Naked Neck/Turken Thread

[hellbender]

Mine started laying a couple days before 19 weeks of age, which in my opinion is pretty good. That last of my NN pullets, which was actually a mixed breed NN and probably Cochin, to start laying began between 20 & 21 weeks. After a month of consistent laying their eggs weigh on average about 1.45 ounces. (Yes....I even weigh their eggs daily.)

Too many folks judge an egg by it's overall size but it's the weight that tells the REAL story.

 

[Flowerbh]

Since a NN can be crossed with different breeds, I think you are going to get varying answers to that question. Mine are EEer NNs, so I get tons of green and blue eggs! I think my EEs lay more than any other breed I have! They even outlay my leghorns, BO, and Black Australorps!

 

[draye]

I have a question about nn. I have read that they ay later than most hens. Is this true in your experience? Also what is your lay rate? I am considering building my laying folk with NN and would love feedback. Right now I have 2 that are about 15 weeks.

x 2 on the answered you'll get.
The last ones that I hatched out started at 24 weeks and 3 days old. That to me is a good age. That is the age that most of my stock has started laying. I'm personally happy with that age. Mine are most like different breeds mixed together . I've bought a lot of them at auctions and have no ideal the crosses in each.

 

[Kev]

Since a NN can be crossed with different breeds, I think you are going to get varying answers to that question. Mine are EEer NNs, so I get tons of green and blue eggs! I think my EEs lay more than any other breed I have! They even outlay my leghorns, BO, and Black Australorps!

IMO this needs to be included in basic answers. There's hatchery stock(pretty decent production), backyard stock(very variable, could be poor, could be excellent depending on mix or personal project as above) and show stock which so far seems pretty difficult to get.

 

[Kev]

Are McMurray's NN good quality, bred to standard birds? Looking to start my NN flock and want good quality to start with. (I know, i know, its hatchery stock)
Thanks!

Yeah, hatchery stock... Wish I could be specific in answering about McM NN stock.. generally hatchery stock are reasonably close to the standard as for type, if you like the black tail buff(which seems to be 90% of hatchery stock) it is very possible to select for typy birds.

The tricky part might be leg color- in all colors except black, yellow is called for. You need combination of yellow skin plus the Id gene for yellow legs. Blue and willow legs are extremely common in hatchery stock.. white or yellow seem to be relatively uncommon- they do show up for sure, just seems less of them. You can rather easily breed for yellow legs once you have something like willow legged birds and at least one white or yellow legged bird. (example, yellow legged roo over willow leg hens will give at least half yellow legs in both sexes)

Then there might be the issue of breeding for correct comb type- a lot of hatchery stock have too many points, not straight.

If it were me, I would try to find out who has MCM NN or ask for pictures from different hatcheries and then get the largest number of chicks with the understanding most will end up being 'culls' due to wrong leg color, off type combs etc.

I would not worry about bowtie size at first but also be aware that totally bare necks is uncommon everywhere. It requires being pure for NN plus an unknown modifier or ?? gene.

One route that is very acceptable for showing is actually crossing breeds to achieve the type and color you want. For example, for whites, you would do well with finding white rocks with the desired type and cross with NN....

Unfortunately I don't know who has the 'right' rocks or other breeds if you want to consider this route. Wish I was of more help....

 

[ochochicas]

I officially have enough chickens and will not be hatching anymore.

I'm up to 78, but more than half of those are chicks and I'm trying to sell some (lots).

My NNs are 10 weeks and 14 weeks old. I can hardly wait to see what color eggs they will lay. Two should lay green eggs, and the others are Marans crosses so hopefully they will be olive or dark brown. Their older "sisters" that didn't get the NN gene started laying at 19 weeks. so I'll just have to be patient a bit longer.

The 14 week old Turken is almost as big as my hatchery hens (gold comets, australorps, etc.). She is going to be a big girl. Pictures aren't loading again. Urgghhh.

 

[draye]

Yeah, hatchery stock...   Wish I could be specific in answering about McM NN stock.. generally hatchery stock are reasonably close to the standard as for type, if you like the black tail buff(which seems to be 90% of hatchery stock) it is very possible to select for typy birds.

The tricky part might be leg color- in all colors except black, yellow is called for.  You need combination of yellow skin plus the Id gene for yellow legs.  Blue and willow legs are extremely common in hatchery stock.. white or yellow seem to be relatively uncommon- they do show up for sure, just seems less of them.   You can rather easily breed for yellow legs once you have something like willow legged birds and at least one white or yellow legged bird. (example, yellow legged roo over willow leg hens will give at least half yellow legs in both sexes)

Then there might be the issue of breeding for correct comb type- a lot of hatchery stock have too many points, not straight.

If it were me, I would try to find out who has MCM NN or ask for pictures from different hatcheries  and then get the largest number of chicks with the understanding most will end up being 'culls' due to wrong leg color, off type combs etc. 

I would not worry about bowtie size at first but also be aware that totally bare necks is uncommon everywhere. It requires being pure for NN plus an unknown modifier or ?? gene.

One route that is very acceptable for showing is actually crossing breeds to achieve the type and color you want.   For example, for whites, you would do well with finding white rocks with the desired type and cross with NN....

Unfortunately I don't know who has the 'right' rocks or other breeds if you want to consider this route.  Wish I was of more help....

What color legs for Blue? I know blue isn't a APA accepted color, just curious leg color for them. I would think a black or maybe slate color. JMHO.

 

[Kev]

What color legs for Blue? I know blue isn't a APA accepted color, just curious leg color for them. I would think a black or maybe slate color. JMHO.

I'd guess black also due to being part of the b/b/s series on a black chicken.

The two main genes for black chickens also "like" to put the black pigment onto the legs.

There is a way to make yellow legged blacks but it is pretty hard and even then, it can be a struggle to maintain feather blackness while keeping the legs clear of 'smut' and iirc, it is one of those color types that makes it necessary to maintain cock and hen lines for proper color in both(too much hassle, IMO).

This is why black legs on blacks in otherwise leg color breeds are allowed- rocks, NN, etc. Better to maintain overall type instead of struggling on just one little detail.

 

[Kev]

I officially have enough chickens and will not be hatching anymore.

I'm up to 78, but more than half of those are chicks and I'm trying to sell some (lots).

My NNs are 10 weeks and 14 weeks old. I can hardly wait to see what color eggs they will lay. Two should lay green eggs, and the others are Marans crosses so hopefully they will be olive or dark brown. Their older "sisters" that didn't get the NN gene started laying at 19 weeks. so I'll just have to be patient a bit longer.

The 14 week old Turken is almost as big as my hatchery hens (gold comets, australorps, etc.). She is going to be a big girl. Pictures aren't loading again. Urgghhh.

That is exciting- sort of like Easter egg hunt. I do admit to liking the bigger birds.. partly because big size is not that easy to maintain.

 

[DesertChic]

I'm now up to two broody NNs in my flock....though one of them is heterozygous and doesn't actually have a naked neck. She's the sister of my other broody, so I guess I should've expected it. Don't these girls know it's too dang hot to be sitting on eggs all day?

@Kev ....What are willow legs?

I have one cockerel with pink legs. I don't know if that qualifies as "white", but they're actually pale pink....and two of my pullets have olive green legs. I actually kinda love that.