I'm not really worried about frost bite. NC doesn't really have a winter. I have a few "breeders" around me that I would use, but they are crazy expensive and never really have what I want.
I have a woman trying to get me into NN. I just can't get over the look of them though. I had a couple of showgirls and didn't really like their personality. What color eggs do they lay? I like color. What about free ranging hardiness and protection against predators?
Don't be afraid of naked necks and cold, they are super hardy birds! And the look, Lol! Always thought they were ugly myself and didn't want them until I got a bunch. They grow on you and become pretty normal quick, and the chicks, none cuter than a bunch of naked neck chicks! And in my area no one I know has them so to me more rare than any fancy birds Greenfire farms has to offer, I see them on Craigslist all the time, never see naked necks here.
Cold? Second winter with them. Last yr I had a group in a dog kennel tarp roof, tarp three sides, one side open. Was supposed to be temporary but temporary turned into winter and shoveling snow out of it all the time and cold... They did great, no probs, and the group in a good coop no probs.
This winter we just went through what they called a 'bomb cyclone' had down to -17F and -20 to -30F windchill, all in good coop now well ventilated and always open pop door. They were outside everyday in it and no probs except minor frostbite on roosters comb, none on wattles and none on hens.
I have jersey giants also in another coop, have been reliable winter layers and I do have some young birds in that coop, no eggs this winter...
The naked necks were laying then nothing for a couple weeks now I'm getting some eggs again already!
They're awesome freaks of nature! Lol!
