Thanks again!

Lisa wrote a post about how we keep them. Here’s what I know about the breed. There are pictures around the net, but it can take some pretty good googling to turn them up.

Anyway, Icelandic chickens, also know as Settlement chickens, a literal translation of their name in Icelandic, “Landnámshænurnar” are the traditional chicken breed of Iceland. Their ancestors came to Iceland 1100 odd years ago along with the ancestors of Icelandic people, sheep, horses, dogs, goats and cattle. There were pigs too, but they went extinct in the 1600s.

They are a landrace rather than a true breed. There are multiple colors, patterns and comb styles, some linked, some mix and match. Cockerels, the only ones we routinely eat, dress out at about 2 pounds. The hens lay medium (USDA) white to cream colored eggs. Ours do abut 5 a week, and are good winter layers. Extra light helps of course. The roosters are quite flashy, much brighter colored than the hens, all with big combs, flashy tails and fighting spurs they aren’t afraid to use. The pictures I could find quickly today are all of the duller types of both hen and rooster.

Ours free range all year, and during the growing season basically feed themselves. We keep grain available but they find bugs much more yummy. When the bugs die in the fall, they pout and don’t lay for a week or so. They are plenty cold hardy for Washington State, but maybe not for Alberta. Iceland is in the Gulf Steam and Reykjavik is zone 6. If we don’t chase everyone into the coop there will be frostbitten combs and feet if it’s really cold.

We got our Midget Whites from Murray McMurray in 2008 and Welp in 2009 and 10. Unfortunately the 2010 poults do not seem true to type. Many have black stripes or look like they will be getting too big.

Alternatively, we’ll send 2 dozen hatching eggs wrapped in bubble wrap and double boxed, for $1 each plus $15 shipping. Two dozen is 22-26 depending on the clean egg production.