Icelandic Chickens

[Twister-n-Dos]

Thanks Jake.

We are excited about our Icelandics. We expect it to be a breed that will work well for us.

I will try to contact Michelle through a PM. I agree that hatching our own eggs AND adding
more genetic diversity are both desirable.

The crests are a nice characteristic. Not so sure about the comb on twister, it has become
huge. Other than that he seems like a fine rooster. Any thoughts on whether or not we
should breed him?

We plan on free ranging, but have not done so yet. With such a small flock, and just getting
started, we have erred on the side of caution this year. There were a number of visits from
fox and neighborhood dogs this summer. For now we have a 10x10 run and an 8x8 coop.

Good luck with the 4H work, that is great. You sound like a healthy promoter of the breed.

 

[Jake Levi]

I looked at the map and I dont know of any other flocks as far north as you. Good luck, and I think that they will do well for you.

For sure I would use that rooster, lacking any others, I have found that Rose Combs even big ones will handle the cold better then Single Combs, I think it is its being thicker with more blood flow. I prefer as small a comb as can be bred, I think that is going to take selection over time.

I really think we all should be involved with the 4H kids, getting the younger generation started is just good sense in supporting the breed and building more flocks.

I am very much a supporter of the Icelandic Chicken, I seriously believe that it is one of the oldest purebred breeds that we have. Many call it a Landrace breed , which it is, one of the oldest with a 1,000 year history. With no other strains or breeds introduced into it. And it did so living in a very rugged environment where homesteaders were frugal with feed and the chickens had to survive much of the year ranging. That is very impressive !

The other cold hardy breed that I am interested in is the Chantecler and I will be raising both in as identical situation as I can manage. Same feeding, environment and management. We shall see what will be.

Life is good, and better with Icelandic Chickens !

 

[Twister-n-Dos]

We are at about 64° 47' N. Someone more familiar with the geography of Iceland could weigh in this, but it
looks like the northern half of Iceland is further North than us. Our climate will be a good test. It tests me!
I am not sure, but there may be others here in the interior that have Iclandics too.

Thanks for the input on Twister. I was hoping for advice along those lines.

It will be interesting learn of your experience with the Chantecler. I see there is a thread for that breed. I
will take a look.

 

[Jake Levi]

The Eastern part of Iceland has a very small population, the bulk of the population is in the western part, the southern coast is sparsely populated, I'd be interested to know how many breeders there are now in Iceland. Very interested.

Yes there is a thread on the Chantecler, good one.

 

[Mahonri]

Well my Drekki Jr. ended up being too loud.

He's headed to Heber to join Boston's flock tomorrow.

Can't believe it but I wan't some more Drekki Jr chicks so my wife's gonna have a cow but I'm pulling out the incubator tomorrow....

 

[drumstick diva]

Dar could Drekki Jr. come back for a short, conjugal visit ?

 

[Jake Levi]

We are at about 64° 47' N. Someone more familiar with the geography of Iceland could weigh in this, but it
looks like the northern half of Iceland is further North than us. Our climate will be a good test. It tests me!
I am not sure, but there may be others here in the interior that have Iclandics too.

Thanks for the input on Twister. I was hoping for advice along those lines.

It will be interesting learn of your experience with the Chantecler. I see there is a thread for that breed. I
will take a look.

I see that part of Iceland is as far north, but I am sure that it gets much colder where you are then in Iceland, other then on their mountain tops, so I think that you really are the northern flock with the coldest winter weather, so good luck on it. Fairbanks had much colder weather last winter then the inhabited parts of Iceland.

So keep us posted on how your flock is doing this winter. My little one here in Michigan is going to have a lamp, as will the Chanteclers along with them next winter, we do get to -20F each winter, for several days at a time.

Life is good, and better with Icelandic Chickens !

 

[mlm Mike]

Well my Drekki Jr. ended up being too loud.

He's headed to Heber to join Boston's flock tomorrow.

Can't believe it but I wan't some more Drekki Jr chicks so my wife's gonna have a cow but I'm pulling out the incubator tomorrow....

Sorry to hear that. I hope you have a good hatch and your wife understands.

 

[debs_flock]

There's a small ranch here that raises/shows Icelandics horses. I drive past them nearly every day. On their website, they discuss saving the rare breed and it being a landrace species. My girls are up to laying two eggs per day. When their production is up, I plan to contact the people and see if they would like to expand into Icelandic chickens to go with their horses. I think they should have the chickens ranging around as well!

Deb

 

[lmatvey]

Hey, that is really cool Deb! It sure would add some seriousness to their preservation. (the horses I mean)