Rare chicken breeds desired for their meat qualities?

[Our Roost]

Desrt Chic, you may want to read this bit of info I acquired.


The naked-neck trait which characterizes this breed is controlled by an incompletely dominant allele (Na) located near the middle of Chromosome 3.[7] Since this allele is dominant, individuals which are either homozygous dominant (Na/Na) or heterozygous (Na/na+) will exhibit the naked-neck characteristic though the heterozygous individual will exhibit less reduction in feathering - true breeding members of the breed must then be homozygous dominant, and all individuals in the recognized breed must be also. Individuals which are homozygous recessive (or wild type feathered) (na+/na+) would not exhibit any feather reduction characteristics of the Naked Necks and, baring mutation, would be unable to pass that trait down.[8]

Scientific studies have indicated that the naked-neck gene (Na) improves breast size and reduces heat stress in chickens of non-broiler breeds which are homozygous for the trait.[9] Additionally, in tropical climates if the naked-neck trait (Na) is breed into broiler strains it has been shown to facilitate lower body temperature, increased body weight gain, better Feed conversion ratios and carcass traits compared to normally feathered broilers.[10]

Very hard to breed a pure strain of naked neck if you so find a true strain! Do your homework!

 

[DesertChic]

Desrt Chic, you may want to read this bit of info I acquired.


The naked-neck trait which characterizes this breed is controlled by an incompletely dominant allele (Na) located near the middle of Chromosome 3.[7] Since this allele is dominant, individuals which are either homozygous dominant (Na/Na) or heterozygous (Na/na+) will exhibit the naked-neck characteristic though the heterozygous individual will exhibit less reduction in feathering - true breeding members of the breed must then be homozygous dominant, and all individuals in the recognized breed must be also. Individuals which are homozygous recessive (or wild type feathered) (na+/na+) would not exhibit any feather reduction characteristics of the Naked Necks and, baring mutation, would be unable to pass that trait down.[8]

Scientific studies have indicated that the naked-neck gene (Na) improves breast size and reduces heat stress in chickens of non-broiler breeds which are homozygous for the trait.[9] Additionally, in tropical climates if the naked-neck trait (Na) is breed into broiler strains it has been shown to facilitate lower body temperature, increased body weight gain, better Feed conversion ratios and carcass traits compared to normally feathered broilers.[10]

Very hard to breed a pure strain of naked neck if you so find a true strain! Do your homework!

Thanks for the info! I actually bought NN eggs from two separate breeders and discovered after hatching that the birds provided from one of those breeders are most certainly not homozygous Na Na as one of the chicks has a feathered neck and *gasp* three of them have feathered shanks. All three are lovely little birds and the fully feathered one is a family favorite because of her amazing little personality, but I will definitely NOT be including them in my breeding programs for the very reasons listed above. The cockerels will be butchered and the pullets will be retained only as egg layers provided they're good layers.

Luckily the hatchlings from the second breeder do appear to be pure NN and most have little or no bow tie (so far...they're only 3 weeks old) and no feathered shanks. I'm working with my son's biology teacher who wants to use my chicks as part of his high school classes' genetics experiments using gel electrophoresis to analyze various alleles. If we can convince the school to permit the project, he's going to help me confirm or negate the homozygous dominant in my breeder flock.

 

[Our Roost]

Geesh, I thought you were going to punish me for providing that tidbit of info! I kind of trusted my source and was leary of posting it. Biology is a super learning experience in and out of the classroom. Always mesmurized by what the teacher had in those bottles of formeldahyde! I disected frogs and now they are using gel electrophoresis to analyze various alleles. Go figure! Good luck with these uniquely different birds!

 

[DesertChic]

Geesh, I thought you were going to punish me for providing that tidbit of info! I kind of trusted my source and was leary of posting it. Biology is a super learning experience in and out of the classroom. Always mesmurized by what the teacher had in those bottles of formeldahyde! I disected frogs and now they are using gel electrophoresis to analyze various alleles. Go figure! Good luck with these uniquely different birds!

No punishment at all! I always appreciate someone's willingness to offer insight. After all, this is a perpetual learning experience for me.

I'm a bit of a science junkie myself and was just tickled to death by this teacher's willingness to help me while allowing me to possibly help his students understand the subject better. Win, win!

Here's a few photos of my little Pippen, the favorite chick that's just too darn feathered for my breeding program. She's 4 weeks old today! (I think she's a she...but it may be too early to tell.)







And here's a few of my potential breeders, also 4 weeks old:


Cocoa Puffs


Pop Tart - I think it's a cockerel.


Jazz - Guessing pullet.


Zen...love the green feet! Also guessing pullet.

Quite a difference, eh? I also have one black cockerel with very little neck feathering who's HUGE at 4 weeks with an 876% growth rate since hatching that I plan to use with my girls.

 

[Our Roost]

Brrrrrr! Will trade you places for a couple of weeks? Its -9 degees here in Michigan and pretty balmy. Our chickens did not venture out of the coops at all yesterday. Blowing whiteout conditions and an accumulation of 8 plus inches of snow.

I would not be a good judge of your chickens as I know little to nothing of that breed. They look permisquous and inquisitive? Your photos just stiffled any thoughts of me getting that breed. I am more of an eye candy man and they just dont foot the bill in that category! OUI! Different strokes for different folks I guess. As a rare meat bird, I heard they live up to expectations for providing lots of tasty meat. If thats all that matters, then you will do well. Post some numbers and weight when you can. Thanks for sharing.

 

[DesertChic]

Brrrrrr! Will trade you places for a couple of weeks? Its -9 degees here in Michigan and pretty balmy. Our chickens did not venture out of the coops at all yesterday. Blowing whiteout conditions and an accumulation of 8 plus inches of snow.

I would not be a good judge of your chickens as I know little to nothing of that breed. They look permisquous and inquisitive? Your photos just stiffled any thoughts of me getting that breed. I am more of an eye candy man and they just dont foot the bill in that category! OUI! Different strokes for different folks I guess. As a rare meat bird, I heard they live up to expectations for providing lots of tasty meat. If thats all that matters, then you will do well. Post some numbers and weight when you can. Thanks for sharing.

LOL! I keep trying to send sun and warmth out east to friends and family but Mother Nature continuously rejects my efforts. It was 79 degrees here yesterday, and my birds and I were loving every second of it.

To be honest I never expected to take on NNs. My son refers to them as "vulture chickens". They're as cute as any other chick when really small, but admittedly are far less attractive as they age. I chose them for practical reasons. The Bielefelders I'll also be raising will be my eye candy chickens, and I also have some hatchery grade Barred Rocks, Silkies, and Australorps. I must say, however, that I'm very impressed with the personalities of the NN. Some of them are as snuggly as my Silkies, as inquisitive and brave as my BRs, and far less aggressive than my Aussies. I've no regrets!

Their average weight at hatching was 1.45 ounces. Now at 4 weeks they average 11.65 ounces for an average percentage weight gain of 703%. Those numbers are a bit skewed by one little rescue chick, however. It had been quick to peep and poked a nice-sized hole in the egg, but then stopped for a bit too long and got stuck inside the egg. With much encouragement from my husband we chipped it out of the egg the rest of the way to save it. Normally I wouldn't do this, but as he said, we're raising these guys for meat, so why suffer the loss. The chick has turned out to have wonderful vitality, but weighs nearly 2 ounces less than average. Removing her results in an average 4-week weight of 11.86 ounces or a 718% weight gain. My two biggest chicks...both presumed cockerels...weigh 13.05 and 13.79 ounces respectively. Most of them weigh between 11.5 and 13 ounces at 4 weeks.

I haven't computed feed cost per chick, but I have noticed that they eat considerably less than my Australorps and have grown much more quickly. I ferment their feed, which makes it last a lot longer as they gain more nutrition from smaller amounts, and I've occasionally fed them game bird feed (26% protein), meal worms and crushed hard boiled egg to increase their protein consumption and encourage rapid growth, but that may have amounted to as much as $5.00 worth of food over the past four weeks.

 

[Hangtown Farms]

Here in Catalonia are very appreciated the Catalana del Prat or "Pota Blava" (blue leg) and the Black Penedesenca. In the imporved varieties theys produce a good quantity of delicious meat in 14-16 weeks.

the traditional are both prized as well

 

[CatalanState]

the traditional are both prized as well

Yes, the traditional varieties are very valued, but they have a very slow growth. The improved variety of Black Penedesenca weights 8 lb at 14 weeks of life, and have a delicious meat.

 

[Our Roost]

And to think that I started this thread! Nearing spring now that February is on the books. Tons of variations of birds and rare ones being used for meat purposes. Betting most or all are pretty tasty!
Is or does anyone have any project birds planned for making their own utility meat bird? I am doing a few crosses in hopes of strengthening and combining traits and genes from one breed to another. Sometimes your best breed stock can give you great progeny.

 

[DesertChic]

And to think that I started this thread! Nearing spring now that February is on the books. Tons of variations of birds and rare ones being used for meat purposes. Betting most or all are pretty tasty!
Is or does anyone have any project birds planned for making their own utility meat bird? I am doing a few crosses in hopes of strengthening and combining traits and genes from one breed to another. Sometimes your best breed stock can give you great progeny.

I plan on keeping one pure flock of Naked Necks, one pure flock of Bielefelders, and one flock of crosses between the two.. Naked Biels.