Naked Neck/Turken Thread

[cactusrota]

I’m thinking about getting a turken and I’m wondering if they lay well or are they more of a show or meat bird?

It really depends on your source. The naked neck gene is kind of a stand alone gene and can be added to any breed. So you can end up with anything, from lean boney egg layers, to heavy meaty birds. Poor egg layers to really good egg layers. Nice personalities and freaks. Make sure you ask alot of questions of the breeder you get them from. If they selectively breed for meat, egg laying, personality, etc...

 

[cactusrota]

I keep coming back to the necked neck's as one of my favorite chickens....we butchered a roo last sat and I found myself admiring the amount of dark meat and the lack of plucking.... so far they seem to have more of the size I want to see in an eating chicken too.
I still have many people that cone to me looking for laying hens that are turned off by the "ugly" birds so I am sure I will continue with my multi colored layer flock.

I think people in my area are starting to warm up to them as a good bird for the desert climate. I still have an easier time rehoming extra pullets than cockerels, but that's a given with just about any breed. The other day I processed two Bresse cockerels and two NN cockerels, and saved the NN's for last because I knew they'd be easier and go faster. The Bresse had more meat, fat, and oils, ofcourse. But the NN's were SOOOOO much easier to pluck. I really need to work harder on this Bresse/NN cross project....

 

[DesertChic]

I’m thinking about getting a turken and I’m wondering if they lay well or are they more of a show or meat bird?

My best laying NN hen weighs over 7 lbs (great meaty shape) and has averaged 240 eggs per year for the last three years....so, yeah, they're great layers AND meat birds.

 

[DesertChic]

I think people in my area are starting to warm up to them as a good bird for the desert climate. I still have an easier time rehoming extra pullets than cockerels, but that's a given with just about any breed. The other day I processed two Bresse cockerels and two NN cockerels, and saved the NN's for last because I knew they'd be easier and go faster. The Bresse had more meat, fat, and oils, ofcourse. But the NN's were SOOOOO much easier to pluck. I really need to work harder on this Bresse/NN cross project....

I'm really looking forward to seeing how your NN/Bresse crosses turn out. It's taken me 3-4 generations of breeding to finally start getting the results I wanted in my dual purpose line so I know how exciting and frustrating it can be to have to wait for that 'perfection'.

 

[Cynthia12]

I’m thinking about getting a turken and I’m wondering if they lay well or are they more of a show or meat bird?

One of my girls that I hatched from DesertChick laid all through the winter, and into the spring..almost every single day!

 

[Cynthia12]

@DesertChic. Here is a granddaughter of one of yours.

 

[Cynthia12]

She's a sweet bird. Should start laying in Aug.

 

[BlueBaby]

Hi, I’m looking to get some naked necks. Does anyone on here have chicks/adult chickens for sale or for sale soon? Thanks!

My hatch of some are due on Aug. 7th, but I am way over here in Arizona.

 

[BlueBaby]

I think people in my area are starting to warm up to them as a good bird for the desert climate. I still have an easier time rehoming extra pullets than cockerels, but that's a given with just about any breed. The other day I processed two Bresse cockerels and two NN cockerels, and saved the NN's for last because I knew they'd be easier and go faster. The Bresse had more meat, fat, and oils, ofcourse. But the NN's were SOOOOO much easier to pluck. I really need to work harder on this Bresse/NN cross project....

I like these White Breese/NN crosses that I got from you. I haven't tried to butcher any, as I got just enough from you before to get started with. I am currently doing my first hatch from those now.

 

[chickengr]

I’m thinking about getting a turken and I’m wondering if they lay well or are they more of a show or meat bird?

all of mine have been good layers. one lays 29 eggs per month.