Naked Neck/Turken Thread

[hellbender]

I was never a fan of turkey meat until our close friend/employee smoked a turkey for us. It was pretty much like crack for me as I couldn't stop eating it. Now I'm thinking of raising turkeys just so I can have him smoke them for me, which he's thrilled to do in exchange for all the eggs and meat I give to him.

When I was quite young, I smoked some product of Turkey to my great delight but the feathered product, so far as I'm concerned, is like eating pulp wood ....even with good gravy over it and no matter what means of preparation.

 

[Kev]

Ohhh never mind LOL

 

[Phill98]

A very high percentage from the hatchery stock come in this color also.   I admit to it not being a favorite color but it does make early sexing rather easy and is great for those who like a carcass with clear skin.

Black is dominant, crossing with any black chicken will throw some black chicks, however black crossed with other colors will grow into black chickens with either white or red detailing.. like the black sexlinks.

Well, I don't like that color at all, but I will get her if other colors don't hatch. Lot of chicks from that hatch ended up that color. 6 out of 8 and three are darker and three are lighter so I'm guessing that there are three pullets and three cockrels. Also, two black chicks hatched, but the father is some kind of gold laced so I don't know what will come out of them.

 

[ochochicas]

Kev - I don't know how to keep your hen OUT of the food dish. Maybe get one taller than it is wide. My broody seems to have a few manners and eats out of the bowl but doesn't stand in it. LOL

 

[Phill98]

Thank you.    Yeah that chick is fm, but not strongly so at this point.

That chick's grandmother is a white fm on a partridge base.  Her son(black) was bred over black ranger hens(a slow growing broiler breed) so this striped chick is a little bit of surprise. Seems it will grow up to be a fair sized bird... 

Genetics is weird..
I want to ask you something. How many chickens do you have? And your broodies are great moms I see, ours are terrible this year. First hatched 8 out of 15 eggs, but she broke two eggs and the rest she killed while they were hatching. One egg was empty. Another one had also 15 eggs and she broke 6 eggs. Eggs weren't grandma's and only three chicks hatched. And the broody threw one out of nest and was picking the other two. So we are kepping all 11of them in a brooder. The one that is sitting one week now, also had 15 eggs and she broke 2 already. We are freaking out because of them.

 

[Phill98]

@ochochicas, how did you get that chicken on your avatar? Se has the most beautiful color.

 

[ochochicas]

@ochochicas , how did you get that chicken on your avatar? Se has the most beautiful color.

Good question.
Her mom was a "mystery chick" we got from the feed store. I think she was an Amber link (Rhode Island white x Rhode Island red). Her dad was half crested cream legbar, half Ameraucana (we think blue wheaten but I'm not entirely sure). We hatch out four eggs and all the chicks were amazingly beautiful color combinations. The one in my avatar was the only pulllet. When she hatched she was white with red racing stripes.

She was my favorite pullet ever. Sadly she passed away from Marek's disease. Her mom also died mysteriously over the winter, and the rooster died after a coyote attack (yes, I've had a rough year). Sometimes life isn't fair, but I supposed it is teaching me some kind of lesson.

I hatched out some of her "second cousins". Maybe I'll get her twin in there some place. Everyone will be vaccinated from now on!
Here is a better pic of her. She had the cutest beard!

 

[Phill98]

Good question. Her mom was a "mystery chick" we got from the feed store. I think she was an Amber link (Rhode Island white x Rhode Island red). Her dad was half crested cream legbar, half Ameraucana (we think blue wheaten but I'm not entirely sure). We hatch out four eggs and all the chicks were amazingly beautiful color combinations. The one in my avatar was the only pulllet. When she hatched she was white with red racing stripes. She was my favorite pullet ever. Sadly she passed away from Marek's disease. Her mom also died mysteriously over the winter, and the rooster died after a coyote attack (yes, I've had a rough year). Sometimes life isn't fair, but I supposed it is teaching me some kind of lesson. I hatched out some of her "second cousins". Maybe I'll get her twin in there some place. Everyone will be vaccinated from now on! Here is a better pic of her. She had the cutest beard!

OMG she was amaizing! She is so cutie. So sorry for her. And you too. I don't feel surprised when I find a dead chicken and I know that it is a part of a process of keeping chickens, but I always feel bad about it again and again.

 

[Kev]

Kev - I don't know how to keep your hen OUT of the food dish. Maybe get one taller than it is wide. My broody seems to have a few manners and eats out of the bowl but doesn't stand in it. LOL

Lucky you! lol

I have some really tall ones.. incredibly, some hens will go in these to lay eggs. Both if they're sitting on something or hanging. I don't know how they manage that as I've never caught them in the act...

The problem with the tall ones is the bottom has a lot more space, I fear she would learn how to get her feet in there and dig them all out. If I get annoyed enough, will try one and see. Thanks for this idea.

Most mothers like to roam around the pen(30 by 60) but this one so far hasn't moved more than 3 feet from the feed and water. Those babies are gonna be really plump, no caponizing needed......

 

[Kev]

Well, I don't like that color at all, but I will get her if other colors don't hatch. Lot of chicks from that hatch ended up that color. 6 out of 8 and three are darker and three are lighter so I'm guessing that there are three pullets and three cockrels. Also, two black chicks hatched, but the father is some kind of gold laced so I don't know what will come out of them.

The main gene making them that color is called Columbian in english, Co in genetic notation. it is Very Dominant. What it does is mostly clear the body of the black pigments.. restricting it to the neck, wing tips and tail.

It has the strongest effect on wheaten, which is what your chicks are- light cream colored chicks. But many breeds have Co- RIR, light and buff brahmas, etc.. any mixes with these will strongly be colored like these as a result.

Try for birds with more black on body or more stripes as chicks to 'escape' Co..

But genetics is funny, Co is really important in some amazing patterns like lacing like on sebrights etc.