Icelandic Chickens

[kathyinmo]

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[kathyinmo]

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[Icelander]

As a relative new-comer to this group, I have to say I'm a little taken aback - shocked and dismayed really - by the less-than-respectful tone that's been used to communicate the urgency felt in protecting the genetic purity of Icelandic chickens. As an Icelandic chicken preservationist, I too feel that urgency and will certainly do my part to secure the purity of my stock, but I do think it's at least as important that we respect "the good people of the flock" (one another) as human beings with feelings while respecting the need to safeguard our Icelandic stock.

Personally, when I made the decision to acquire a stock of Icelandics I did so with the understanding that I would be participating in a preservationist effort. I happily undertook that responsibility, knowing full well what it meant. Now that I've had my Icelandics for a brief couple of months, already my interest and fervor for preserving these unique chickens has but grown. They truly are like no other chicken I've ever raised, in all the best ways. And I would hope that all Icelandic preservationists can agree that while preservation of genetic purity is an absolute, the spirit and work of preservation extends beyond stock purity to also include preserving the integrity of the available genetic stock. Even more so, with such a limited gene pool as we have to work with here in the U.S., that becomes a critical issue. So while we individually may rush to flog anyone who dares to threaten the sanctity of keeping Icelandic chickens pure, we should likewise be actively coordinating as a group to broaden the scope of the gene pool and strategizing about how to minimize known genetic defects that have appeared (e.g. fray feathering) and may yet appear. Have I missed those discussions? If not, then I'm happy and eager to inaugurate one.

In the interest of establishing as diverse a genetic stock for myself as possible, I acquired a couple of cockerels from Icelander. If I'm not mistaken, Icelander's stock came from a recent importation of hatching eggs directly from Iceland, sourced from one of the leaders of the preservationist movement back in the homeland (Icelander, do you care to say more about that?). I'm excited to breed those roosters to the hens I have that came from Sheriff's stock which will serve to inject fresh genetics into and broaden the genetic scope of already-established U.S. lines. How lucky are we that people continue to import fresh genes and then choose to share them! Thank you for your generosity, Icelander!!

As to the already apparent fray-feathering issue that has expressed in Sheriff's lines (I say this not from accusation or supposition but from first-hand knowledge, as the photo I posted yesterday demonstrates -- I have a fray-feathered hen that originated from Sheriff's lines), I will not be including that hen's genes in any hatchings. I also euthanized a chick I got from Sheriff that exhibited a feathering/growth deformity (refer to the pics I posted of it on this thread a few wks back). Sheriff, to her credit, has been very forthcoming about this genetic issue in her stock and has actively worked to eliminate it from her lines. There is apparently work yet to be done in that regard. I challenge and encourage our fellow preservationists to join with Sheriff and myself in prioritizing the eradication of fray-feathering and any other genetic anomalies that may arise as a result of working with such a restricted gene pool as we have.

I'm definitely appreciative to have this group of whole-hearted Icelandic chicken enthusiasts to collaborate with, and I'm certainly happy to have Icelandic chickens on my homestead. Here's to a positive, supportive, respectful future for the Icelandics, and us! … Ig Vigé

Ig, thank you for addressing this in such a well-reasoned manner, and thank you for the question. My Icelandic chickens were hatched from eggs imported directly from Jóhanna Harðardóttir at Hlésey farm www.hlesey.is. Jóhanna is the founder and first president of the Owners and Breeders Association in Iceland, her stock is of the absolute highest quality. I have received two shipments of eggs from her and hatched a total of 9 chicks, 2 of which you have (Heiðar and Síríus). Jóhanna has recently passed the torch to the current president, Júlíus Björnsson, the owner of Tjörn farm, which I believe is the largest settlement chicken preservation in Iceland. Jóhanna and Júlíus are probably the most reputable breeders in Iceland, and I couldn't be happier about haven gotten my (still juvenile) gang from one of them.

As to the frey issue I understand that, as a general proposition, "frey" or non-barbed feathers is the result of a gene that commonly gets expressed in prolonged inbreeding in most or all chicken breeds. I asked Júlíus Björnson about it and he said he did not have this problem with his chickens (they are probably too diverse) so I am inclined to agree with you that it is a genetic defect or at least an undesirable trait, and should not be upheld or celebrated as part of the "genetic diversity". I understand (and my understanding cold be wrong) that since all or most chicken breeds have a "frey" gene, it is just one of those things that are bound to happen after a while of breeding a too few birds that are too related and can be corrected by breeding it back out. Since it is anomalous and--it appears--limited to the U.S. strain of Icelandics you might be able to simply breed it out by using the two Hlésey roosters you got from me and breed Pala with one rooster and then the resulting offspring with the other rooster, and then those offspring with its "grandfather", if need be. This may allow you to suppress the frey issue while preserving the rest of Pala's genetic diversity. Successful or not, we would at the very least learn whether the frey condition can be bred out, so I would support you in attempting this, if you decide to do it.

I have tried to follow discussions in Iceland about genetic issues and I have not seen "frey" mentioned as an problem (likely because it is uncommon) and I have not seen any frey-feathered chickens when trawling through untold numbers of pictures from local Icelandic breeders. A few breeders have expressed the view that leg feathering and large crests are not desirable or "unnatural" and that, in particular, that leg feathered chickens should not be bred. Needless to say, not all breeders agree, and some are breeding leg feathered birds and others are not. But I digress.

I can also imagine that frey-feathered chickens would not do very well in the winter in Iceland (located at 66 degrees north), where you need all the insulation you can get. (I am speaking from experience!) So natural selection may be to thank/blame that the frey birds are only surviving because they've moved 20+ degrees south and are living in lavish american luxury accomodations...

Is an Icelander myself, I feel very strongly about preserving the Icelandic chicken breed. In terms of my own flock, preservation is my absolute mission. They will not be mixed, and will try to avoid even mixing them with established U.S. strains of Icelandics if I can, I know they are a treasure and I want to keep them as pure and original as possible.

That said, I have had the pleasure of meeting Totalcolour (once, but we spoke at length about chickens) and she did not strike me as someone that would wilfully or negligently contaminate her Icelandic strain for monetary gain or otherwise and seems to have a great deal of love for, and knowledge about, chickens. I do understand that, unfortunately, dishonest people do exist and vigilance is important and as such I understand the feelings behind the reactions of some of you. I am also extremely thankful that vigilance exists, the Icelandics need it. But, I also want to say that it is not exactly the same thing to breed some Icelandic into a non-Icelandic breed as it is to destroy the Icelandic breed by introducing foreign genes into it, at which point, I agree, the breed ceases entirely to be Icelandic. As long as the main focus is on preserving Icelandics and breeders make absolutely sure beyond all shadow of a doubt that only true Icelandics (i.e. 100% pure, not 99.99% or less) are being sold/show/claimed as Icelandics, I don't see the harm. However, I think that ideally breeders should avoid keeping a pure strain with/near/and mixed strains in the interest of not creating unecessary risk. But these are just my personal opinions and I respect that others may disagree.

Thanks for reading, sorry for the length but this is not an easily navigated issue!

Vala (Icelander)

 

[Jake Levi]

Well said Vala,

I believe we have a consensus on keeping the Icelandic gene pool pure and watching our breedings carefully.

I very much agree that the frayed gene may well be a survival minus in Icelands winters, as well as ours. At this point in my own small flock I have no breeders to be with it, the featherlegged rooster I am using this year doesnot show it nor the followup rooster.

My planned move to Ak this summer will for sure put a strong climatic influence on my flock

Thank you all for your input, I believe our wonderful breed is in safe hands here in America as well as Iceland.

Life is good, and better with Icelandic Chickens !

 

[karimw]

This one is an Icee/Sussex - I wanted to see if I could get some extra hardiness into my meat birds for this climate - I'm thinking cockerel? (more developed comb and wattles, plus redder)

Regardless of philosophy I think the Sheriff has a valid concern about cross breeding these birds. In reality you aren't likely to injure the breed directly or lose genetic identity by letting your Icelandic roosters cover a mixed breed flock. You keep the strain pure by always keeping your breeding flock under lock and key, but who cares if your extra roos play the field? Here's why. Take the Friesian horse for example, in Europe, pure registered mares can not be crossed on another breed (I think on penalty of death) and pure stallions can not be bred to non Friesian mares. In the US this has been relaxed somewhat with a different registry and Friesian stallions that will out cross are common. Why? because there is huge market for it. It also isn't as dangerous as it used to be because of DNA testing. If you pay for a pure Star or Preferent horse, you'll likely be getting untainted genes. BUT I crossed a black Percheron mare to a Friesian stallion and the resulting filly looks to the untrained eye just like a Friesian should. People always assume she is full Friesian and I am quick to correct them.

So there's the rub isn't it? With such a varied phenotype existing in the Icelandic chickens, how do you know by looking at them which ones are pure? I am a novice here and I couldn't tell by looking at Totalcolor's birds. I am not trying to target anyone, I find it likely, with my mixed flock and sneaky hens, that a broody will someday come back from the dead to present me with mixed batch of chicks with suspicious mottling. I know at that time I'll need to take steps to prevent confusion with the pure breeds. And that most definitely involves not letting anyone else have them.

I think it's awesome there are so many knowledgeable people backing the Icelandic cause, I wish there were more in the corner for Iowa Blues!

 

[NotAFarm]

Here are the other two new mommas...........not letting their chicks out for pictures!! Gotta love 'em!!

 

[SherrieT]

I love momma hen and broody hen pics. Thanks!

Here are the other two new mommas...........not letting their chicks out for pictures!! Gotta love 'em!!

 

[RingedTeal]

Mary I love that top hen!

 

[karimw]

Here are the other two new mommas...........not letting their chicks out for pictures!! Gotta love 'em!!

Oooh! I wouldn't stick MY hand near them!

 

[kathyinmo]

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