Our First Broody and Incubator Hatch: a Diary

[nicollee]

View attachment 1562057

The little dude is about 10 weeks in this pic. He's spending more time away from mom foraging. He was hanging out with one of the Nn girls over the weekend. He's STILL not fully feathered yet either so he's been snuggling up to mom at night still as it's been chilly.

poor baby... looks cold

 

[aart]

Wonders if the 'nakedness' can spread beyond the neck?

 

[igorsMistress]

Wonders if the 'nakedness' can spread beyond the neck?

I know! As I understand it he has the double NN gene so over all his feathers could be less dense.

 

[cactusrota]

The naked neck gene is only obvious on the neck. It reduces the feather follicles in a number of different places all over the body, the chest, inside of the thighs, legs, armpits, and the groin area. You just don't normally see the other naked areas because the feathers that are there fluff out and cover them.
Here's a pic of a couple cockerels I processed back in August. One is a Bresse, the other is a mix that carried one copy of the naked neck gene. You can see the difference in the feather follicles and skin.

 

[igorsMistress]

@cactusrota
Thanks for the info!

My chick is half naked on his behind and between his legs still. Large areas without pin feathers that I can tell. I feel like making him a sweater.

 

[cactusrota]

@cactusrota
Thanks for the info!

My chick is half naked on his behind and between his legs still. Large areas without pin feathers that I can tell. I feel like making him a sweater.

Your baby is definitely carrying both copies of the NN gene, as well as some kind of modifier gene that's really openned up those naked areas. You don't usually see that much nakedness on a straight comb bird. It's the pea combs and game birds that usually show that much skin. He's a special little boy for sure!

 

[igorsMistress]

Your baby is definitely carrying both copies of the NN gene, as well as some kind of modifier gene that's really openned up those naked areas. You don't usually see that much nakedness on a straight comb bird. It's the pea combs and game birds that usually show that much skin. He's a special little boy for sure!

I really need to read up on the NN thing. I'm going to hatch eggs by next fall probably. I'm intetested to see what his genes will do mixed with tge 2 girls I got from you but I'm wondering if he's going to be too big for them. One is bigger than my older hens and one is about the same size. I might need to find some bigger girls for him.

 

[BlueBaby]

I really need to read up on the NN thing. I'm going to hatch eggs by next fall probably. I'm intetested to see what his genes will do mixed with tge 2 girls I got from you but I'm wondering if he's going to be too big for them. One is bigger than my older hens and one is about the same size. I might need to find some bigger girls for him.

I guess that you'll have to see how he finishes growing out.

 

[cactusrota]

I really need to read up on the NN thing. I'm going to hatch eggs by next fall probably. I'm intetested to see what his genes will do mixed with tge 2 girls I got from you but I'm wondering if he's going to be too big for them. One is bigger than my older hens and one is about the same size. I might need to find some bigger girls for him.

Like bluebaby says, watch how he grows out. I've found most of the time with the boys that grow really big if you just wait a little longer to put them in with the hens, like 7 months old or more, they are much gentler on the the hens than a younger teenager. My splash boy is huge compared to the Bresse hens, but he didn't get any access to any hens until about 7 months old. I put him straight in with the Bresse and he was a gentleman from day one. He eased into it instead of trying to rape every one like freak, and he hasn't hurt any of them. They love him now.
You could also try letting her raise him with the flock, too. They can teach him manners as he's growing up, and he should be much gentler, then you won't have to worry about size difference.

 

[BlueBaby]

Like bluebaby says, watch how he grows out. I've found most of the time with the boys that grow really big if you just wait a little longer to put them in with the hens, like 7 months old or more, they are much gentler on the the hens than a younger teenager. My splash boy is huge compared to the Bresse hens, but he didn't get any access to any hens until about 7 months old. I put him straight in with the Bresse and he was a gentleman from day one. He eased into it instead of trying to rape every one like freak, and he hasn't hurt any of them. They love him now.
You could also try letting her raise him with the flock, too. They can teach him manners as he's growing up, and he should be much gentler, then you won't have to worry about size difference.

I'd like to see what your splash boy look's like.