Naked Neck/Turken Thread

[Fire Ant Farm]

glad to hear everithing is ok. next time put pepper on nails!

you have just given me idea how to keep doves away. thank god I don't have predators but there are doves and sparrows eating their feed and spreading diseases.

This is too widely spaced to keep smaller birds out (it deters the hawks because they have a wide wingspan and also want to be sure they have a way back out). If you're serious about it, you could get aviary netting - that's what I'm going to use when I set up the more permanent paddocks.

Here it is on Amazon, it can be a lot pricier elsewhere (I have no financial relationship, blah, blah, blah...)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001W2AG2M?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00

- Ant Farm

 

[Phill98]

[COLOR=333333]If I remember right, you said that pullet was crowing. Is she still doing that?[/COLOR][COLOR=333333]
[/COLOR][COLOR=333333]I think that you are lucky that only three of them survived. If there were more, you would have to decrease even more. And the ones that survived are beautiful.[/COLOR][COLOR=333333]
[/COLOR][COLOR=333333]How big your flock is?[/COLOR][COLOR=333333]
[/COLOR]
COPIED FROM ABOVE, FILIP'S POST

Yes she was crowing but no longer. Now she is running away from Simon ha ha.  After she is old enough to lay and he develops some finesse with courting manners,  well then   She is younger by six to eight weeks. And you are correct about the loss of chicks due to the cats, nature culled them for me ??? I have only 16 birds but I am older with limits in activity level so cleaning up after the flock is hard for me. Certainly do not need more than three of four birds for personal use but ..................

So, how many birds did you hatch this year? Did the cats kill lot of them or?!?
Oh and that little fm girl that you said was the last chick this season, is she a bantam or still very young?

 

[hellbender]

Your input is always very much appreciated, so please don't ever hesitate with me. I definitely see what you're saying about those feathers on Rudy. Yeah....another one probably destined for the freezer in the future. At least I know we'll be eating well.

As for Weesie....you echo all of my concerns. I really struggle with killing chicks because the mom in me says, "NO! You must care for and save that which is small and weak!" This is probably my greatest struggle with keeping chickens for meat. I can butcher a healthy, mature chicken for food no problem, but an innocent chick? Ugh! There is no way I would ever consider breeding her, so that's not a concern, and being so petite means she probably won't offer much for us to eat even if I let her mature.....but now that she's recovered and active and seemingly happy, killing her just challenges my innate tendencies. Whenever I discuss this with my husband he very lovingly offers, "Do you want me to do it?", but starting down that road also defies my beliefs. My problem...I must impose the solution. So I will probably spend the next few weeks battling with myself. Oh....the drama.

My concern is that Weesie might be a threat to your entire flock. I strongly encourage you to do the deed.

 

[Phill98]

Your input is always very much appreciated, so please don't ever hesitate with me. I definitely see what you're saying about those feathers on Rudy. Yeah....another one probably destined for the freezer in the future. At least I know we'll be eating well. 


As for Weesie....you echo all of my concerns. I really struggle with killing chicks because the mom in me says, "NO! You must care for and save that which is small and weak!" This is probably my greatest struggle with keeping chickens for meat. I can butcher a healthy, mature chicken for food no problem, but an innocent chick? Ugh! There is no way I would ever consider breeding her, so that's not a concern, and being so petite means she probably won't offer much for us to eat even if I let her mature.....but now that she's recovered and active and seemingly happy, killing her just challenges my innate tendencies. Whenever I discuss this with my husband he very lovingly offers, "Do you want me to do it?", but starting down that road also defies my beliefs. My problem...I must impose the solution. So I will probably spend the next few weeks battling with myself. Oh....the drama. 

I know how you feel, I would also fell more comfortable killing healthy chicken, but you know she is not going to do anything good for you amd your flocks so you know you will have to do it sooner or later. But I know you will do it. It just takes time

 

[chickengr]

Your input is always very much appreciated, so please don't ever hesitate with me. I definitely see what you're saying about those feathers on Rudy. Yeah....another one probably destined for the freezer in the future. At least I know we'll be eating well.

As for Weesie....you echo all of my concerns. I really struggle with killing chicks because the mom in me says, "NO! You must care for and save that which is small and weak!" This is probably my greatest struggle with keeping chickens for meat. I can butcher a healthy, mature chicken for food no problem, but an innocent chick? Ugh! There is no way I would ever consider breeding her, so that's not a concern, and being so petite means she probably won't offer much for us to eat even if I let her mature.....but now that she's recovered and active and seemingly happy, killing her just challenges my innate tendencies. Whenever I discuss this with my husband he very lovingly offers, "Do you want me to do it?", but starting down that road also defies my beliefs. My problem...I must impose the solution. So I will probably spend the next few weeks battling with myself. Oh....the drama.

I had a minorca like your weesie

I couldn't kill her but she did me a favour and died at age of about 3 months. I was sad anyway...

 

[chickengr]

Yeah, I do as well, and haven't found any way to exclude them form the yard. Fortunately, all the chickens are now bigger than the cats, and I pity the cat that would try anything. My neighbor had a small bantam house rooster (Francois, the Cochin) that lived indoors with about 7 cats , a terrier and a chihuahua. Francois totally kept them all in line, didn't put up with any funny business. Blood was drawn if they got overly curious - that didn't happen often.

@Kev , I don't allow small chicks out unsupervised (and limited otherwise) - the only little ones I have right now are those Speckled Sussex I got at the feed store - 7 weeks old, and to a hawk's eye, awfully portable. The 12 week old Naked necks and New Hampshires could certainly sustain some damage from an attack, as could the Cream Legbars (heck, as could I), but they are all actually larger than the hawks now (the NHs and NNs are 12 weeks but larger than the ~32 week old CLs now, though the CLs act like grown ups). Not that that would stop a hawk, per se, but I observed a few approaches/aborted dives when they were uncovered this weekend (I was outside but too far away, nothing I could do but watch), and clearly the hawk was having to think more carefully about his approach, and didn't find one he trusted - because he would have to land and commit to the struggle/kill, potentially being vulnerable to attack. Sometimes the hawk would sit and watch for a while, as if trying to figure out a way, before giving up and flying away. If they were little, he could just swoop in and out with a clawful. I also think he's not sure the Cream Legbar rooster wouldn't kick his back side into next Tuesday - and I PROMISE Dozer would do his best to beat the hawk up - he's been strutting around like a little Marine on patrol, or better yet, like a little Cossack, with this funny little high step! I may keep him purely for protection duty, maybe he'll tolerate being paired with Tank, his comrade in arms... (Found a cut on Tank today - he's dropping in pecking order. His tail is really short/non-existant, and I think he's maturing later than the others.)

I went on Amazon and ordered some GREEN surveyors tape (that pink hurts my eyes!!!). Ultimately, whenever I decide on something a little more permanent for their paddocks, I'll put up some actual aviary netting - hawks and owls are far too abundant. I was wondering when they would figure out that there were chickens back there - I guess the open-ranging honeymoon is over...

- Ant Farm

I understand that green would look nicer, but will it be noticed by birds? I don't know about birds but dogs and some other animals can see 3 colours only: black, white and red. I would keep red (pink).

 

[chickengr]

I have noticed that my big NN girl has a very red skin. is it hormones (she is 7 months old) or I should be concerned? her crop is like a big ball, as usual. I have just wormed her and there are no bugs on her skin. the other pullets are ok only a cockerel has a bit redder skin.

 

[Kassaundra]

I was wondering...my little NN that I had in the cup for days is still going strong...but, it is also naked on its rump and 1/2 its belly. I first thought maybe because its umbilical area was such a horrible mess but the huge scab finally fell off and its belly looks perfect except no downy fluff. It looks so funny with fluff on its head and a stripe of fluff around its middle with a naked neck & rear end. Reckon this is just normal and its gonna stay like this?

Does she have a pea comb? Pea comb and NN combine to really lessen the feathers.

 

[Kassaundra]

I have noticed that my big NN girl has a very red skin. is it hormones (she is 7 months old) or I should be concerned? her crop is like a big ball, as usual. I have just wormed her and there are no bugs on her skin. the other pullets are ok only a cockerel has a bit redder skin.

It is completely normal. You can see dramatic changes in the skin color of all NN, sometimes day to day w/ the NN. It is hormonal and sun exposure (hormonal sun exposure not sun burn)

 

[DesertChic]

Yeah, I do as well, and haven't found any way to exclude them form the yard. Fortunately, all the chickens are now bigger than the cats, and I pity the cat that would try anything. My neighbor had a small bantam house rooster (Francois, the Cochin) that lived indoors with about 7 cats , a terrier and a chihuahua. Francois totally kept them all in line, didn't put up with any funny business. Blood was drawn if they got overly curious - that didn't happen often.

@Kev , I don't allow small chicks out unsupervised (and limited otherwise) - the only little ones I have right now are those Speckled Sussex I got at the feed store - 7 weeks old, and to a hawk's eye, awfully portable. The 12 week old Naked necks and New Hampshires could certainly sustain some damage from an attack, as could the Cream Legbars (heck, as could I), but they are all actually larger than the hawks now (the NHs and NNs are 12 weeks but larger than the ~32 week old CLs now, though the CLs act like grown ups). Not that that would stop a hawk, per se, but I observed a few approaches/aborted dives when they were uncovered this weekend (I was outside but too far away, nothing I could do but watch), and clearly the hawk was having to think more carefully about his approach, and didn't find one he trusted - because he would have to land and commit to the struggle/kill, potentially being vulnerable to attack. Sometimes the hawk would sit and watch for a while, as if trying to figure out a way, before giving up and flying away. If they were little, he could just swoop in and out with a clawful. I also think he's not sure the Cream Legbar rooster wouldn't kick his back side into next Tuesday - and I PROMISE Dozer would do his best to beat the hawk up - he's been strutting around like a little Marine on patrol, or better yet, like a little Cossack, with this funny little high step! I may keep him purely for protection duty, maybe he'll tolerate being paired with Tank, his comrade in arms... (Found a cut on Tank today - he's dropping in pecking order. His tail is really short/non-existant, and I think he's maturing later than the others.)

I went on Amazon and ordered some GREEN surveyors tape (that pink hurts my eyes!!!). Ultimately, whenever I decide on something a little more permanent for their paddocks, I'll put up some actual aviary netting - hawks and owls are far too abundant. I was wondering when they would figure out that there were chickens back there - I guess the open-ranging honeymoon is over...

- Ant Farm

Give this a try for scaring away the birds/hawks: http://www.amazon.com/Repellent-Con...=8-1-spons&keywords=bird+tape+repellent&psc=1

I haven't yet used it myself, but I've been strongly encouraged to get some and give it a try. I also know that people have had some success from hanging old CDs from string around their property. The rotating reflective properties appear to act as a repellent.