Icelandic Chickens

[Happy Chooks]

Congrats Dar!

You've been busy Farmerboy!

 

[flgardengirl]

I have a question. Have you all noticed if the Icelandics have a high immunity towards diseases, parasites, etc.? I am thinking some of these wild type of chickens with varied genetics are stronger/hardier/disease resistant birds overall. I am thinking perhaps disease resistance is being unintentionally bred out of the modern breeds by just picking certain traits like eye color, feather legs, feather color etc...
I have observed disease resistance with my key west chickens (ok not an official breed yet) but they have 175+years of running wild breeding on KW and do breed to a certain 'type' for sure. Anyhow, they are the hardiest birds on my place and I am in my 3rd generation. When I got fowl pox running through here none of the kw youngsters got it and just about all of my youngsters from my other breeds got it. My Kw do seem hardier against mites and other stuff as well. This has got me interested in exploring more about the 'wilder type' of breeds that have bred by themselves without as much human intervention. Just wondering if you've had any similar observations with this breed?

 

[Farmerboy16]

I am wondering about that too, for I had to cull all of my previous flock to Coryza and MG. So, I am a bit more tense about losing again.

 

[The Sheriff]

Kelly, Frida asked me to send this message to your Barnevelders.

 

[drumstick diva]

Mary, be nice!!

 

[The Sheriff]

Nope, it's the last day of 2011 to be naughty!

 

[drumstick diva]

Can we expect a "new" Mary for 2012?

 

[Mahonri]

I'll bet it's the same old Mary, but with new Emu chicks!... that we hope are females!

 

[LarryPQ]

Mary, Mahonri called you OLD.

 

[The Sheriff]

He would be so correct!