Iceland is a unique country, which is located in close proximity to the North Pole. Because of this, the island has developed a particularly harsh climate, hindering the normal development of agriculture. Despite this, the locals were able to bring a unique frost-resistant breed of chickens - Iceland Landrace.
Historians believe that the Icelandic Landrace was bred from aboriginal European chickens brought by the Vikings. Many heat-loving birds died in the harsh climate of Iceland, so the conquerors brought other domestic chickens.
Gradually, the island formed a population of chickens who were able to adapt to the harsh conditions of detention. It was they who later became the Islanian Landraces.
Farmers of Iceland are still breeding this breed. According to the breeders, Icelandic Landraces are among the oldest existing breeds of domestic chickens.
Description of the Icelandic Landrace
Icelandic Landraces are chickens with an average body size. It has a very thick plumage.
It helps the chickens of this breed to withstand the harsh Icelandic climate. The color of the plumage can be completely different: from pure white to black.
The neck of this breed is not very long. On it grows elongated plumage falling on the shoulders of a Spanish Landrace breed cock.
The neck immediately goes into a horizontal back. The shoulders of roosters do not strongly protrude beyond the hull, the wings are almost not noticeable under the thick lumbar plumage, falling on their back.
The tail of the Spanish Landrasov is set high. He is densely operatic. In the rooster, it consists of long rounded braids. The wide chest is planted deeply, the belly is full, but it is slightly retracted by the roosters, so the impression of a more slender "figure" of the bird is created.
The head of these chickens is small. On the red face of the breed is completely absent plumage. The large erect ridge has 6-7 teeth with clear cuts. The skin on it is rough, so the birds cannot freeze it.
Earrings are large and elongated, but rounded at the end. Ear lobes are colored white or red. Beak elongated. Usually colored light yellow. At the end has a slight rounding.
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Thick plumage on Landrasov’s belly hides his full shins. Hocks of this breed are long and thin bone. Long and thin fingers are spaced correctly, have white claws.
The scales on the legs are yellow. The hens of the Icelandic Landraces are completely similar to roosters, with the exception of the basic sexual characteristics.
Features
Icelandic Landraces for centuries were displayed by the inhabitants of Iceland. They wanted to get a breed of domestic chickens that could easily endure any weather conditions.
As you know, frosty winds constantly blow in Iceland, and the temperature rarely rises above +10. As a result, farmers managed to create a hardy breed of chickens.
In addition to good frost resistance, Icelandic Landrace can please their owner with good egg production. They are great eggs even in conditions of extreme cold. As for Landrasov hens, they become excellent mothers. They responsibly take care of the condition of the young, therefore its survival rate is significantly increased compared to other chickens.
Young Landrasov almost never die on their own, as he begins to fledge early. Feathers of adult birds reliably protect the skin and internal organs from frostbite even during a snowstorm with a strong northerly wind.
Landraces are very active chickens. Due to the constant movement and thick feather cover, they manage to maintain normal body temperature. Roosters often walk around the yard, flapping their wings. This helps the chickens to receive additional heat even on the street.
These domestic chickens quickly get used to their masters. And the cocks of Iceland Landrasov love to spend time with people more than hens. It may well be that the hens do not want to go on their hands, fearing for the life of their offspring.
Unfortunately, this breed of chickens gets along badly in hot regions. Because of this, it is undesirable to plant them in the south of Europe or in any other countries that are in a subtropical climate.
Content and cultivation
Icelandic Landrace feel great in ordinary village poultry houses with a spacious yard for walking.
They should not be bred in enclosures, as they are too close. Birds will not be able to run and flap their wings, receiving additional energy for heating.
Additionally over the yard for a land herd Landrasov need to equip a reliable canopy or roof, as the birds love to soar on any elevation. Sometimes they thus run away from the site, bringing their owner inconvenience and loss.
In addition, free-range is important for the breed due to the fact that most of its diet is pasture. Even in Iceland, these chickens manage to find seeds, small sprouts in the ground, and insects in the summer.
With their help, chickens replenish the supply of vitamins and microelements necessary for life in the harsh conditions of a practically polar climate.
The total weight of Iceland Landrace cocks can reach 3 kg with good feeding. Laying hens of this breed can gain 2.5 kg of body weight. They can lay up to 200 eggs per year, and egg-laying does not stop until the birds age. The mass of eggs on average is 55-60 g.
However, for breeding chickens, only the largest specimens should be selected. The survival rate of young and adult individuals in a harsh winter is usually 95-97%.
Breed analogues
German chickens Bielefelder have similar frost resistance. These birds tolerate content in the open range even during cold winters.
In addition, they are equally well carried and gaining the necessary muscle mass, so they are often bred as meat and egg breed.
By cold-resistant breeds of chickens still include Fireballs.
They have a thick and fluffy plumage, with which birds can easily survive in the harsh Russian winter. In addition to frost resistance, the Firewalls attract with unusual tanks on their heads and various coloring of plumage.
Conclusion
Icelandic breeders managed to do the impossible: they created a frost-resistant breed. Now the Icelandic Landraces are actively grown on almost all the farmsteads of Iceland.
Sometimes they are brought to the Nordic countries, where some farmers need such hardy birds. Unfortunately, the breed practically does not occur on the territory of Russia, although it could be a success in the northern regions.
