Naked Neck/Turken Thread

[JulieNKC]

So far my guess is girls, but I am horrible at gender guessing on NN's, so reserve the right to change my mind at a later date.

Since I want them to be girls, and maybe if me and everyone guesses they are then it will put enough pressure on the little ostrich looking babies to stay girls.

I am fairly good at guessing the sex on everyone else's birds, but horrible with my own.

I thought for sure they were probably roos, but then realized they were 2 weeks older than I was thinking and got more hopeful.

 

[Kev]

Thank you, I have LF Turkens, do I need bantams or will they cross ok? I have found that by F7, with luck they should be nice showgirls. I need to find some quality silkies.

I've done it before too. Lisa covered it quite well. Having quality silkies definitely helps get 'things moving' fast.

The issue is there will be naked necked and silky feathered birds in the second generation, however they still will be all over the place as for type and some traits. The crests may not be where you want them to be(or some might have it but they happen not to be naked necked, etc) or various other issues that may be important to you, like having the proper body type, darkness of skin-too light skin is a big problem in first few generations, particularly on roosters- the naked neck makes this problem particularly visible.

The bottom line is that silkies in reality are one of the most 'mutated' breeds- so many mutant genes(crest, several genes just for leg feathering, shortened back, wider body, shortened tail feathers plus the tail is widened, multiple feathering, several genes for making the skin darker and *stay* dark thru maturity and so on) needed to make the desirable type and the more genes you need to get in individual birds, the much harder it is. That's why so many generations for them compared to say, a naked necked RIR- RIR are distinct breed but have much fewer mutant genes making that kind of project immensely easier.

 

[Kev]

Just thought I'd comment too that my turkens are the heaviest chicks in my brooder right now. I thought it would be the blue cochin but you can definitely feel the weight difference when you pick up a turken!

Okay, so I have a couple silly questions, as I am a first-time naked neck owner. Both my turkens are now 4 weeks. A couple of my laying hens (a BR and my RIR) already have a bare spot on the back of their heads, as well as pretty feather-torn backs due to our over-excited roo. How does a turken deal with this? Do your turkens get hurt much during mating or pecking order issues since they are so bare??
Next question, can they get sunburned?
Lastly, if their skin looks really dry, is there something I should put on it?

Edited a grammatical error...

I've never done anything for their exposed skin. don't recall any sunburning but then it could be due to the environment- the coops etc are almost all very shaded(solid tops with sides variously completely shaded or over half..) or the chicks were raised by hens so they never went from indoor to very exposed situations suddenly.

It is normal for the adults to have very red skin, it is a sign they are healthy and breeding. It's not sunburn but a normal reaction of exposed skin to sunlight, same as on faces, combs, wattles on any other chicken.

Breeding damage is not common but sometimes it does happen to pullets with either too clumsy/rough roos or too many roos(hen get hurt from roos fighting while she was down for breeding by a roo).. this is because the skin is thin on young birds, it thickens quite a lot and becomes tough on adults. their skin heals incredibly well and fast too.

 

[countrygirl74]

Thanks so much for all the answers on my new little turkens!!

 

[Flowerbh]

Since we are talking about hens getting hurt by roos, I have a question. My NaNa chick is only 8 weeks old now>..but when she is older and mature, will it be worse on her because she has no feathers on the sides of her back? Should I get her a saddle when she is older?

Here she is when she was born. See what I mean? Won't she get hurt more easily?

 

[flower]

From what I have experienced adult male NN are twice the size of the female. That applies to the standard size only. One other smaller breeds are intoduced into the flock size is determined by the genetics of the breed. Seramas will be tiny.

Howdy every one ! I am here in my Northern AZ but am busy digging in my garden and have not had time to unpack or even shop for an on-line service and am using the local community college and public libraries.

 

[Kev]

She will be fine, as long as there's not too many roos or a rough one. the wing feathers will cover most of that area when she's fully grown.

Since we are talking about hens getting hurt by roos, I have a question. My NaNa chick is only 8 weeks old now>..but when she is older and mature, will it be worse on her because she has no feathers on the sides of her back? Should I get her a saddle when she is older?

Here she is when she was born. See what I mean? Won't she get hurt more easily?

 

[Kev]

From what I have experienced adult male NN are twice the size of the female. That applies to the standard size only. One other smaller breeds are intoduced into the flock size is determined by the genetics of the breed. Seramas will be tiny.

Howdy every one ! I am here in my Northern AZ but am busy digging in my garden and have not had time to unpack or even shop for an on-line service and am using the local community college and public libraries.

Hey where in AZ? I used to go houseboating on Lake Powell frequently, love the area!

 

[Kassaundra]

Incubating some eggs starting today, NN, EE, and Araucana mixes. My own chickens eggs I'm so excited this will be my first time to incubate my own ladies eggs. Need to remember not to get to attatched though, only keeping ones w/ specific genetics.

 

[Kev]

Incubating some eggs starting today, NN, EE, and Araucana mixes. My own chickens eggs I'm so excited this will be my first time to incubate my own ladies eggs. Need to remember not to get to attatched though, only keeping ones w/ specific genetics.

exciting huh! peeked at a nest today to see if chicks hatched.. she had hidden a clutch unknown to me and started setting when I wasn't home so don't know their due date. Not even any peeping or pip holes, sigh.