Icelandic Chickens

[drumstick diva]

Jake you don't know the half of it. Phantom intruders are always messing with my stuff. My brother says it's ghosts (departed mischievious relatives) but he watches all those ghost hunter shows and really needs a hobby.

Willow Springs is about 20 SW of Chicago. I've been here 42 years and hope to stay forever. My first 22 years were in Chicago - nice areas but, the people weren't.

 

[BoldogKennel]

If you donot use selection very carefully in just a few generations they will change markedly in appearance, away from known standards of the breed, they willNOT reproduce themselves to a known type.

The Icelandic otoh, reproduces itself, and has for over a thousand years. Without a standard. That itself is unique enough for me to want to reproduce them .

Thank you Jake for the polite reply, always nice! : ) I have read hundreds of pages in this thread, without having found any information pro or con re: the genetic difference, just non referenced opinions. That's cool, if that is all there is, that is all there is. I can wait, I'm patient...

Jake, I do NOT want to appear arguementative, though I know that is the opinion of some unsettled by my questions, but your above statement REALLY confuses me!!!!! It appears you are saying "that if you don't use selection very carefully" that in a few generations the birds will "change markedly in appearance" (lose type) away from "known standards of the breed" (which I'm looking for) and "will NOT reproduce themselves to a known type"... But then you say the Icelandic "reproduces itself" seemingly without "careful selection" ??? I'm way lost? Either they reproduce themselves to type or they don't. I would think that the "charm" of the Icelandic birds is that they have NOT been "carefully selected" over the past 900 years. I thuoght they were a sort of semi wild bird that survived well on its own, not requiring the care in breeding you indicate in saying "If you do not use selection very carefully in just a few generations they will change markedly in appearance AWAY from the known standards of the breed..."

So, can they reproduce on their own "to type" or do they need "careful selection"? You see my confusion?

Thanks again for the reply. I look forward to learning more and more about these interesting birds.​

 

[tazcat70]

Quote:
Ummm, I have some downsizing to do. I would rather clean coops than do what I have to do.

I sorta upsized (inadvertently of course). I have a few more New Hampshires that I want to work with. Small matings = need more pens opened up. My F2 chicks are gonna need another pen or coop to grow out in over the winter, too. They won't be in a brooder for much longer. I have to hang on to the F1s for awhile longer yet, too.

Sadly, I believe the time has come............ I need to cut out a few breeds. I rationalized to myself that it was okay because I could keep the "pretty" ones that I don't intend to breed in the layers coop. Well, problem with that is that I have been keeping pens of roosters "just in case," I want to hatch more of those pretties. Simply, I can not keep too many roosters in the layers coop, and I really can't afford to keep the roosters penned either because they take up valuable space that I need.

I have set my priorities though. #1 is my project. Next is my Barred Rocks and New Hampshires. The Icelandics are here to stay, too. So everything else is on the chopping block, so to speak. Tomorrow I have to make some choices. It isn't gonna be fun.....

I keep going back and forth on whether or not to keep my Delawares, too. What if ..... what if .... what if .... If my project doesn't work.... On one hand I feel the need to keep the Delawares I have, in case the project fails and I need to simply focus on improving what I have. On the other hand, I tell myself I don't need them because I am creating a new strain to work on. What do I do???? I do not have room enough to do everything I would like to do.

I need more than one pen for each breed. I need several pens for my Barred Rocks and my New Hampshires, and ultimately for my Delawares (project or originals). The Icelandics are fine, as they do well all together in one large coop and pen. Yet another nice thing about not having to worry about a standard to breed to.

All these decisions to make as well as downsizing for the winter. I can't even sleep.........

I don't wanna do this.

English Orps
Lavender Orp project
Coronation Sussex
Red Sussex
Buff Sussex
B/B/S Jersey Giants
White Jersey Giants
Silver Laced Wyandottes
Blue Laced Red Wyandottes
Wheaten Ameraucanas
Lavender Ameraucanas
Black Ameraucanas
Black and Blue Copper Marans
Easter Eggers - Olive Egger

Oh Kathy, I am sorry to hear that you have to make hard choices. I know the feeling and hate it. (I have been gone for a few days)

 

[Chickielady]

I am sorry guys, but "my" storm is well on it's way East, and it will get you.
Don't know if it is going up north, or down south, but it came in last night, about blasting myself & Illia off the coast here..
And it is still raging...batten down the hatches!

 

[drumstick diva]

well if it does come here, I'll know if the guy did a good job cleaning the gutters. They were so stuffed, water was pouring off the sides of the house like a waterfall.

 

[Chickielady]

The flood is coming, Eastern Washingtonians are reporting T-storms and heavy rain.
Soon will be at Jake's..
and
I wanted to post a pic of this perfect boy, whom I am really get fond of~
What do you think?
he looks meaner than snot with the slanted comb & all, but he is very friendly, calm & thoughtful, beautiful boy.

Edited to add: This may be my alpha, and this boy needs a name...any ideas?

 

[Chickielady]

Took this shot a few minutes ago..this boy had the bad tail deal going on, and to an extent, he still does, but all & all looks to be handling it, I hope so, cuz I am quite fond of him also~the first cockeral (shown above) is a keeper, what do you all say?

This is the 'tail' one, who is seeming to recover from an extreme tail growth.
All birds are hiding under cover from the rain, in an oyster shell patch (deals with the snot slippery clay we have here, and excess oyster shell free for the taking, so...I took!)

 

[BoldogKennel]

I like the first cockerel the best... you don't want to get wry tail going or something if that is what the second guy has going on. The first one is beautiful, have you named him?

Storms like crazy here today, on and off, and lots of wind.

 

[Chickielady]

No, I have not named him, looking for input, DH is calling him Henry, but I do not think Henry is a good name.
he looks so mean, but just the crest overlapping his eyes, he is gentle, inquisitive, and beautiful.
Young.
The second one, a dark & Birchen, does have issues with holding his tail square.
But I am now confident that he will grow into his tail.
Look how big his tail is to his body!
he is also a very friendly & calm, inqusitive bird.

 

[Chickielady]

Quote:
This is a pic for you!!!
Cooking dinner in a typhoon::

Thank goodness for the gas grill, even in snow & ice, with 4 big burners, I can cook a whole goat

Couple of coops behind...and my 1 yr old King Crimson Maple tree~~