Naked Neck/Turken Thread

[GabrielBane]

We picked up the NNs! We ended up with 13 chicks. Only 5 were NNs. They had a rough last few days with quitters so they gave us a deal on their entire hatch. We'll probably sell the extras as a barnyard mix this weekend.

 

[DesertChic]

We picked up the NNs! We ended up with 13 chicks. Only 5 were NNs. They had a rough last few days with quitters so they gave us a deal on their entire hatch. We'll probably sell the extras as a barnyard mix this weekend.

Yay! Adorable! I especially love the black one with the black beak. It reminds me of my beloved Heisenberg when he was just a chick.

 

[GabrielBane]

I'm quite fond of that one! Depending on how black they stay, he or she will go in the fibro-NN project pen (upon its completion)

 

[Kev]

I had roosts at different level but that didn't help. at he end they all wanted to roost high so I rearranged the roosts and put them all at the same level. they peck for fun before going to sleep. there is enough room but they are chickens, lol.

I'm lucky to be in a mild winter space(and unlucky the summers are way long and hot..) and the pens were originally for peafowl so the pens are solid roof. No separation like coop and run. So the perches can be anywhere in the pen. The perches are also all 12 feet or longer-runs from side to side, they also act as support beams, kinda. They are also spaced 6 or 10 feet apart. When a chicken is picking on another, it simply jumps off and goes to the other perch or it jumps off and comes back up but further away, with several birds in between them. The picker are never inclined to go to that much trouble to pick that bird again.. too far away.

However in that same set up.. those distances are no hardship for peafowl, they jump far too easily. 10 feet is to them what 2 feet is to a chicken. So if one is in a mean mood, they do sometimes push a bird(s) around at evening time, walking along the perch and jumping back and forth.. it is annoying to watch this silly behavior.

That's what got me to thinking that height/distance/room helps for this kind of thing.

 

[Kev]

Thanks for this input everyone - it helps! Ideally I would have done the adjacent pen thing, but that wasn't in the cards, space-wise, this time around, because of the weird timing getting the other pullets to by friend. I think I WILL try to plan ahead more next time and do that in the future, though - the roosters/cockerels who have been through that sort of introduction have behaved the best and those flocks are calm.

At least one of the GNH girls is laying daily, and squatting actively (was bred by the Ameraucana cockerel in the other pen even) - the others are getting close. Tank is actually breeding them (at least some of them). It's just this night time ritual that is problematic. I'll lock them in tonight and unplug the automatic door. It's a pretty small space (tractor is 6x10, and there's also the roost level where they can hang out), but should be ok for a period of time for four.

@Kev , so you think I should leave them locked in for a full 1-2 weeks?

You guys are awesome - thanks for all the ideas and input.

- Ant Farm

1-2 weeks was for him to stop pecking at night mainly, once he stops the pullets should be more comfortable going on the roosts.. but until then, locking them in at evenings will stop them from forming a habit of roosting outside.. once they do that, it is hard to get them to break and switch to sleeping indoors. An ounce of prevention being worth a pound of cure.

if it can be arranged so they have no roost outside the coop that may work, unless they start to pile up on the ground in the tractor/run- that needs to be stopped and locking would be the only solution.

 

[Kev]

Oh, did I show you guys my new mug?



- Ant Farm

Haha love it. I have that on a shirt. I do wear it sometimes- wore it to a chicken meet.. the reactions, lol......

 

[Kev]

Babies!

I'm quite fond of that one! Depending on how black they stay, he or she will go in the fibro-NN project pen (upon its completion)

what are you using in that project?

 

[GabrielBane]

Babies!


what are you using in that project?

Right now, the NNs and depending on genders and sizes, my Cemanis. I'll more than likely get some Svart for better conformation. I'm sure I'll breed something in for size too. (I considered the barbezieux, if I ever receive them... *mutters under breathe*)

 

[Kev]

Right now, the NNs and depending on genders and sizes, my Cemanis. I'll more than likely get some Svart for better conformation. I'm sure I'll breed something in for size too. (I considered the barbezieux, if I ever receive them... *mutters under breathe*)

the barbies might add height.. weight.. um, not so much. I have them too.

then there's the matter of their large white earlobes. if you want solid black, this is not good. very hard to rid of white in the earlobes once crossed in. if you want it they definitely will be good for that.

 

[GabrielBane]

the barbies might add height.. weight.. um, not so much.  I have them too.

then there's the matter of their large white earlobes. if you want solid black, this is not good. very hard to rid of white in the earlobes once crossed in. if you want it they definitely will be good for that.

Hm, thanks for that advice. We had considered keeping the white earlobes for contrast against all the black, but I had been wondering if white earlobes tend to bring red to the face? I'll have to put further thought into that aspect.