🐣New Beginnings at the Ranch: Welcome, Icelandic Chicks!

There’s nothing quite like spring on the farm—and this season brought something extra special: we’ve officially hatched our very first batch of Icelandic chicks here at Rock Bottom Ranch.

For those who aren’t familiar, Icelandic chickens are an old-world landrace breed known for their hardiness, intelligence, and foraging ability. They’ve been thriving in harsh northern climates for over 1,000 years, and now—somehow, beautifully—they’re scratching around in the Central Texas sunshine.

What makes this even more meaningful is where these eggs came from. We sourced them from wonderful local farmers right here in our community—folks who’ve been raising and carefully breeding this flock for years. Their stewardship gave these eggs the strongest start possible, and we’re honored to carry that legacy forward here at RBR.

The Hatching Process: A Quick Overview

Hatching eggs isn’t just an exciting milestone—it’s a labor of care, timing, and patience. Here’s a peek into how it all came together:

• Day 1: After a warm welcome to the incubator, each fertilized egg was carefully placed with the air cell upright and humidity and temperature dialed in (around 99.5°F with 45–50% humidity).

• Days 7–10: We candled the eggs using a small light to confirm viability—those glowing veins let us know life was growing inside.

• Day 18: We stopped turning the eggs (known as "lockdown") and increased the humidity to around 65% to support a smooth hatch.

• Days 20–21: Tiny internal pips started to show as chicks broke through the inner membrane, followed by external pips—a thrilling sign they were on their way.

• Hatch Day: One by one, beaks broke free, feathers fluffed, and the brooder warmed up for their arrival. No matter how many times we do this, the first chirp never gets old.

  
  

Watching these tiny feathered wildlings emerge has been nothing short of magic. No two look exactly alike. Icelandics are genetically diverse, which means we’ve got a rainbow of colors and patterns in our new flock—each chick already showing a bit of personality, and yes, a stubborn streak or two.

We chose this breed intentionally. At Rock Bottom Ranch, we care deeply about working with nature, not against it—and these birds are born to thrive free-range. They’ll play an important role in our regenerative efforts, helping with pest control, composting, and soil health as they grow.

This moment is more than a milestone. It’s a reminder of why we do what we do: to steward this land with care, build something sustainable, and share the joy of slow, seasonal living with our community.

If you’re local and want to come meet the chicks, keep an eye out—we’ll be announcing Farmstand open dates and special "Meet the Chicks" mornings soon.

Until then, we’ll be over here, tending the brooder, whispering encouragement, and marveling (once again) at the wild and wonderful cycle of farm life.

See you soon,

Katy + the RBR crew