Icelandic Chickens

[Mahonri]

Quote:
#1. You don't need any eggs. None of us needs eggs.

#2. The post office isn't done kicking the box yet. You will have to be patient.

#3. I was late getting them in the mail because the white spray paint wouldn't dry on the Stella egg.

#4. Icelandics don't need 21 days so go ahead and set the others.

I LOVE YOU!

Thanks for making me giggle!!!!

 

[Jake Levi]

Beautiful babies Michelle, thanks for sharing,

I am glad to see that we have a number of folks on the thread from colder states, just to prove out how winter hardy that the Icelandics are. I am thinking that a number of traits are adaptations to a short growing season. From fast growth to leg feathering , and hardy broods after hatching.

We'll see.

By this time next year there should be a ton of anecdotes as well as hard data.

I hope.

 

[NotAFarm]

Quote:
Jake, I got my four adults from The Warden as juvies, so this is my first year with chicks. I know this is an individual experience, but am relating it so others can observe their own and compare. My SLW broody hen hatched 11 chicks. 10 of the 11 Icelandic eggs she had hatched. 1 of the 3 Java eggs hatched. No contact from me with the eggs once I gave them to her, but I noticed one Java eggs missing during the end of the second week. They were in our barn, in the large dog crate with a 3 ft tall wire fence (2x2 openings in welded wire). The chicks would go through the wire, away from Mom to explore, even before they were one week old. They are currently four weeks old and aren't afraid to leave the hen and go forage quite a distance from her (much to her displeasure). They will come right up to me when I bring treats out, but still hesitate to take something from me without the hen taking it first and dropping it, but they're starting to. They were out in 40 degree weather and would range away from mom for 5 to 10 minutes at two weeks old without needing to run over for a "warm-up". This compared to the lone Java chick who spent alot of time jumping up on mom to stay warm while she ran around to supervising the others.

With this group of chicks, their plumage is very camouflaging, and they run under the arbovities to hide. They are very fast and can fly a few inches of the ground for 10 to 12 feet. It's funny to watch them when the hen calls them and they speed over while the Java flaps it's wings and runs, but can't get off the ground like they can. I feel kinda sorry for it, but it's just built like the bigger bird it's suppose to be and can't keep up with the speedsters!

The brooder chicks that BYCer apc hatched for me will be two weeks old tomorrow and the chicks I hatched for the Easter Hatch are one week old. They are all in the brooder together. The Icelandics are in with Auburn Java and a few AJ crossed with SLW chicks. The Icelandics learned quickly the noise I make before I give them dried mealworm treats and run near the feeder waiting. The others wait until the Icelandics run, peeping with their treasure to try and take it away. Finally, the others are starting to "figure out" what is tipping the Icelandics off about the food. Okay, that's enough for now. Not very scientific observations, I know, but I love watching both groups of them. I do wish the ones in the brooder could have had a "surrogate" to show them the ropes.

I think someone asked about how old they are when they start laying...my girls, hatched May 5, '10, layed their first eggs Nov 11 and 12, '10. Six months old.

 

[BHep]

Quote:
I've been following this thread since before the NY hatch. And have read it from the beggining. These birds are facinating ! I do not have any Icelandic either. I free range all my birds and could not guarentee to keep the pure. BUT believe me, I am very tempted to fence off part of my property and get some. I have 8 plus acres and 4 un-used buildings so I space would not be a problem. I'm thinking ...thinking... thinking !!

Plus this thread is by far, the most entertaining ! What till you meet the critters here .

 

[NotAFarm]

Everyone is welcome.....owning Icelandics is not required!!

We recognize that not everyone is cut-out for Icelandic servitude!

Laree,

about the broken turkey eggs........now get out there and

that seller!

Michelle, What cuties!! Watch and see if there is any pattern to the sexing of the three (and one with a "bib") you have with the white/light chest color. I'm curious if there is any consistency, and if this is sex-linked.

Ryan, I ate my Icelandic eggs from Nov until I sent the first group out the last week of February. Not every single egg needs to be hatched...well, maybe at Kathy's house...but not by the rest of us.

In my flock, the excess birds will be processed, not sold off, unless it' s to someone wanting to start their own flock . It's the way a homestead flock works and that's why I have them. The Viking hens were USED by the Icelanders, there is no reason we can't use them the same way, for eating eggs and for food.

Beautiful places everyone!! What a diverse and grand country we live in!!

edited for typo!

 

[kathyinmo]

Eat Icelandic eggs? Hey, that's a great idea! I think I will give it a try! Well, that is, after I gather eggs for a couple weeks to hatch. THEN, they will be set free to roam for the summer.

 

[Jake Levi]

Hi Nota,

this is exactly the kind of anecdottes we need to read and to collect, just them proving themselves in normal comparisons to other chickens. From the reading I have done I think that they should be an ideal homestead breed.

I may have had a disaster to my first set in the hatcher, temp was warm yesterday, I was away much of the day to a VA appointment, when I got back the hatcher temp was 104, I pulled both plugs, and lifted the lid about 30 secs and it began coming down, I left the plugs out

Overnight temps dropped, to heavy hard frost, and the room cooled down, hatcher temp was at 94 ~ this morn, not sure, have three thermometers in it, none agree, two from GQF, one is a digital temp plus humidity, the other is a hardware store digital temp and humidity, none agree on anything, about a five degree spread on temps, and 5-8 per cent on humidity, that seems a safer range anyhow, from 55-61 % right now,

we shall see what happens, I will be checking it tonight a couple times, I am trying to go with the midrange between the extremes, today I am looking for a much more accurate thermometer/hygrometer, I now longer trust the GQF ones.

also the day this first set arrived it was COLD, so I dont know, I am hoping and praying the little guys can survive this. The next 2 sets arrive in somewhat warmer weather. I hope.

My gray hair will be silver by the time this is done, next year I will have them under hens !

 

[kathyinmo]

This is the best thermometer I have found. It is accurate to within .1 (one tenth) of a degree. I love it!

http://www.brinsea.com/prod-Spot_Check_Digital_Incubator_Thermometer-25.aspx

 

[Greybear23]

There once was an Icelandic chicken peddler named Kathy
When I met her I was quite happy
From her I acquired some eggs
Without hesitation,got them and didn't have to beg
From the first batch
There was quite a hatch
Cute and fluffy chicks galore
Now have not heard from Kathy no more
Met her on an Okie web site
We must have gave her quite a fright
For have not seen her on there in a while tis true
Just wanted to say Kathy we miss you!!!!

Lynn

 

[kathyinmo]

Quote:

I do need to check in on the Okie thread! I keep forgetting to do that!