Icelandic Chickens

[Chickielady]

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Oh I love red pyle coloration..it always looks so 'dignified" like a handsome man in a white tux.........

 

[schumanw]

Absolutely beautiful chickens! I would love to join the cause also. Do you think these chickens would do OK in northern Florida?

 

[Chickielady]

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I see no reason why not!!

 

[Okla-doodle-doo]

Its disappointing to see that a "judge" can be so unable to see the value of a landrace breed. They are for sure not for everyone but they are for me. I have three breeds going that are not bred for a specific color or marking. I like that about them. I find very few breeds that I would like a flock of that are all one color.
My SIL was not impressed when I tried to explain them to ghim. He said " well what keeps someone from just adding any old bird to the flock and saying they are Icelandics"! I said "Integrety,honesty,good moral standards"!Yes I am sure there will be some low life that will do that,but I have to know that I am above that and will more than likey figure out if others in the fancy are legit or not. Who knows,someday there may be dna testing that can actually trace themto certain stock. Untill then we just have to hold ourselves to a high standard of honesty.

Okay I'll quit ranting!lol. Just wished ppeople will come to appreciated the breed for what it is and not try to mould it into someones ideal of what they "should" look like. I think mine look great as they are!

 

[Jake Levi]

It would be a fatal mistake for the breed to try to stuff it into some breed mold.

We need a pretty good period of time with them just to find out what we have genetically. Right now all we can do is reproduce them, watch out for any obvious abnormalities and look at the breed here as a breed, and not individuals.

I have retained one cock, and one pullet that were the fastest growing ones of their hatches, how they breed on is what remains to be seen. I will be using multi sire breeding just to keep diversity, not single sire matings. I dont think that we are in any way ready for that. I will be watching out for the hens that are good layers, and try to keep their genetics in my flock, but these are things that any homestead flock owner would do, in the US or Iceland.

There are traits that the Iceland is 'uniform' in, adult size, ranging ability, hardiness, maternal instinct, flockmasters within the cocks, early hatchability, many traits. Color and combs just arnt something that is a uniform trait, nor does it have any particular survival value in a farm flock.

We are a LONG time away from needing a SOP. We havent a clue what the standard should be. So to me no standard is a good standard for the Icelandic Chicken.

Life is good and better with Icelandic Chickens and Pack Goats !

 

[kathyinmo]

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Oh yes! We had Menards in Iowa! SOLD. You sold me. I am going shopping tomorrow for contractor bags and a pig.

I got some of the leaves bagged today. Well, I should say, Tyler bagged leaves today. The chair there is mine.

He had plenty of chicken company out there helping him. He got 10 bags filled, and his goal is at least 40.

 

[LarryPQ]

that's a lot of leaves...why not...just let them be?

Or use a lawn mower?

 

[kathyinmo]

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I just might do that! Leaves instead of pine shavings? They wouldn't be very absorbent would they? Do you leave them all winter or change them out? It would take a gazillion bags to bag these up. Maybe I will try it.

Kathy, I put a good layer on the floor, then I bag a bunch so that throughout the winter I just keep adding them. They break down from the scratching and decomposition with the manure. Deep litter of a sort. In the spring, I completely clean the coop and put the bedding in the garden. Can't beat the fertilizer for fruit trees, veggies or flowers!
ETA:
OOppps, about absorbency, I make sure the leaves are dry before bagging them and I think they are plenty absorbent.

 

[Chickielady]

This came a short while ago....

"
Hi Robin,

I wanted to email you and apologize about the way you were treated. Per our show catalogue I see no reason why you could not have a display or information table about Icelandics. You are trying to educate the public. kind of like the Americana and Ameraucana in a way. As the secretary of the WFF I will support you if you would kindly reconsider still having a table. They are not standardized chickens but that does not make them less valuable as a egg producer, meat bird etc. Again, I am sorry and I hope to see you there. Next time if you would carbon copy [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]. I only found out about your emails last night through Terra. The WFF is set up to make decisions through the officers and if need be, members. I hope you don't look ill on the club. Please call or feel free to email me anytime.

Sincere Regards,

Christina Korfus
WFF Secretary
"

 

[Chickielady]

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X2
And one of the issues Mr Decker said was that these birds do not need to be "saved" but rather simply "reproduced" and any old fool can do that, right?
If there is no standard to cull for, than any Icelandic "saver" is basically just a "reproducer" or rather, a "multiplyer" not a breeder.
I am sick of caustic chickens.
There always seems to be a horrid controversy that one hates them & looks down on you for having them (oh what an idiot I am!! Saving a chicken from some other country!!) or the rest who know the breed & absolutely love their every feather, quirk or personality..gads, if my knee was OK I'd get up and swat the old guy with my crutches.
(not actually)
However, I am still not going to display them....the guy is an old judge & knows alot of other judges and we who show know what can happen if you irritate the judges.
Dang it.