Adding Naked Neck (Turkens) into Breeding Program

[Hamburg]

I found them on their site! They’re listed as turkens and the description seems to show that they are a heavier, bigger bird than other hatcheries. I’ll reach out to them and see what they say.

The poulet rouge are such an encouragement! I didn’t originally have a ranger breed on my list, but now it’s making me think to try them out.

Thank you!

For the other side of a cross you might check out Murry McMurry's "big Red" they will sex them so you can get what you want. They also claim the big red hens are good layers of large eggs.

 

[Hamburg]

I just looked at Valley Hatchery. They state 8.5 pounds for NN roos. I have no idea what to believe from these hatcheries.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I don't know Valley Hatchery so I am not talking about them specifically. Some hatcheries use photos of their own chickens and provide information about their specific chickens. Some use photos of grand champion chickens from shows they have never attended and use sizes, weights, and egg laying from what the breed is supposed to be. The chicks that they sell can be totally different. Some even use drawings of what they should look like, not photos. Each hatchery is managed by different people. Like people in general, some are more "honest" than others.

 

[Hamburg]

I could not agree more. I purchased my first chicks from Murry McMurry as a teenager over 40 years ago. I have learned to take what hatcheries claim with a grain of salt and look at as many sources as possible to ferret out reality. That is why I am trying to help David sort though things so he can get the best start possible on his project. Valley Hatchery has a current active thread going here. I have asked them directly about their stated weights. We will see what they have to say.

​

 

[BlueBaby]

I live out here in the desert, and these can handle the heat better. They are also able to handle colder places, although if you live in a cold climate, I would mix (cross-breed) them with other shorter combed breed's. You can also cross-breed them to bigger sized bird's if you are looking for an even heavier meat bird for your flock. I have mixed mine with other breed's to be able to have a more colorful feathered flock, along with getting the hen's to lay bigger sized egg's or even different colored egg's. They are a good meat bird if you need or want to be able to eat the extra boy's that hatch. I try to breed mine so that the boy's are more non-aggressive to people. I'm addicted to hatching chick's.

Here is a link that can fill you in on more about them.
https://insteading.com/chickens/breeds/naked-neck/

 

[CaroleW]

Crossed a NN mix roo with pure Gold Laced Wyandotte hen - the roo that hatched is huge.

I'm looking forward to crossing him with a NN Bresse mix hen to get (1) a good table bird and (2) decent egg layer hens.