Icelandic Chickens
or Islanski Hænur
A pair of Icelandic fowl
Photo courtesy of Lyle Behl
These chickens were brought to Iceland by the Vikings in the 9th century AD and were found on most farms for centuries. With the advent of the commercial type chickens, by the 1950s the Icelandic breed was nearly extinct. All the birds now existing (less than 3,000) are descended from a very small group of fowl saved in the 1970s.
Icelandics are quite winter-hardy and lay white eggs. This is a long-lived breed and the hens make good broodies. They are also reputed to be quite docile.
There is a great variety in plumage and leg coloration, many comb types exist in the population, and some birds have feathered legs. Crests also occur frequently. The facial skin is red and ear lobes are white.
Icelandic Links:
Icelandics at Sweet Gaia Farm
Here's a site on Islandhöns in Swedish, but it's got lots of pictures
If you speak the language, here's a Swedish site on Icelandic chickens
Oil paintings of Icelandic chickens
Photographs of Icelandic Chicken heads
A flock of Icelandic chickens
Photo courtesy of Sophie Walker
"Egil," an Icelandic cockerel
Photos courtesy of Lisa Richards
An Icelandic hen in front of her rooster
Photo courtesy of Sweet Gaia Farm
These hens show a sample of the color variation in the Icelandic Chickens
Photo courtesy of Lyle Behl
You can see the crest on this hen
Photo courtesy of Lyle Behl
An Icelandic rooster
Photo courtesy of Sophie Walker
An Icelandic pullet
Photo courtesy of Lisa Richards
Another Icelandic rooster crowing
Photo courtesy of Lyle Behl
An Icelandic rooster, with a hen's head looking at you
Photo courtesy of Sweet Gaia Farm
A flock of young Icelandics
Photo courtesy of Lisa Richards
Icelandic chicks More Icelandic chicks
or
Direct questions and comments to Barry at FeatherSite -- questions and comments
Photo courtesy of Lyle Behl
Photos courtesy of Lisa Richards
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