General Description


Description of the general characteristics of the Icelandic Chicken Landnámshænan
Appearance 
 
Small head size relative to body size.  Beak is broad and short and the tip curves downward.  
Crests of varying sizes are common.
Variety of combs including single comb (straight or lopped), rosecombs, and other combs. 
Earlobes are white or cream-colored (light yellow).
Cocks have long wattles.  Hen wattles vary in size. 
Eyes are yellowish-green, yellowish-brown, or orange. 
Short and thick neck. 
Compact body with a short back, tapers to the rear.  Dome-shaped breast. 
Typical weight for mature hens is 3 to 3 ½ pounds or 1.4 - 1.6 kilos.
Mature cocks 4 ½ to 5 ¼ pounds or 2.1 - 2.4 kilos. 
Feathering is dense and smooth.
Wings are broad and short, tapering back toward the rear. 
Tail sits high and is very mobile.  Cocks have long and well-curved sickle feathers. 
Color pattern variety is vast.  All colors are permitted.
Legs are long and come in many colors. 
Hens typically have small spurs.  Cocks have long, upturned spurs. 
Foot has four toes.  Back toe is located slightly on the inside of the foot. 
Clean shanked.  (Clear of all leg-feathering).  

Behavioral Characteristic
 
Friendly, curious, and independent.  Has a stable temperament. 
Hens readily go broody and have strong mothering instincts. 
Character and personalities vary between birds.                      
Both males and females have good fertility.
 
Added to the Description by the ERL board in answer to a lot of inquiries!
Egg color ivory to light cream.
Fully grown hen lays 0,42 eggs per 24 hours.
Egg weigh 1,9 oz or 54 gr. average.

General Description of the Characteristics of the  Icelandic Chicken - Landnámshænan 

It's important to remember while reading through the landrace description, that it is a 'general description' and not to be taken to it's most literal interpretation. There are four recognized groups of Icelandic chickens in the US, from well known and respected flocks in Iceland, being a landrace, idividule characterisitics can vary widely. All have been inspected and certified by the ERL in Iceland as pure Landnámshænan.