Icelandic Chickens

[Happy Chooks]

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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.

Even with a 6 ft fence it's not a guarantee you can keep them in. If you want to keep them in a run, it's going to have to be covered and escape proof.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Mahonri..........Can't wait to see pics of the little buff chick.

Kathy..........did you ever hear back from those people that took your broody that almost killed herself? (I think she was an English Orp) Did she make it?

I'll take a broody right now - I'm going to be hatching. Of course that means I won't get one.

 

[kathyinmo]

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I hope I never see a case like that again! Saddest thing ever. I still think about that. They people that took her sure did try with that girl, but they lost her a couple weeks later.

 

[NotAFarm]

Dar, Here are two chicks from 2011 (I almost wrote this year

got to get used to the 2012 thing!), that are the closest to buff and a pic of how they turned out. Both are girls so............

This is a pullet I rehomed with the Icelandic sheep owners. Hatched in the Easter Hatchalong, daughter of Ari and either Anna or Asta (Asta would be my bet). I posed her for the Easter Hatchalong cutest chick photo but used a different chick photo. She is the one on the left in the second pic.

This is Dagny. Still have her. Hatched 7/31/2011. Daughter of Audun and Asta (Anna was raising a brood and not laying so I know for sure on her). She is the "buff" one in the middle of the more "white blondes". Not very good pics but it should give you some idea.

 

[tazcat70]

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Just gorgeous!

 

[Happy Chooks]

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I hope I never see a case like that again! Saddest thing ever. I still think about that. They people that took her sure did try with that girl, but they lost her a couple weeks later.

How sad.

 

[kathyinmo]

I let Brat girl out of the Nella brooder today. She looks much stronger and better already. However, by the end of the day, she was worn out and looking worse than in the morning. I put her back in the brooder for R&R. This is gonna take awhile, I believe. Poor girl.

 

[NotAFarm]

Poor Brat......I hope she gets better, Kathy.

 

[kathyinmo]

She laid another egg today, too. I collected a dozen Icelandic eggs today. On Monday, I am shipping out some Icelandic eggs for my first "fertility test." Shipping to Iowa.

 

[Jake Levi]

Mary those are beauties !

I have one hen that looks like her clone, I am getting 100% eggs daily now, they are all doing great, except Isi has more SC frostbite on the tips, the others nothing.

I am thinking that a crest,especially a heavy one would have to help prevent frostbite, even on a RC, so, I am going to be looking closely at the crested cockerals as potential breeders, I am keeping two of the featherlegged cockerals but unfortunately the one with the best feathering is SC, but, thats a recessive so I am hoping to limit that trait by keeping fewer SC cocks. Which I am violating in rehoming Isi and keeping the young SC with the feathered legs. Add one trait , and continue another I dont want.

Slowly slowly.

The SC Featherlegged one though IS the largest, growing very well, so he would have been a good choice anyhow, I will be culling his sons though with SCs. The dark Featherlegged cockeral is growing well, same size as the frayed one, a little more dominant.Great crest on him and good feathering on the legs, he's a keeper too, so far.

Temps have been moderate here, nights in teens or low 20s and days high 20s, they are laying very well with a light on, and so far doing well as a northern flock. But, its -7 right now in Paxson where we are going in Aprl, it'll be warmer here but still winter there, with seeral feet of snow left. Next winter will be the real test of them in a real northern clime. It will be interesting. They will have an insulated shelter, and a night light for laying, it gets dark earlier up there and later into the morning there.

Enjoy ! Be well !