Icelandic Chickens

[tbitt]

I just want to say: (a lot, but I will try to make it short...but I have problems doing that

)

I really enjoy this thread!!!
I do not have Icelandic chickens, but I know someone who does...does that count?

I read this thread EVERY day..sometimes more then once....at times I hop around going back to find info, see pictures... (pictures - my fav thing)

I know the feather issue can be a sore spot for some people but remember, YOU are doing what is right by this breed by selecting the best ones and culling the inferior. No one has hidden the fact that this strange thing has popped up, even thought it is a HUGE cause of concern....YOU ALL have put it out there and tried to fix it, figure it out, and rid yourselves of it...

I found the discussion in the past few pages quite informative. Genetics are genetics (quite fascinating and baffling at the same time), I learned a lot AND as an "outsider", I thought it was as very good discussion. Yes, you can see that some people were confused, some were frustrated, and some were adamant about getting their point across or about getting info on what is happening going forward. BUT - because of all of that discussion, I had a "ah ha" moment... I am sure I am not the only one that this will happen to.

I don't feel that outsiders/newbies to the breed will be put off by this thread at all. I actually think it helps "us" be informed and to learn.

I debated saying anything after the focus of the thread changed from it.....but after seeing the pics of the racers I wanted to post to say how much I enjoy reading this thread....and that I STILL enjoy it.... you all are pretty darned fun. Emus, racers, Butt patch makers, chicken escapes, country traveling, Baby pictures, Incubator wars...and just plain old hang out and chat fun.

 

[kathyinmo]

X

 

[Happy Chooks]

Welcome tbitt!!! Glad you decided to pop in!

 

[debs_flock]

Well, since it has been discussed here, here is an update of other goings on in my incubators.

My Isbars hatched, 4 blue, 4 splash and 1 black.

Last night I candled my Cream Legbar eggs. They were only on day 6 and I couldn't see anything in 2, but 10 are heavily veined.

Thanks Mary, good thing DH has been building coops/pens non-stop for the last couple of months! (Not to count my chickens before they hatch!)

Now, to go back on topic, my oldest Icedlandics just turned 2 months old, so it will be a while for them!

Deb

 

[The Sheriff]

Thanks tbitt!

We veered off topic years ago. What started as a thread to discuss Icelandic chickens has morphed into a group of friends who mostly have never met in person.There are a group of old folks from my neighborhood who meet every morning for coffee at LaBou. They chat and discuss Medicare, the cost of gas, and the new city people (me and Michael) who don't know what we are doing. That is kind of like what we do here. We talk plenty of Icelandic chicken with a helping of butt patches and Jake jokes thrown in for good measure. Does anyone else get the impression he doesn't "get" them?

As I have told newbies who ask that we not post off topic, anyone is free to start their own thread at any time. If they want only certain things to be discussed they can report off topic posts.

I do two things when I get up in the morning before I release the beasts from their overnight confinement and feed them. I make coffee and check in and see what my Icelandic chicken friends are up to.

And, just to clarify, Kathy started the incubator wars.

 

[karimw]

You must be referring to dear Stella!

You bet! She's a legend!

I took some horrible pictures I thought I'd share. I put in a supposedly fresh battery but it was nearly dead. Neither the camera nor the chicks were at all cooperative.


The black and silver ones are my latest crop of Iowacanas (Pure Am hens with an Iowa Blue rooster. Super free rangers, great layers and pretty too!










One of Kathy's in the back


This is one of Kathy's too I think


They are really ready to get outside - they can't all fit in the sun spots any more


And since it's probably the only good picture I got, here's a GLC as a bonus. Their butterball shape really stands out against the sleek Icelandics and Iowa Blues

 

[The Sheriff]

Nice karimw! I hope the butterballs anchor the bottom of that pile and not the top!

I thought this was a funny pic I took yesterday of my NH and BR's I got from Kathy. The picture is not stretched!

 

[RingedTeal]

That New Hamshire is HUGE Mary.

 

[Icelander]

...

I know the feather issue can be a sore spot for some people but remember, YOU are doing what is right by this breed by selecting the best ones and culling the inferior. No one has hidden the fact that this strange thing has popped up, even thought it is a HUGE cause of concern....YOU ALL have put it out there and tried to fix it, figure it out, and rid yourselves of it...

I found the discussion in the past few pages quite informative. Genetics are genetics (quite fascinating and baffling at the same time), I learned a lot AND as an "outsider", I thought it was as very good discussion. Yes, you can see that some people were confused, some were frustrated, and some were adamant about getting their point across or about getting info on what is happening going forward. BUT - because of all of that discussion, I had a "ah ha" moment... I am sure I am not the only one that this will happen to.
I don't feel that outsiders/newbies to the breed will be put off by this thread at all. I actually think it helps "us" be informed and to learn.

...

Thank you tbitt, well said! I know some might find these types of discussion adversarial and/or uncomfortable but to me it is expected that things get heated when people really care about something. It just shows there is passion! Certain questions were hanging in the air and being discussed in other venues with less information than is available here and I don't know what the opposite word for "shy" is, but that is what I am. Some say it's an Icelandic thing, we tend to be pretty direct.

I absolutely share your optimistic outlook, I think that information and openness serves to encourage and ultimately attract more people to the breed. Also, I think we all know that at end of the day we are all on the same team.

 

[racuda]

My Icelandic chicks are four weeks old now and they are certainly little bundles of energy, more vivacious than any other breed I've had. Each chick is different and there are two comb types among the six chicks. I love the diversity.

None of them appear to have abnormal feathers. Does the fray problem show up with the first feathers, or does it happen later?