Icelandic chickens have been recommended to me multiple times as I ’ve post various article on free - roam flocks .
Steve writes :
“ I have thought a lot about this topic . I have a flock of Icelandic chicken , and they are a great homestead snort . I think they are deserving take in your seeking for a secure homestead chicken . They are an old landrace from Iceland and are proportional entrant to the U.S. Unlike most modern product breeds , they still retain a mickle of “ violent ” instincts . Instead of being bred for specific appearance standard or maximum egg production , they were chosen for more utilitarian function ( Jack of all trade , skipper of none ) . Consequently they appear like a mish - mash of barnyard mixes . They are active forager , alarum and predator savvy , stalwart / healthy , on a regular basis go broody and are peachy mother , like to roost luxuriously in the trees , good egg producers ( not wizard stratum , but estimable enough ) , and get smaller carcasses yield delicious meat . You wo n’t find them at the top of the list for downright testicle production , carcass size , or any other metric most mass push for in modern Gallus gallus stock , but they do a lot of unlike things well . That makes them valuable to me as my livestock philosophy is that our animals should be tough , scrappy , and as self - sufficient as potential ( even if that comes at the expense of downright production metrics ) rather than being the giving / honorable / most productive animal that needs to be spoil with provender , medicine , etc .. I have n’t quite pushed them that far with no supplemental feed , but I believe they ’d do ok , especially in warmer months and if you gave them enough infinite or varied habitat . ”
About Icelandic Chickens
Theprofile of the breed is quite good , especially for cold climate :
“ For a thousand years , the only Gallus gallus in Iceland were this robust landrace . However , importations of more commercial Gallus gallus filter into Iceland in the thirties led to traverse with the native breed . This menace the Icelandics survival as a virginal landrace . Successful efforts in Iceland in the seventies to conserve pure birds were followed by their importation into other countries , include the United States .
Icelandics have much to offer as a more self - sufficient homestead flock . While not desirable for confinement , if render range to roam — whether on pasture or in Wood — they ’re highly skilled at both foraging much of their own provender and evading predator . deal of decomposing vegetation and other organic refuse are also popular places to scrounge , with a reward of free natural provender for the flock and compost for the garden . In their aboriginal land , they ’re also call Haughænsni or “ pile chickens ” because of their predilection for such dust heaps .
Though egg yield does n’t match that of egg - laying champ such as Leghorns , Minorcas , andRhode Island Reds , it ’s expert for a provender - thrifty laying mountain , and hens maintain output well in wintertime . nut are white to cream and belittled – though amazingly large for such small hens – average just below 1.75 ounces .
Carcass sizing of cull birds is diminished , not surprising in a type develop as Icelandics were to forage most of their own feed . However , the flesh is exquisitely - grained and signally flavoursome ; and old , reject layers yield superb broth as well .
An interesting homestead trait is retentivity of “ broodiness , ” the inherent aptitude to incubate a clutch of orchis and foster the growing chicks . Not all Icie hen in a flock will “ go broody , ” but enough will to furnish all replacement wench needed . ”
Icelandic Chickens in Warm Climates
A squatter in North Florida told me in an e-mail that their flock of Icelandic birds were very good at free - ranging and ascertain food , despite Florida not being the climate you would anticipate to regain a razzing from an glacial climate . chicken with scrappy , wilder inherent aptitude seem to be more adaptable than domesticated birds in general .
Though some reports say Icelandic chickens are n’t well - suited to fond clime , the experience some are having in Florida challenge that assertion . crybaby allegedly originated in warm climates , so perhaps they reset easily .
Harvey Usserywrites in Mother Earth News :
“ Icelandic chicken ( or “ Icies ” ) uprise with the settlement of Iceland in the ninth hundred by the Norse , who brought their farmstead chicken with them . In Iceland these snort are known as Íslenska landnámshænan , or “ Icelandic chicken of the settlers . ” Over the century , farmers selected fowl capable of feed themselves , and hen with honest mothering skills . The event was a landrace of participating , naturally sizeable poultry adapted to abrasive conditions . ( A landrace is a group of domesticated broth adapted to local conditions and selected for useful traits rather than for conformation to specific strain standard , such as color , pattern or comb style . ) Icelandics are on the low side ( mature cocks librate 4 - 1⁄2 to 5 - 1⁄2 British pound ; hens , 3 to 3 - 1⁄2 pounds ) but have safe bollock production , specially in winter . ”
I would n’t mind tot up a few Icelandic poulet genes to myhomestead chicken - breeding experimentation , though I ’m not likely to supersede my full Southern wad with a variety of skirt from the quick-frozen due north . Some believe Icelandic chickens are over - hype , which may be true . I sure do n’t think there is a one - size of it - fits - all bird , any more than there is a one - size of it - fits - all method acting of gardening .
They certainly seem to be a bad and useful homesteading breed , however , and are worth a trial run .
