Quote:
can't wait till mine hatch!! If they are genetically different from chickens, what are they genetically closer too?
"The Icelandic chicken is called Landnamshæna, (Settlers Chickens) or haughænsni, (Pile Chickens). They were brought to Iceland by the first settlers from Norway before the year 900, and were known to find something to eat in manure piles. Therefore the names. Today they are sometimes called Viking Chickens. These chickens are mentioned in the old Icelandic Sagas written around 1250. Genetic research shows them to be 78 % different form all other chickens in the world today. This is why it is important not to mix them with other breeds, once we do that, we can not get it back. Therefore we need to let them breed naturally as they always have. Nobody here in Iceland has worried about in-breeding for over a thousand years. I have had my RALA chickens in California since 1998, and started with a very few. "
This is the quote from Sigrid's post (#573 on this thread-much easier to get to now that we have the "go to page.." function) that gives the % of genetic difference. I don't believe that it's meant that they are more closely related to any other fowl than chickens.....just that their genetics are unique/different. I wish we had more access to English translations of the research materials!
Regarding the size of the combs and hardiness:
Both of my cockerels came from Sigrid's line (via Mary-The Warden) and neither has a single comb but they do have large wattles. I would think they sleep with their heads under their wings for warmth/protection but I have yet to be able to catch them at it. When I go into the barn/coop, they sound the "alarm" so don't know for sure! They do make an incredible variety of sounds/communication amongst themselves. I think they are truly a project worth the time and effort for those that are serious about helping to preserve them.
cool thanks for the info...day 10 maybe I'll go candle...
can't wait till mine hatch!! If they are genetically different from chickens, what are they genetically closer too?
"The Icelandic chicken is called Landnamshæna, (Settlers Chickens) or haughænsni, (Pile Chickens). They were brought to Iceland by the first settlers from Norway before the year 900, and were known to find something to eat in manure piles. Therefore the names. Today they are sometimes called Viking Chickens. These chickens are mentioned in the old Icelandic Sagas written around 1250. Genetic research shows them to be 78 % different form all other chickens in the world today. This is why it is important not to mix them with other breeds, once we do that, we can not get it back. Therefore we need to let them breed naturally as they always have. Nobody here in Iceland has worried about in-breeding for over a thousand years. I have had my RALA chickens in California since 1998, and started with a very few. "
This is the quote from Sigrid's post (#573 on this thread-much easier to get to now that we have the "go to page.." function) that gives the % of genetic difference. I don't believe that it's meant that they are more closely related to any other fowl than chickens.....just that their genetics are unique/different. I wish we had more access to English translations of the research materials!
Regarding the size of the combs and hardiness:
Both of my cockerels came from Sigrid's line (via Mary-The Warden) and neither has a single comb but they do have large wattles. I would think they sleep with their heads under their wings for warmth/protection but I have yet to be able to catch them at it. When I go into the barn/coop, they sound the "alarm" so don't know for sure! They do make an incredible variety of sounds/communication amongst themselves. I think they are truly a project worth the time and effort for those that are serious about helping to preserve them.
cool thanks for the info...day 10 maybe I'll go candle...
