Icelandic Chickens

[NotAFarm]

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Seems to me I remember you saying something very similar to this one other time.

Yeah, well, that was then and this is now!!
She had her chance and weaning chicks in November weather in N. Illinois when they are only 3 1/2 weeks old

is the ONLY chance she is getting. SHE WILL WAIT UNTIL SPRING!!!!!!!!.........




.......I didn't say anything about my more reliable girls though...................

 

[Farmerboy16]

 

[Chemguy]

Hi everyone. I'm writing with what I hope will be an easy question to answer. Do Icelandics do well only while free ranging?

 

[Chickielady]

Hi guys!
Hey, check this out:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=48&p=239

Very interesting birds!

 

[The Sheriff]

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Mine have done both free ranging and in a fenced chicken yard. I have never had mine in small runs. The smallest area was 50 ft x 50 ft. They do love to free range though.

 

[Mahonri]

What post # were you referring to, that's a big thread.

 

[phasianidae]

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While I have not personally tried it, I think they would do fine during the summer in most areas. Provided of course that the area has a fair amount of vegetation and bugs, etc. I wouldn't recommend plunging into such a management system to fast though, it would need to be a gradual change. If there were other animals on the farm such as cattle, horses, or pigs that were fed some grain, I am sure they would do fine. It would be an interesting experiment.

ETA: Sorry, I read your post wrong. I thought you were asking how well they would do if only getting food from free-ranging.

 

[kathyinmo]

Hahahahaha, both of you Marys are hopeless. You will both let those broodies sit.
Ummmm, ya, I think so......

 

[NotAFarm]

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Mine have done both free ranging and in a fenced chicken yard. I have never had mine in small runs. The smallest area was 50 ft x 50 ft. They do love to free range though.

I kept mine in coops with runs when I first got them and then in a "yard" with a four foot high fence. The fence was more to keep the neighbors dogs out rather than keep the chickens in. They love to be out. They want to forage and eat "live" things, hard to do penned up, but they can be kept penned when necessary. To watch an Icelandic hen with her chicks is a sight to behold. They are great mothers and my two hens would take their chicks out of the fenced yard by finding any low place/crack/space available to get them to where the best bugs/worms/grubs were.
Okay, short answer is....IMHO...they do best while free ranging......they will do well if you keep them penned in an adequate structure.

 

[NotAFarm]

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At least when our broodies sit, they have eggs under them..........I seem to remember someone with double digit broodies, no eggs and couldn't get them broken!