Icelandic Chickens

Pics
Date sort Score sort
Totalcolor, if you could get DNA tests done I think that you would find that if anything the Polish had some Icelandic DNA and the Icelandics were their own, the isolation of the Icelandics happened way before any possible coming together of breeds that were used for the Polish .

Life is good, and better with Icelandic Chickens !
thumbsup.gif
 
So the ice s came from the far north countrys where the vikings lived? Wonder if there are any remnants of those breeds still around? Thats what I think is fascinating about them is that they were not faded out by any imports for years and years and allowed to develope into their own breed. I wonder if imports are allowed now in Iceland? I am full of quesations today!lol Wonder if there was anyone hatchiong and selling chicks or were they just passed from farmer to farmer over all those years?
 
The only imports were post WW2 of commercial layers and broilers which almost caused the extinction of the Icelandics as so many people stopped keeping them. Iceland has had extremely strict laws regarding imports of all classes of livestock, if an Icelandic Horse goes to a show in Europe it cant be returned to Iceland, same for all other livestock, dogs included.

Thats why all breeds of livestock are so genetically distinct, no mixtures at all.

The original chickens came from Norway, so my belief is that modern breeds of chickens in Norway and Sweden may share some ancestry of the Icelandics, but nothing in a very long time.
 
Last edited:
Quote:
Love the Diva!
love.gif


Every time I let the Icelandics out, Snow does not return her pen. She likes to roost in this little 1 foot tall opening near the ceiling, just inside the barn door. Each night I have to pick her up and carry her home. Silly girl.

31282_11-29-11a147.jpg
 
Kathy that is so sweet! Isn't it weird how they get something in their head and just can't get it out. Like Miss Polaris's affinity for the ATV and BarnGirl trying every which way to get into the barn. Must be like OCD in humans! BTW I need to open BarnGirl's foot up again. She is limping badly. I just can't seem to get it cleared out completely.
 
I haven't said much about my most recent hatch because it was such a disaster. Of 48 eggs set, only 7 hatched. They were sticky, sickly, and four of the seven had leg issues. I was just a basket case over these guys. Once I saw who couldn't stand, I made orthopedic appliances for them. Some had shoes to correct curled toes, some had hobbles for splayed legs and two had both. It was sad and disheartening. I checked out the Brinsea Eco and realized that the mercury (or whatever the blue stuff is) had separated and it just looked like it was holding steady. The rest of the mercury was down at the bottom. I have no idea what temp these guys incubated at. I know they all had a hard time hatching, didn't fluff up for two days, and just had a rough start.

I am happy to say that the hobbles and shoes have all been removed and they all seem to be fine now. The one that was the worst had both legs flat out to the sides with no ability to stand at all. I just took his hobble off today and the shoes came off yesterday. He still has one curved toe but can stand and get around just like the others! I am going to watch him closely and put the hobble back on if he needs it. He spent the first two days of his life trying to get out of the little plastic containers, shot glasses, and boxes I tried to keep him in. He would cheep constantly until he mangaed to get out or turn it over and scoot over to the other chicks then he settled right down. I finally just gave in and let him be. This chick was the only one of 24 eggs in the Brinsea Advance to make it to hatch. Just look at him this morning!

34566_last_hatch-2.jpg


Here's the whole group. The two darker ones were camera shy. I didn't have any chipmunk pattern hatch this time. I am sure some of the other 41 eggs had chipmunk patterned chicks in them though.

34566_last_hatch.jpg


My plan now is to replace the thermometer in the ECO and send the Advance in for repair when the emu eggs are done using it. At that point I may just decide to sell them both and start again with something else.
 

Similar threads

Ilovechickens2525
    • Like
    • Love
Icelandic chick
Replies
8
Views
771
Ilovechickens2525
Ilovechickens2525
M
    • Like
    • Love
Breeds to save from extinction
Replies
2
Views
546
Perris
Perris
Doudna2163
    • Love
Bresse x Icelandic
Replies
1
Views
535
Debbie292d
Debbie292d
RavenousAK
Crazy Red Coloring… any guesses?
Replies
4
Views
212
RavenousAK
RavenousAK
hnorth
    • Like
    • Love
    • Haha
I almost ordered more eggs off Ebay
Replies
5
Views
693
Zenmonkey
Z

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom