Naked Neck/Turken Thread

[Fire Ant Farm]

I just pulled up all the growth data from my first NN flock. At week 13, my flocks' average growth rate was only 11%, and the cockerel who was lowest on the pecking order had the slowest growth rate beginning at week 14. Truth be told, overall growth rates dropped for the entire flock around week 9 with occasional spikes up to around 20%, but usually stayed between 10% and 15%. Again...those are averages including both males and females. If you like I can do a quick calculation a little later today after I finish my chores to track the males exclusively. (I love Excel!)

As far as reasons for an actual drop-off....barring any indications of illness, stress and/or bullying would be my first guess. Even among some of my other flocks I will often notice that the cockerel lowest in the pecking order gets chased away from the food dish even by the pullets. I have one very sweet EE cockerel who's been the slowest to really mature and for weeks the rest of the flock refused to let him eat. I actually began feeding him separately from them just so he wouldn't waste away. After doing this for a few weeks, his weight began to climb along with his confidence. He's no longer the lowest in the pecking order and eats with the rest of the flock now. He even has his own little harem now.

I put small amounts of food in several locations instead of a larger amount in one, that way even the lowest pecking order ones still get to eat.

That is very helpful. I have two quite large hanging feeders in their tractor with lots of room for everyone, but it is certainly possible that he's being bullied. I'll look into adding a range feeder or two outside as well.

- Ant Farm

 

[draye]

I love your first roo and splash pullet. I love that two colors!

And btw, something is telling me that that third blue chick is a boy, especially when I saw that you had written that he shows some red. ( I remember that Kev said that boys show color easily and girls hide it)
I hope it's not the case, but it looks like that to me

I simply meant red feathers on the head. That one though is the one I thought may have been a late blooming rooster. That could be the case, but all the others signs say pullet. It doesn't act very much like a rooster.

 

[draye]

Ladies continued.

Sire: Blue Jersey Giant
Mom: could have been any of 4 hens, Blue Red NN, Silver NN, Red NN, Golden Laced NN ( not likely).

This one I suspect is from the Golden
Laced hen. Again the Blue Jersey Giant sire.

 

[Phill98]

I simply meant red feathers on the head. That one though is the one I thought may have been a late blooming rooster. That could be the case, but all the others signs say pullet. It doesn't act very much like a rooster.

Oh I thought that you were talking about second girl when you mentioned red head. Fingers crossed

 

[draye]

Oh I thought that you were talking about second girl when you mentioned red head. Fingers crossed

The first three ( in the First Ladies post) are definite pullets, they are all a Blue Red Splash, the third girl though doesn't show much red, but it is there just have to look hard.

Sorry if I didn't make clear the proper one. I tried to put the comments under the groups I was talking about.

The second three are the blues, but one of them show done red feathering in the head.
The last one ( blue is the one that is a possible late bloomer rooster. It also has the leg feathering.

 

[Fire Ant Farm]

@draye , I never get tired of looking at your birds!!!

- Ant Farm

 

[Phill98]

The first three ( in the First Ladies post) are definite pullets, they are all a Blue Red Splash, the third girl though doesn't show much red, but it is there just have to look hard.

Sorry if I didn't make clear the proper one. I tried to put the comments under the groups I was talking about.

The second three are the blues, but one of them show done red feathering in the head.
The last one ( blue is the one that is a possible late bloomer rooster. It also has the leg feathering.

No problem, and I was also talking about third blue

 

[draye]

Next set of the ladies.
Sire of all tge following. Blue Red NN.

Both are a Blue Golden Wheaten color. The first ones shows the markings on the bib.

Moms are from the Salmon Group again there were four hens which were various colors. All laid brown egg and were from Easter Egger female lines.

A Blue Red.

A Brown Red. This one you can't hardly tell is a NN. The feathers cover the whole front airy if the neck, you can see the naked neck from the back though.

These two are from the the green egg layers, I suspect that the Wheaten NN ( possum got her earlier just after hatch), again a daughter if the Salmon NN rooster.

 

[draye]

@draye
, I never get tired of looking at your birds!!! 

- Ant Farm 

Thank you.

No problem, and I was also talking about third blue

Okay, we're on the same page then.

 

[DesertChic]

2nd Choice:

Mottled Partridge.
Sire: Red Mottled Naked Neck
Mom: Mottled Partridge Naked Neck
This cockerel turned out with the best mottling out of all 5 chicks hatched. My original choice I found dead this morning ( don't know why showed no signs if sickness), his full brother.
His bib is pretty big but can be worked with.
There may be a single mating with him and his mother.
edited: this cockerels legs are a bluish color but as they flow into the legs they are white. Is this a sign if the mottling gene?

This guy, your 2nd choice, is my favorite at first glance. He's got a larger muff than I personally like, but his coloring is spectacular! And I love ALL of your girls. I love watching the progress of your birds/projects!