics.

http://www.fatcatpatterns.com/Chicken Designs.html

By the way ..... click on, "Family Dirt," on the left side menu if you have time to read (and laugh til you cry!) ....

 

[incubatingisfun]

wow i cant believe those chicks got on the roost

 

[Camelot Farms]

Did she carry them to the roost in her beak?