Icelandic Chickens

[RingedTeal]

Daron, Looks like you got more snow than we did......and a wetter version!! Only five inches of the powdery kind that is blowing all over the place today!

Can some one click on my name and look at my profile. Is there a large pic? All the way on the bottom of the profile, can you see my file of cockerel/rooster photos? Thanks!

It isn't large to me.

 

[NotAFarm]

Ah, thanks. The more I learn the less I know........

Not so..........!!
This place has sooooooo much to read and no one can know it all....but everyone can keep learning and sharing and helping. It's what makes BYC so great!!

 

[Farmerboy16]

Daron, Looks like you got more snow than we did......and a wetter version!! Only five inches of the powdery kind that is blowing all over the place today!

Can some one click on my name and look at my profile. Is there a large pic? All the way on the bottom of the profile, can you see my file of cockerel/rooster photos? Thanks!

We got around 6 inches of snow. I clicked on your profile and saw the rooster. Is that the one you are talking about?

 

[The Sheriff]

No Mary I am not shipping chicks in winter. I learned my lesson with the last batch I shipped. These are for local pick up.

 

[NotAFarm]

Quote: Daron, I can't see my profile like you see it so I wanted to know if you could see the new folder at the bottom. If you click on "Flock", thumbnails of all 4 of my boys will appear. If you click on each one, they will enlarge. The large pic I was talking about is the "wallpaper". I just went and looked and it wasn't there so I redid it and now I can see it. It is a close-up pic of the bark on birch tree at my friend's house that I took this summer. I will probably change it to something more topical soon.
Thanks for looking for me!!

 

[NotAFarm]

No Mary I am not shipping chicks in winter. I learned my lesson with the last batch I shipped. These are for local pick up.

I remember when you sent my originals to me..........I was a nervous wreck while they were intransit...and they weren't day olds!! I just don't think shipped eggs are the way to go for me. I think the processing center treats our packages so roughly that eggs just can't overcome the abuse. My percentages with all the eggs I had sent last year were dismal. I did get 4 to hatch from two dozen sent from Indiana. Those only had a four hour direct trip but took 3 1/2 days to get here. Yours did that well coming from California.....two from the dozen you sent...and took the same amount of time. I'd rather pay for older birds, it's cheaper for me in the long run....problem is....not many people want to fool with shipping lives.

Seinna, The Other Mary

 

[Chemguy]

Hello, everyone. I've been making my way through some of the more technical information I can find about Icelandics. However, technical information is not practical information. I'll have a question in a moment....skip to the next-to-last paragraph if you'd just like to know what it is.

I've found the genetic study that specifies that Icelandics are 72% unique, genetically speaking, out of a total of 20 breeds studied. The only breeds that were found to be even more genetically unique are Fayoumi (100%), Bedouin(96%) and Marans(93%). An "old scandanavian reference population" (not Jaerhorns...flower hens?) was only 30% unique and feral chickens were 0% unique. So, that's nice to know and all, but it's not necessarily useful information. But, this brings up an important issue. High degrees of genetic 'uniqueness' can sometimes mean a greater suceptibility to disease. This is why Iceland prohibits the return of mammals like Icelandic sheep, horses, etc. Once they've left, there is no going back. But, a high degree of uniqueness can also mean a strong level of resistance.

Have you ever noticed your Icelandics being more affected or less affected by 'common' issues (disease, diet, temperature, etc.), compared to 'typical' birds?

On a daily basis, I'm more and more intrigued by these birds.

 

[NotAFarm]

Hello, everyone. I've been making my way through some of the more technical information I can find about Icelandics. However, technical information is not practical information. I'll have a question in a moment....skip to the next-to-last paragraph if you'd just like to know what it is.

I've found the genetic study that specifies that Icelandics are 72% unique, genetically speaking, out of a total of 20 breeds studied. The only breeds that were found to be even more genetically unique are Fayoumi (100%), Bedouin(96%) and Marans(93%). An "old scandanavian reference population" (not Jaerhorns...flower hens?) was only 30% unique and feral chickens were 0% unique. So, that's nice to know and all, but it's not necessarily useful information. But, this brings up an important issue. High degrees of genetic 'uniqueness' can sometimes mean a greater suceptibility to disease. This is why Iceland prohibits the return of mammals like Icelandic sheep, horses, etc. Once they've left, there is no going back. But, a high degree of uniqueness can also mean a strong level of resistance.

Have you ever noticed your Icelandics being more affected or less affected by 'common' issues (disease, diet, temperature, etc.), compared to 'typical' birds?

On a daily basis, I'm more and more intrigued by these birds.

Pete, 1) The reference populationa above is, most likely, the Hedemora. This is the link on feathersite about them:
http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/CGD/Hede/BRKHedemora.html

The Sheriff has had Icelandics the longest of those that are regulars on this thread and has hatched many chicks. KathyinMo has many breeds and could give the best feedback on side-by-side comparisons.

2) My experience is that they are hardy in cold and heat/humidity (at least to the degree it gets here in north central Illinois), very intelligent (I've had chickens who have flown over a fence or found a way out and then paced outside the fence, oblivious to how to get back in-the Icelandics are never at a loss as to how to return "home") and would much rather be out "scrounging up" their own food than eat commercial feed, They prefer to roost up as high as allowed but I've never had a problem with them trying to stay out of the barn/coop at night. They seem to know it is the safe place to be. The hens are fierce protectors of the chicks and the roosters of their flock. While none of mine are "lap chickens", only my originals and one other pullet were artificially incubated and raised in a brooder box. Many will come up to me and eat from my hand but only a couple will willingly allow me to catch and hold them. I've only had mine for one and a half years, but have not lost a bird to any illness. None have been vaccinated for anything.

 

[Mahonri]

I've had healthy Icelandics and only one with wry tail.

My Icelandic hen is the most intelligent of all of my birds. She found one little hole next to the coop to get out of the run AND she found her way back in on her own through the same whole. None of my other birds would ever be that smart.

She also can fly almost as well as a pheasant... while she was out I tried to catch her and she was AMAZING in flight. I've never seen a chicken ever fly that well.

I also think she is one of the most beautiful birds I have ever owned.. and the size of her eggs continues to get bigger.

 

[drumstick diva]

Not a Farm, I also checked. Yes, there is the bark on a big tree At the bottom I found your four roosters. LOve, love the second one especially. Pictures all came thru fine and enlarged just as you said.