BYC Member Interview - draye

sumi

Rest in Peace 1980-2020
Premium Feather Member
8 Years
Jun 28, 2011
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Randy, known to BYC members as draye, has been a member of our community since November 2010. He will most often be found in the General breed discussions & FAQ and Exhibition, Genetics, & Breeding to the Standard of Perfection forum sections, discussing his beautiful flock and poultry breeding.

1. Tell us a bit more about yourself.

Married for 31 years to my wife from Tennessee. Have four children, 30 this month, 25, 24, and 20. Three girls and the youngest one a boy.

2. Why and when did you start keeping chickens?

Why I started keeping poultry was because I needed something to do, I tend to be a littke bit in the lazy side and these keep me moving some. How long: friends on which time. Currently I've been keeping chickens for 6 years. I have owned chickens off and on for 30 some odd years. Started with some when I was around 7 to 8 years old. We had made a trip to see my grandparents who lived in Arkansas, us in Texas, when we left to return home my granddad sent us home with small chicks that included a Turken (my very first Naked Neck).

3. Which aspect(s) of chicken keeping do you enjoy the most?

I enjoy mostly the breeding that I've started, especially projects. I've just now the last couple of years tried to do this on a serious basis. I'm trying to get the grasp of genetics.

4. Which members of your flock, past and present, stand out for you and why?

My Salmon Naked Neck rooster I think is the most outstanding member if my flock. He had this thing about him being very protective of his hens. He and I had a few rounds before he began to understand who was boss. I too learned to respect him in his environment. I lost him this past winter but his legacy lives on through a son and few daughters. Although most are crossbred to Easter Eggers, a past project, they still are around.

5. What was the funniest (chicken related) thing(s) that happened to you in your years as chicken owner?

It wasn't really funny to me, but I did get laughs from family. Just a couple of weeks ago I pulled a hatch from the incubator and moved them to the brooder room/run. I was going through the chicks to decide if they were keepers or to go to the auction. I had moved the heat lamp so that I would not go bumping into it. I had to leave the room for something and when I came back in I ducked under the light but failed to realize that I was still under the lamp. Me I have a very light cover over a chrome dome. Anyway I raised up just a bit too soon and sizzled what little hair there is and burnt my bald head. It wasn't too severe but still a good burn. The family all laughed.

6. Beside chickens, what other pets do you keep?

I currently have no other pets besides the chickens. Just a bit over a year ago I lost my dog to a pack of wild neighbourhood dogs attacking him. I just haven't had the heart to replace him. He was such a loyal dog, he was small, but very protective if his people. Best dumped puppy I ever picked up.

7. Anything you'd like to add?

I am currently trying to improve the laying ability and size of the eggs in my Naked Neck flock. I've got a project going with part of them trying to breed a Calico NN. I have a mottled hen along with a few chickens I hatched at Easter from Alohachickens to aid in my endeavors on this project.



Here is my Salmon Naked Neck rooster. When I got him from Cackle Hatchery I was disappointed in the cockerels they sent, they all almost looked alike. The other four I had, lost 2 of them and the other two were not quite as nice colored as this one so he got to stay.



Here is my Mottled Partridge Naked Neck. Another disappointment from Cackle. All 15 pullets ordered were all basically the same color. About half were sold and I lost several. Had 4 survivors left, this hen was the only one I have that turned out to be mottled.

The Cackle disappointments turned into not so disappointing after all. I have really enjoyed having these two birds around. I'm trying to keep both the Salmon roosters line and this Mottled Partridge hen's line going to be sure I keep the mottling going in my NN's. Both carried mottling.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/u/72897/draye


See here for more about the interview feature and a complete list of member interviews: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/905602/introducing-vip-member-interviews/0_30






 
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Very nice Randy! I hadn't been a big fan of Naked Necks, but the more I see them, the more they are growing on me. Those pictured are lovely!

Thanks for sharing part of your life with us.
 
Nice interview, thanks for sharing with everyone! I'm sorry for the loss of your dog, that's a tough one. Your mottled NN are interesting...good luck with your projects!
 
Very nice to "meet" you, Randy. Very nice interview. Like the others, I'm so sorry about your dog. We just lost our 13 year old four-legged family member on Friday. It just plain stinks. I've never paid too much attention to the Naked Necks - I just sort of look right past them instead of at them. Maybe it's time for second look
 
Thank you everyone for you nice comments and condolences on the loss of my buddy (dog).

@Blooie. They do deserve more than a quick glance. Most are wonderful layers by themselves. There are only 4 approved APA colors but many more colors that are out there. They ( me included) have even been working on the Naked Neck version of the Easter Egger. I still have one that us laying a green egg.
 
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Good interview Randy, it's always nice to get to ''meet'' another member.
 

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