Naked Neck/Turken Thread

[DesertChic]

Just thought I'd share some photos of my 19-week-old "babies". The first three photos are of my favorite cockerel, Heisenberg. He comes to me by name, will settle in on my lap for petting and a nap, is incredibly gentle with me. I'm thinking of putting him in charge of my other mixed flock from which I just butchered the BR rooster. I think a NN + Australorp cross could result in a very heat tolerant bird.








This is the dominant cockerel in the pen, Goldie (Heisenberg's head is in the bottom of the photo):



And finally, my third cockerel, Shiloh with his favorite girl, Jazz:



It's funny....I was always told that roosters are mean, especially once they reach puberty, but in this breed I've been fortunate enough to hatch and grow out three really sweet-tempered, beautiful cockerels that somehow manage to live together peacefully and with minimal fighting. I hope it stays that way.

 

[draye]

Just thought I'd share some photos of my 19-week-old "babies". The first three photos are of my favorite cockerel, Heisenberg. He comes to me by name, will settle in on my lap for petting and a nap, is incredibly gentle with me. I'm thinking of putting him in charge of my other mixed flock from which I just butchered the BR rooster. I think a NN + Australorp cross could result in a very heat tolerant bird. This is the dominant cockerel in the pen, Goldie (Heisenberg's head is in the bottom of the photo): And finally, my third cockerel, Shiloh with his favorite girl, Jazz: It's funny....I was always told that roosters are mean, especially once they reach puberty, but in this breed I've been fortunate enough to hatch and grow out three really sweet-tempered, beautiful cockerels that somehow manage to live together peacefully and with minimal fighting. I hope it stays that way.

I gues I'm just cursed with the mean Naked Neck roosters. My Salmon (now deceased) jumped me twice after the secknd time he calmed duen unless I was trying to catch his ladies. My Ieange Barred is stil. Trying to jump me can't count the times. So Sayirdsy he's going away. My Blue Copper is starting to act like he may want to try it. I'm holding out hope in him thpugh because he is a nice sized rooster.

 

[ochochicas]

My Turken rooster was always so sweet and friendly with us. I guess we got really lucky. Unfortunately he was really rough with the hens. He was so much bigger than them that it just wasn't fair to keep him around. On top of that we are not breeding that line of Turkens anymore. The chicks were too difficult to find homes for. I could barely even give the cockerels away. People would come over for free cockerels. and then leave with the EEs and not the poor little NNs.

 

[draye]

These are the first Naked Necks that I've ever owned that are aggressive.

I guess a lot depends on the individual lines. I think when I get ready to keep replacement roosters I'll pull Ann individual hen or same colored hens out to be bred to a specific rooster. Maybe I can breed something that's not aggressive by picking docile hens.

 

[Kev]

Yeah the belief of all roosters being mean is partly a myth.

It is genetic for sure but there can be an environmental role playing into it. It seems there is a general idea roosters are mean or nice, period- no in between when the reality there is like a curve or continuum to it. On one end, there are roosters that are going to be mean, no matter how they are raised. On the other end, there are roosters that are never going to attack, no matter how they are raised.

It is the roosters somewhere in the middle that gets people confused on how to raise them. A common advise is not to raise cockerels very hand tame as that will make them mean because they have no fear of humans. This is partly true but not universal- a rooster in middle of the spectrum may become inclined to attack if raised very tame, yet this very same rooster might never attack had it been raised not tame or raised by a mother hen in a varied, mixed flock. This ignores the reality of both ends of spectrum though.

This is also the 'cause' behind the zillion sworn tried-n'-true methods to handle attacking/mean roosters. The low/mid-specturm roosters can be deterred by any one of the various methods, it really does not matter which method, as long as the reaction is immediate so it has a clear idea of 'cause n effect'.

The high/medium ones can be deterred.. but often it is only temporary. These are the ones people tell you their method works but watch out for him next spring.... or they eventually work up the courage to charge again a few months later. These are also the roosters that have others advising you that you handled him all wrong, that is exactly why he is attacking you again...... it WAS going to attack again no matter what!

And then there are the truly genetically mean ones that will not stop, no matter what you do with them. other than killing them. Those are somewhat uncommon so a lot of people who only have experience with the above roosters become frustrated while trying to advise or unfortunately regard the person trying to handle this kind of rooster as an 'idiot city slicker' all the while without realizing this rooster is *different*.

The chickens are a hobby, so I do not want to tolerate ANY rooster aggression towards me. To be honest, most roosters are killed on the same day they charge at me. It is to get the problem dealt with ASAP and to avoid any second thoughts if the rooster is not culled fast. I do get 'soft' sometimes and start thinking about how that rooster has other positive traits..... wait, NO! lol Then I will remember that one rooster who was nasty but I bred him anyways and his sons were mean also, so I ended up culling the whole line.

I raise the birds very hands- off due to allergies. So, come selection day for culling they are basically tested for true personality by being grabbed one by one... any that bite are marked as culls. In lines that went through several generations there really are zero people aggression, including zero biting when handled.. I let my little nephews chase, catch and carry those roosters with no worries because I knew they would never attack or even bite(and they really never did). And their favorites were the big NN roosters, it was nice to see kids completely unafraid around the chickens.

I do the same thing with broody hens- the ones that put up a fight or do the screeching and exploding off the nests aren;t bred from, with huge preference given to hens that sedately accept being bothered, even with pipping eggs- this was primarily so I could handle peafowl eggs and peachicks without rhe eggs becoming broken or the chicks hurt in the process.

 

[Kev]

Just thought I'd share some photos of my 19-week-old "babies". The first three photos are of my favorite cockerel, Heisenberg. He comes to me by name, will settle in on my lap for petting and a nap, is incredibly gentle with me. I'm thinking of putting him in charge of my other mixed flock from which I just butchered the BR rooster. I think a NN + Australorp cross could result in a very heat tolerant bird.

In my experience, introducing NN has a big effect on heat tolerance. Australorps are supposed to have reasonably good heat tolerance so this seems like a great idea actually. Unless they start making blue... eggs...

 

[ochochicas]

My eight week old chicks have been going outside in the chicken tractor for about 2 weeks. Today was their first opportunity to free range. At first they didn't want to leave the tractor, but the second time they all came out to play under the trees. I brought my camera out to take lots of pictures, but of course the battery died after just one photo!

Here is one of the pullets. I think her mom was an Ameraucana.

 

[Phill98]

@draye I don't know what to say about that bad roosters. Years and years ago we had one rooster that scratched my little cousin's face. We were terrified. I don't have to say it was cull day..

Also, how is your hatch going?

@Kev I feel so bad about that little chicks and broody. Are they any better?

I can see that you keep chickens long time. You know so much about them. I think I can learn so much from you.

@Kassaundra How are that two chicks going? Are they going to make it?

Our hatches are terrible this year also. Broodies crack most of the eggs. And the rest don't hatch. From two broodies we have 11 chicks.

@DesertChic Your last rooster made my day. He is so beautiful. I think you all have beautiful chickens. I could pick at least one from everybody here!

I also like the names your chickens have. Some of them are very creative!

@ochochicas I hope your battery never dies again! (So we can see more chicks , of course)
Also your chickens are amaizing. I would like to get black and some kind of partridge hens, just like you have!


Everybody, have a nice day, just like I have, with no particular reason

 

[ochochicas]

@ochochicas I hope your battery never dies again! (So we can see more chicks , of course)
Also your chickens are amaizing. I would like to get black and some kind of partridge hens, just like you have!


Everybody, have a nice day, just like I have, with no particular reason

The black pullets are all Black Copper Marans crosses. I had one Araucana cross but a guy convinced me to sell her, so she went to live someplace else. I have some more black ones that are barely a month old...too little to spend the day outside yet. Two have single combs and the third has a pea comb - maybe an Olive egger?!?!

 

[Phill98]

The black pullets are all Black Copper Marans crosses.  I had one Araucana cross but a guy convinced me to sell her, so she went to live someplace else.  I have some more black ones that are barely a month old...too little to spend the day outside yet.  Two have single combs and the third has a pea comb - maybe an Olive egger?!?!

If the one with pea comb is cross between marans and green egger, I think you should have an olive egger