Naked Neck/Turken Thread

[DesertChic]

Yesterday one of my employees informed me that I have "ugly birds", referring to my NN chicks. I burst out laughing. I remember the first time I saw NNs and thought they were vultures with fancy feathering. Now, after spending the past 4 weeks caring for these little chicks they're absolutely beautiful in my eyes. Now that I've become more familiar with the breed I honestly can't imagine ever being without them. Beauty may be in the eyes of the beholder...but the beholder's perception can certainly change.

 

[Flowerbh]

Yesterday one of my employees informed me that I have "ugly birds", referring to my NN chicks. I burst out laughing. I remember the first time I saw NNs and thought they were vultures with fancy feathering. Now, after spending the past 4 weeks caring for these little chicks they're absolutely beautiful in my eyes. Now that I've become more familiar with the breed I honestly can't imagine ever being without them. Beauty may be in the eyes of the beholder...but the beholder's perception can certainly change.

Yea, I went to a swap this past weekend and sold the last 10 chicks to one lady. There was one NN in the bunch. As she was walking away, she was telling her DH that they were all such cute chicks, 'except that one without feathers on it's neck" Awe, I just think they are adorably ugly! Love them! I am focusing on hatching my NNs and Swedish Flowers right now.

 

[jacksson515]

For the past two weeks or so, we have been noticing new naked necks in our area. I saw four of them in a tree near my house and took a picture of them. They were warming themselves up with a wingspan of four or five feet, beautiful birds. Completely black seemingly with feathered head; they were roosting in a nearby dead oak that we call the vulture tree, but they were larger than vultures. Yes, the four birds were the California Condor and I saw them later in day up at about two or three thousand feet waiting, I guess, for something to die (maybe me) lol. This morning my dogs started barking and I went out to take a look and one of them was spreading its wings in a nearby evergreen and flew to the top of a utility pole until the big girls arrived at the foot of the pole and barked at the interloper. It flew away and landed in an oak tree joining another one. Wonderful morning views, it is so exciting living in the Sierra Nevada foothills in California.

Now my next project is to entice them to transfer their size over to my soon to arrive Turken flock (April). I will have about ten of them (hopefully) and the nearby Greek Orthodox monastery will house 25 of them. Lots of future fun on the way. BTW, I also will have ten Runner Ducks.

I heard a lot of hawk noise this past week in the area where the two condors were this morning. I haven't seen the hawks although one flew past the big guys this morning (on recon, I assume). I suspect that the hawks have never seen another bird that large and moved out when the condors arrived. Hopefully the hawks will stay away and not threaten my poultry flock. The big dogs seem to keep the hawks at a distance, but I haven't had poultry for a few years. Others in the locale have lost chickens to the large hawks in the area though. That is the primary reason that the monastery is switching over to the Turkens; they are larger and the roosters are very protective.

 

[Kev]

Yesterday one of my employees informed me that I have "ugly birds", referring to my NN chicks. I burst out laughing. I remember the first time I saw NNs and thought they were vultures with fancy feathering. Now, after spending the past 4 weeks caring for these little chicks they're absolutely beautiful in my eyes. Now that I've become more familiar with the breed I honestly can't imagine ever being without them. Beauty may be in the eyes of the beholder...but the beholder's perception can certainly change.

I've had so many NN over so many years they've become completely "normal" to me. It hit me when I did a chicken on the smartphone drawing game- drew a naked neck chicken... lol

 

[Kev]

For the past two weeks or so, we have been noticing new naked necks in our area. I saw four of them in a tree near my house and took a picture of them. They were warming themselves up with a wingspan of four or five feet, beautiful birds. Completely black seemingly with feathered head; they were roosting in a nearby dead oak that we call the vulture tree, but they were larger than vultures. Yes, the four birds were the California Condor and I saw them later in day up at about two or three thousand feet waiting, I guess, for something to die (maybe me) lol. This morning my dogs started barking and I went out to take a look and one of them was spreading its wings in a nearby evergreen and flew to the top of a utility pole until the big girls arrived at the foot of the pole and barked at the interloper. It flew away and landed in an oak tree joining another one. Wonderful morning views, it is so exciting living in the Sierra Nevada foothills in California.

Now my next project is to entice them to transfer their size over to my soon to arrive Turken flock (April). I will have about ten of them (hopefully) and the nearby Greek Orthodox monastery will house 25 of them. Lots of future fun on the way. BTW, I also will have ten Runner Ducks.

I heard a lot of hawk noise this past week in the area where the two condors were this morning. I haven't seen the hawks although one flew past the big guys this morning (on recon, I assume). I suspect that the hawks have never seen another bird that large and moved out when the condors arrived. Hopefully the hawks will stay away and not threaten my poultry flock. The big dogs seem to keep the hawks at a distance, but I haven't had poultry for a few years. Others in the locale have lost chickens to the large hawks in the area though. That is the primary reason that the monastery is switching over to the Turkens; they are larger and the roosters are very protective.

Send some hybrids down my way! Wow that is so cool!

 

[CliffB]

So i'll be perfectly honest. When i researched naked necks i was positive i wanted them but was not impressed with the fact they were rated poor to fair egg layers. Now after 8 days since my first egg i have collected 6 medium brown eggs from my oldest naked neck hen. I am very impressed. 6 eggs in 8 days is great in my book.

 

[draye]

So i'll be perfectly honest. When i researched naked necks i was positive i wanted them but was not impressed with the fact they were rated poor to fair egg layers. Now after 8 days since my first egg i have collected 6 medium brown eggs from my oldest naked neck hen. I am very impressed. 6 eggs in 8 days is great in my book.

Where did you read that they were fair to poor layers? I owned them off and on for 30 plus years and they have been excellent layers. Now that said I now have three that are fair layers. Not totally satisfied with them, but am trying trying to get their coloring into my flock. They are seeming to pick up a little. The other six are great layers but have slowed dine this past week because if extremely cold weather.

 

[CliffB]

http://www.mypetchicken.com/chicken-breeds/breed-list.aspx

There primarily. Some places say fair to good. A lot of magazines about different breeds say 2-3 eggs a week.

 

[Kev]

Sounds like they based on a chart that used(?) to be around that listed them as fair/poor layers and being prone to sunburn...

I agree overall they are good to great layers. But I like to throw in the caveat that it also depends on what they were mixed with as NN mixed with different breeds are very common from backyarders/hobbyists.. if mixed with a poor laying breed, well.... Hatchery stock have been overall good/excellent.

 

[jgoldy2]

Naked Necks are excellent egg layers, and sweet, the roosters love them too