Naked Neck/Turken Thread

[ochochicas]

Quote:
I like big birds, too! I had wanted to try to hatch some eggs from my flock to see if my NN is fertilizing the hens yet. He is just shy of 6 months old. Well, my questions was answered yesterday when I watched him in the yard. He stands on a hen's back and then doesn't know how to finish the job. I have a feeling he's so big that he's just not lining up with the ladies. Perhaps some more time and he'll have it figure out. As it is I feel sorry for them both (the cockerel and the hens).

 

[Missi]

I like big birds, too! I had wanted to try to hatch some eggs from my flock to see if my NN is fertilizing the hens yet. He is just shy of 6 months old. Well, my questions was answered yesterday when I watched him in the yard. He stands on a hen's back and then doesn't know how to finish the job. I have a feeling he's so big that he's just not lining up with the ladies. Perhaps some more time and he'll have it figure out. As it is I feel sorry for them both (the cockerel and the hens).

I bet he just needs more practice (poor hens)! My wyandotte roo (currently my only roo) was sooooo awkward until nearly a year old. Now each egg I incubate is fertile!

 

[Kev]

I like big birds, too! I had wanted to try to hatch some eggs from my flock to see if my NN is fertilizing the hens yet. He is just shy of 6 months old. Well, my questions was answered yesterday when I watched him in the yard. He stands on a hen's back and then doesn't know how to finish the job. I have a feeling he's so big that he's just not lining up with the ladies. Perhaps some more time and he'll have it figure out. As it is I feel sorry for them both (the cockerel and the hens).

Things I've tried in the past to help speed things in this area:

Bigger hens closer to his size, especially in full lay and 'receptive'.

Isolate him for a few days if size was not the issue, introduce hen or to hens if they are very receptive- that way he is more excited than usual. Sometimes they finally do all the motions after this instead of being slow after a frequent and rapid series of mistakes.

Once they get the hang of proper breeding, they are better able to properly and quickly breed hens of different sizes.

I've used this for different breeds- including many show bred stock silkies, so many cockerels made really bad mistakes or seemed to be breeding the silkie hens properly but eggs continued to be infertile.... until a suitable sized NN hen was introduced, usually silkie eggs started to come up fertile after he had a few days with the NN hen.

 

[Kev]

KEV your avatar has the sweetest face, I just had to tell you that. Is it a bow tie showgirl?

Thanks. He is cemani-NN mix.

 

[DesertChic]

Things I've tried in the past to help speed things in this area:

Bigger hens closer to his size, especially in full lay and 'receptive'.

Isolate him for a few days if size was not the issue, introduce hen or to hens if they are very receptive- that way he is more excited than usual. Sometimes they finally do all the motions after this instead of being slow after a frequent and rapid series of mistakes.

Once they get the hang of proper breeding, they are better able to properly and quickly breed hens of different sizes.

I've used this for different breeds- including many show bred stock silkies, so many cockerels made really bad mistakes or seemed to be breeding the silkie hens properly but eggs continued to be infertile.... until a suitable sized NN hen was introduced, usually silkie eggs started to come up fertile after he had a few days with the NN hen.

Thanks for info! (Does this count as "chicken porn"?

)

 

[ochochicas]

I'm going to lock him up for a while. Today I was in the hay loft just watching him stand on the hen's back for minutes. He was not doing anything, just standing on her. He is more than twice her weight so I can't imagine it was comfortable for her. We culled our other rooster today, so the hens are going to be man-less for a bit. Vacation!

 

[flowerchild59]

I have searched for an answer to this question on here, but didn't find it. I was wondering how the NN does in really cold weather, ie, under freezing for weeks at a time. I have an unheated pole barn and keep water in there with a heater, but otherwise, the hens are on their own. I have a few marans, EE's, RIR, and crosses that all seem to do well with the cold.
I am just concerned about their "naked necks" and frost burn on their skin.
And also, does anyone have any experience with Urch turkens?

 

[draye]

I have searched for an answer to this question on here, but didn't find it.  I was wondering how the NN does in really cold weather, ie, under freezing for weeks at a time.   I have an unheated  pole barn and keep water in there with a heater, but otherwise,  the hens are on their own.  I have a few marans, EE's, RIR, and crosses that all seem to do well with the cold. 
I am just concerned about their "naked necks" and frost burn on their skin.
And also,  does anyone have any experience with Urch turkens?

I don't have a problem with the NN in the winter they are as hardy if not hardier than any other chicken here. I do have a rooster with a extra big comb that looks like it may have gotten frost bitten a bit but not really that bad.

 

[Kev]

Don't know how to spell his profile name- Vamakas?? had some reds from Urch. They were nice looking chickens with a deep dark red. He hasn't posted here for a good while though...

 

[draye]

Don't know how to spell his profile name- Vamakas??   had some reds from Urch.  They were nice looking chickens with a deep dark red.   He hasn't posted here for a good while though...

I remember him. I guess that I missed that he had Urchin birds.