Icelandic Chickens

[Camelot Farms]

We have chirping!!! I was turning eggs in the bator and apparently someone is making an early entrance.
I didnt think that they were due for 2 more days. So, I am running around getting a brooder ready. But had to stop and let everyone know LOL

Will update with a pic when we have full hatch!

 

[The Sheriff]

I have one pipping a day early too!

 

[kathyinmo]

Well, this is a first for me. I am hatching, too, and I actually have Icelandics and my project chicks both hatching at the same time..... exactly on time! I had no early ones this time. I was actually worried something was going wrong, because I am so used to them being early or first.

 

[NotAFarm]

Quote:
Maybe they were waiting for the weather to warm up a bit!!

That everyone has great hatches!!

 

[greatergraceoffbg]

AK Michelle

Great question! All of my roosters are covered but one. We had 9 degrees here one night and 17-19 for a week, very unusual for here, the Icelandics that I have loose that roost high in a tree had no frost bite. That doesn't mean they can't get it. There are so many variables, leave cover, leaf expiration of moisture, air currents, as I am along a creek that descends about 20 feet into a little valley that protects the water from freezing down to about 10 degrees and then it just starts to freeze on the edges. My covered Icelandics roost near the ceiling area and the pens are half open air so they are in harsh cold from my perspective. But If you look at Icelandic frontier homesteads there is almost always a barn structure. It is very likely that when these chickens lived in barns that they shared the space with sheep, horses, and other animals. The combined warmth, plus insulation of hay and heat output of decaying manure was just enough to keep these guys warmer than the outdoor temps would lead us to believe. If you have a barn, animals etc, you can easily replicate their environment in Iceland. If you don't have something similiar, you may very well create a nice chicken house with heat lamps, small heated water recepticles for the winter, and an indoor dry feed storage such as a garbage can. if your ease of care is a concern you may build this chicken house next to your own home and near the bcak door so a few steps and you can throw some feed, check the watering containers, pick up eggs and head to the kitchen for fresh breakfast or brunch! It is certainly workable. If you do get a rooster and he gets frost bite they usually do fine even if they loose some comb, but as insurance you can also trim the comb off of a young roo as my friends in Pennsylvania do. it sounds mean but they insist it is practical and helps the roosters to NOT suffer from frostbite. Iceland has similar day/night situations as you do, though their winter sounds less harsh in someways. I do know other folks in Alaska have chickens that are less cold hardy so I am just sure you can work with these Icelandics!

Andy in Fredericksburg

 

[aukuma]

I asked this in an earlier post and I must have missed the answer.

Are Icelandics considered Large Fowl or are they Bantam sized? I have two, but they are only a few weeks old and I cant tell!

I am planning on purchasing a new coop just for them (so they stay "pure) but not sure what size they are as adults to guestimate the size needed.


Thanks for your help!

Rachael

 

[Greybear23]

I know I am new here but I just received a call and found out a very dear friend(in Chickens and in Life) has passed away due to Cancer, he is in a better place and if you are the praying kind I would ask for Prayers for his wife and children and grandchildren in this time of their loss!!! Thank you all so much, Lynn in Okla.

 

[bambi]

Yes, GreyBear, I am a praying kind and I am sorry you have to say good-by for now to your friend. I will say a prayer for his family as well as for you.

 

[kathyinmo]

Quote:
We have been having unusually cold temps this winter. Last week the wind chill was -40. I do have a heat lamp in the coop, but it is at the opposite end (where the grow outs are). So far I see no frost bite. I know it is warmer in the coop than outside, but it can't be that much warmer. I dunno.....

Quote:
Prayers for your friend and family, Lynn. I am sorry for your loss.

 

[NotAFarm]

Quote:
Lynn, I'll add your friend's family to my prayer list.

to you too!