Icelandic Chickens

[The Sheriff]

I did some research on my twirling chick. It may be a neurological disorder.

Someone recommended ChickSaver in the water in case it is caused by an electrolyte imbalance. They had been on that the first few days but I think I'll add it to the water again. Here is my sweet baby in the brooder under the heat lamp. Yu can see he is drinking well. His little body is so tiny his wings stick out. Anyone have or thoughts or have you seen this. Michael wonders how he'll get back to the coop at night when he gets big.

 

[kathyinmo]

Poor baby. Gosh, I hope it gets better. How miserable that would be. I often feel like I am going in circles, as a matter of fact. And yes, it is miserable.


Well, I have plans for tomorrow. BIG plans! At lockup tonight I found yet another broody. I nearly cried. Really, I am serious. I am so overwhelmed with broodies.

My Orp is not gonna make it. I am sick about this and feel like I am the blame. I took her chicks after only a couple days. I swear she is in mourning. Call me crazy...... but I have said that since I took them. She has a "look" to her. Now, mind you, I do not consider my stock "pets." I am not really especially soft hearted towards them. They are more like livestock to me, really. Yes, I love them, or I should say, I enjoy them so very much. I DO REALLY! BUT, I am not sentimental towards them, ya know what I mean. YET, I "feel" this girls pain. Or, I see it! I know.... I know..... I know ..... it sounds crazy. I feel horrible about this. If she is still alive tomorrow, I will cull her. She is bone thin and not eating at all. I know she is suffering. I have tried scrambled eggs, etc ..... she is just not gonna make it.

That leads me to my decision. I am going to attempt to break all my broodies. Come hell or high water, there are gonna be no more "active" broodies here. I have had it! I have a couple plans. Plan #1 is to open up one of the breeder barn pens, and put in ALL the broodies. I will clean it out, down to the floor (cement pavers). There will be no nest, no bedding. If need be, I will close the pop door and leave them outside. It is shady, and forecast is less than 80* tomorrow. I am also gonna do the butt dunk. I will have a bucket of water and dunk them in before releasing them into the pen. I have heard that works for some. idunno

If that doesn't work, I have rounded up 4 wire cages, and I will use those. It has just been crazy around here, and I am DONE dealing with it. I can't deal with it any longer. There will be no more broodies here, one way or another.

 

[The Sheriff]

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Go get 'em Kathy! Darn broodies. I am so thankful that the only crazy Icelandic broody I have is Lukka.

 

[Mahonri]

I've never heard of a Dellie laying a white egg.

I've got to take a pic for you.... like I said, it came out of a HUGE white egg from you and it looks like a Dellie.

 

[kathyinmo]

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I also have an Orp that lays an egg almost white! Very very pale for a tan egg.

 

[kathyinmo]

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Well, the Icelandics do not lay huge eggs. So, that leads me to believe it may not have been an Icelandic egg. What kind of comb does this chick have?

 

[Mahonri]

Here it is up front...

BTW... can you hazard a guess at the gender of the SLW in the background?

 

[Jake Levi]

I am getting more word of mouth interest then I ever expected, will be placing 3 pairs, and a number of roos, but still going to winter six roos just to be safe. But these little guys are making interest already here.

Have a friend that wants me to pack everything up and move to the Cascades in WA

If it was closer I might have sooner, but the idea of packing all the critters and going that far is a beaut. An expedition all of its own, I added some kids to the menagerie, little Saanens and an Alpine for hiking and later packing, and I do love Goats milk Feta. I'll be here for the next year at least, but probably will give it some thought.

Got a LOT of state and national forest all around me. Much hiking doable, plus over night campings.

Mahonri, I have a chipmunk pullet, one of the first 3 hatched that is the biggest of all of them and is as big as Isison already and he was six weeks old when he got here, or more. I saw her sitting next to him and thought he was small then looked at the others and he was still plenty bigger then them, she is also the gentle one that would come right up when in the brooder, she still does in the chicken house, she is developing a beautiful gold highlighted cape. But she is BIG. I didnt have any huge eggs, some nice ones but no huge ones. It will be fascinating how she does .

The Contessa is even more of a stately royal now, and she knows it. Trys to push Blau around but he ignores her, pure class.

Life is good with Icelandics !!

 

[kathyinmo]

Mahonri .....
THAT IS A LIGHT SUSSEX female! It is split to Coronation. And yes, they are HUGE! ALL my sussex eggs are almost white!
The SLW looks female. The males get red combs early on.

 

[The Sheriff]

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Eggs from kathy are like a box of chocolates too!

OMG, this is a classic!