Icelandic Chickens

[NotAFarm]

Kathy, On my fray feather chicks....I had three, one cockerel and two pullets. All came from the breeding of Ari/Anna and Asta. None of the chicks, so far, from Audun/Anna and Asta have had the fray gene. I culled the cockerel with the others from the early hatches. I have the two pullets still. While they were dark colored as chicks and juvies, they both ended up with white feathers with some mottling/flecks. Both are very light weight, though body frame is generally the same as their hatch mates, they don't seem to have as many feathers or meat on them. One can jump and get onto the rafters by climbing the trellis I placed as a ladder but the other one sleeps in the nest box by herself each night. I will be taking them both to a friend's house tomorrow and the friend will, as humanely as possible, put them both down. I don't think they will live through the winter in my unheated barn since both sleep away from other birds and they don't have the insulation. Neither one has laid an egg. It is sad, I hope I do not have to deal with this again.

Here is a pic I took a couple of weeks ago of the pair.

 

[thebirdguy]

So I have a single little icelandic that is 9 days old... I hatched some chicks for a friend that came out of the incubator this morning and I put the little guy in with them... He's decided he prefers being alone... I'm going to have to put a cover on the brooder as he's already flown out a dozen times... LOL

 

[AK Michelle]

Quote:
Thanks Mary, I do have a nice camera, it's all automatic so I don't have to know how to do anything but point and shoot

I'm glad to know your scraggly one caught up with the rest, how about everyone else's?

 

[AK Michelle]

Quote:
Awww, he's a cutie. These Icelandics sure are hard to contain. My little scraggle one sneaks out of the brooder through the opening for the waterer. We find him cruising around the garage floor

 

[kathyinmo]

Ya know, after you posted that, I had to go check my little Bitsy. He looks completely "normal," and his weight is fine. However, I lifted up his feathers and did see bare spots under his wings. Not totally bare, but only light feathering. His feathers really show no sign of a problem anymore. Hmmm, odd. And, just look at that pretty little face!

 

[AK Michelle]

Wow Kathy,

He looks great!

And just let me add that as I was typing this, I realized that I was too distracted earlier and called you Mary. I was thinking about NotA Farm Mary's post while I was typing and it wasn't until just now, typing Kathy, that my last remaining branicell clicked in <forhead smack>

So sorry about that.

 

[kathyinmo]

No problem, Michelle. I have been called worse.

I am just wondering about this little guy. So, does he have the fray gene? Was it something else? I suppose I should not keep him, but honestly, he is my favorite! Of course.....

 

[NotAFarm]

Kathy, I don't think he has the fray gene. His feathers don't look anything like my two girls. He may have just been a small/delayed chick that has now caught up or maybe a nutritional deficiency of some kind. His lack of feathers under his wings might just be the regular cycle of feathers before his adult plumage comes in, I think he'll be fine. I like his crest and think he'll make a very handsome rooster.

I cropped and zoomed in on the pullets to try and better show their feathering. Still doesn't really show it too well but you can tell your boy doesn't look like them. The girl on the left was the first hatch 3/31 or 4/1 and the one on the right was part of the Easter Hatchalong 4/22-23) so I don't think they're going to "outgrow it".

 

[Chickielady]

Gosh, I promised Mary that I would post pics of the chicks that hatched, and over 2 months has gone by.
We have been so busy here building our house & canning, pickling, dehydrating, and butchering a big flock of CX we raised for meat..so here is pics NOW, not very good pics as these beautiful birds move fast!!
I LOVE THEM!!!!!!!!!!!

this pullet is my favorite:

Ok, I better quit with the pics..
some are blurry as the camera is digital and takes a few seconds to snap the shot..but you can see the beautiful coloration & patterns these birds have.
One friend has called them..."Yard Confetti"
I really love how calm & intelligent they are as well....LOVE THEM!!!!!!!!

 

[Farmerboy16]

Very Nice Icelandics!