​

Hens

What size and color egg?

Hens lay medium to medium large eggs. Egg color can be ivory white to tinted tan (new layer).

 

How many eggs per year?

Icelandic chickens average 180 eggs per year. They take a break from laying to molt (yearly systematic loss and replacement of their feathers.)

 

At what age do they start laying?

Pullets are known to start laying at four and half months, but it can take much longer, depending on health, feed, hatching date and season.

 

Do hens go broody? 

Many but not all hens go broody, have strong mothering instincts and make excellent, attentive mothers.

 

Roosters

Do the roosters fight each other?

Yes, individual bird’s personalities differ, but typically there is a dominant rooster if there is more than one in a flock. Roosters that are raised together tend to get along better and will not fight to really harm each other, although they will spar from time to time. Roosters that are strangers to each other will battle seriously. Seasonal hormonal changes will influence aggressiveness.

 

Are roosters human-aggressive (mean)?

Generally no. Individual personalities differ between birds. Human behavior can influence a rooster to become aggressive. A bird with human-aggression without cause should be culled.

​​

 

What is a landrace?

A landrace is a local, historical, variety of a domesticated species that has developed adaptations to the environment in which it lives. It differs from a breed or variety that has been selectively bred to conform to a particular standard of characteristics "breed standard."

Landraces are often variable in appearance, but they can be identified by their appearance and genetic similarity. The relatively high level of genetic variation of landraces is one of the advantages that they can have over ‘improved’ breeds, which are often highly inbred. Although production may not be as high, the stability, adaptability and success of landraces in adverse conditions is very good. As a result new diseases may affect some, but not all, of the individuals in a population, allowing a flock to develop resistance. Landraces continue to evolve under new conditions.

​​

Are they friendly?

Yes. It depends on the individual animal. Chicks that are handled from hatching are called "hand-raised" and can become extremely friendly bonding very well to their caretakers. Even hen brooded chicks can be very inquisitive of it's people it considers "flock" members. They have their natural instincts intact and not been bred out by domestication. They are very aware of their surroundings. They react to sudden movements or anything out of the ordinary. They are calm with calm people.

 

Are they good with children?

Being a medium size chicken, they are easier for children to handle. If they have been well-socialized and raised with calm children they can make excellent birds for children and 4-H projects.

 

What about crests or ‘poofs’ on the top of heads?

Most of them have crests, from small to fairly large. Rooster crests tend more toward being longer, with streamer-like feathers, while hens’ crests are often more like a 1950's bouffant. Crests have a tendency to influence the shape (but not the kind) of combs, which can develop folds. .

​

​