Icelandic Chickens

[Jake Levi]

Audun is a beauty, older then my splashes with the SC, but its good to know that the two arnt tied together as an absolute.

I am keeping just the one SC, and the other two are RC and have crests.

My favorite pet started off as a gold chick, then white, then developed a light beige cape that deepended to the front third of the body, almost wheaten, now it looks like she is developing a blue or silver blush on the rest, its incredible the changes that they can make in a day or two. Really the best show in town.

I havent been spending as much time sitting with them the last week or so, partially because of the rain and because I am working on the trailer, but the last two days have been sunny and I am going to make more time to get out with them, the interaction of them and with me is fascinating, as well as their development as they grow.

Life is good and with Icelandics and Goats even better !!

 

[AK Michelle]

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[Happy Chooks]

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[AK Michelle]

I'm looking for info before I start building broody boxes...

Do you keep your broodies separate from the general population? and if so, are they at ground level or in a box that is raised off the floor? Once they have chicks do they have access to the outside with all the others or do they need separate space? And do they take the babies back to the brooder box when they come in?

I've learned a bit from reading what you all have posted but now I need to know specifics so I can plan ahead...

Thanks,
M

 

[Happy Chooks]

My broody incubated in with the general population. (I marked the eggs) I was going to try and let her raise them with the flock, but she chose the upper nesting box to brood in. After all but 1 of the chicks hatched, I found one of the chicks had fallen out of the nesting box and couldn't get back in. So I moved her and her chicks and egg hatching to the broody area. She finished the hatch there and I gave them a week to get established. I have since removed the door on the broody area, and they are mingling with the flock now in the coop. My broody keeps trying to get them to go outside, but so far they aren't going for it.

I would suggest having an area where they can be seen, just in case. My previous broody I removed from the flock entirely, and she had a heck of a time reintegrating. (her chicks did fine, but not her)

 

[LarryPQ]

I have done both with broodies. Mixed results with both. Right now I have an OEGB hen sitting on 7 of Mahonri's Chicks and 3 of Jbower's chicks.

I am keeping her seperate because the chickens are mixed with the turkeys, and the turkeys are freaks. I don't want squished chickies. BUT--when the flock free-ranges, they all congregate under the brooder for the dropped chick feed. The constant interaction seems to help the broodies re0mix with the flock.

 

[tazcat70]

I usually let them brood wherever they want. However, once the chicks are hatched I put them in dog kennel until they are a couple weeks old. My momma don't seem to know how to count and they lose babies. It makes me feel better, and the chicks can get in and out of the bars to help them gain confidence while keeping everyone in a similar area.

Dog kennel I am talking about.

 

[thebirdguy]

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I'm on pins and needles!!

 

[kathyinmo]

The chicks are really growing. All pullets, right Kelly?

 

[kathyinmo]