I have 5 pips going on. Actually, 4 pips and a zipper (yellow).
Icelandic Chickens
- Thread starter The Sheriff
- Start date
Oh man ok I guess I better get some of these beauties!
Mary or Kathy? anyone have some hatching eggs this week? I'm setting 24+ wheaten marans on thursday and I'd love to add some of these beauties if you have them
Mary or Kathy? anyone have some hatching eggs this week? I'm setting 24+ wheaten marans on thursday and I'd love to add some of these beauties if you have them
Kathy, Congrats!
- Thread starter
- #1,734
IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
1.) I have suspended shipping of hatching eggs until I can verify that fertility rates have improved. I set 13 eggs this morning, gathered over the last 6 days. I have not been charging any of the recipients of my test hatches for the eggs or the shipping. I have even refunded the shipping if the recipient sends a payment. The fertility rates have been so bad that I could not, in good conscience, let people pay. Most discouraging is the lack of feedback from some of the people I sent test hatches to. I would have known a lot sooner that the fertility rates were bad had I been told. Anyway, much thanks to those who provided me with that information. I certainly appreciate having it. So, after sharing my experience with others and finding out I am not alone in the lack of feedback, I am wondering if free test eggs is a good way to go when testing fertility and hatchability. So for now I am going to set the eggs and see what happens. If the fertility rate is good I may be overrun with chicks but at least I will know. Maybe I can have a garage sale. Buy a VHS movie and get a free chick!
2.) My goal with the Icelandics has always been breed preservation. I made a promise to Sigrid and I intend to keep it. I have tried and will continue to try to make sure that any chickens or eggs from me go to people who share the passion and preservation motivation. I won't be sending eggs to anyone just because they want them. I realize what happens to them once they leave my hands is out of my control. Sigrid realized when she tried to promote the breed that it was difficult to find people dedicated to preserving them. That is why I had to prove myself worthy before she so generously shared Orri, Isi, Lukka and Henna with me.
3.) Lastly, I recently noticed weird feathering on one of my birds that hatched from the eggs I got from Marty which originated from the Lyle Behl line. Marty had a couple of hens with the odd feathering and meant to remove them from the breeding stock before collecting my eggs but did not. She did let me know and I have been watching out for it since. I would ask that anyone who has gotten chickens or eggs from me keep an eye out for this. I would consider it a defect and will remove these birds from my flock or keep them in a separate area from the breeders and just enjoy the eggs. I plan to re-home mine to be sure. They can go to someone who just wants a pretty bird that lays yummy white eggs. If you notice this trait in any bird that you got from me or hatched from eggs you got from me please let me know. I would want to send you replacement hatching eggs. I am going to dig back through old PM's and emails and try to send everyone this information. These are Marty's own words about the feathering issue:
"The feathering issue is that some of the feathers of some of the chickens grow in an odd position so the chickens don't look smooth and sleek. I even got one that looked like its feathers were curly. I'm culling them from my flock whenever I can but I'm still getting occasional chickens with weird feathering. Eventually I'll have it culled out. It doesn't affect the health of the chickens, just the looks. The odd ones I've seen are mostly wing feathers that appear to have turned at their base and grown in an odd direction - maybe three or four feathers per bird. I also, once, had a chick who appeared to have somewhat curly feathers."
So that's it. I hope I don't offend anyone but I have to do right by the birds entrusted to my care. I will keep posting about the fertility and hopefully soon will have fertile eggs to share with like minded Viking Chicken preservationists!
Mary
1.) I have suspended shipping of hatching eggs until I can verify that fertility rates have improved. I set 13 eggs this morning, gathered over the last 6 days. I have not been charging any of the recipients of my test hatches for the eggs or the shipping. I have even refunded the shipping if the recipient sends a payment. The fertility rates have been so bad that I could not, in good conscience, let people pay. Most discouraging is the lack of feedback from some of the people I sent test hatches to. I would have known a lot sooner that the fertility rates were bad had I been told. Anyway, much thanks to those who provided me with that information. I certainly appreciate having it. So, after sharing my experience with others and finding out I am not alone in the lack of feedback, I am wondering if free test eggs is a good way to go when testing fertility and hatchability. So for now I am going to set the eggs and see what happens. If the fertility rate is good I may be overrun with chicks but at least I will know. Maybe I can have a garage sale. Buy a VHS movie and get a free chick!
2.) My goal with the Icelandics has always been breed preservation. I made a promise to Sigrid and I intend to keep it. I have tried and will continue to try to make sure that any chickens or eggs from me go to people who share the passion and preservation motivation. I won't be sending eggs to anyone just because they want them. I realize what happens to them once they leave my hands is out of my control. Sigrid realized when she tried to promote the breed that it was difficult to find people dedicated to preserving them. That is why I had to prove myself worthy before she so generously shared Orri, Isi, Lukka and Henna with me.
3.) Lastly, I recently noticed weird feathering on one of my birds that hatched from the eggs I got from Marty which originated from the Lyle Behl line. Marty had a couple of hens with the odd feathering and meant to remove them from the breeding stock before collecting my eggs but did not. She did let me know and I have been watching out for it since. I would ask that anyone who has gotten chickens or eggs from me keep an eye out for this. I would consider it a defect and will remove these birds from my flock or keep them in a separate area from the breeders and just enjoy the eggs. I plan to re-home mine to be sure. They can go to someone who just wants a pretty bird that lays yummy white eggs. If you notice this trait in any bird that you got from me or hatched from eggs you got from me please let me know. I would want to send you replacement hatching eggs. I am going to dig back through old PM's and emails and try to send everyone this information. These are Marty's own words about the feathering issue:
"The feathering issue is that some of the feathers of some of the chickens grow in an odd position so the chickens don't look smooth and sleek. I even got one that looked like its feathers were curly. I'm culling them from my flock whenever I can but I'm still getting occasional chickens with weird feathering. Eventually I'll have it culled out. It doesn't affect the health of the chickens, just the looks. The odd ones I've seen are mostly wing feathers that appear to have turned at their base and grown in an odd direction - maybe three or four feathers per bird. I also, once, had a chick who appeared to have somewhat curly feathers."
So that's it. I hope I don't offend anyone but I have to do right by the birds entrusted to my care. I will keep posting about the fertility and hopefully soon will have fertile eggs to share with like minded Viking Chicken preservationists!
Mary
Hope your fertility issues have resolved, Mary. Hope you have a great hatch!
I have noticed a couple of my yellow chicks are gonna be blue!
I have noticed a couple of my yellow chicks are gonna be blue!
Quote:
For your Hatch Mary!
Quote:
Very interesting color Kathy!
Can't Wait to see what color s/he turns to be.
Very interesting color Kathy!
Can't Wait to see what color s/he turns to be.
- Nov 9, 2010
- 2,078
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ok, so i have been reading alot about viking hens and they are awesome! i really want some! the only thing is i dont know how well they would take MN winters. any advise?
I get so excited every time I hatch an Icelandic egg!
Look at this latest addition! I haven't hatched one that looked like this yet!
oh man oh man I can't wait!!!
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