Thinking of trying an experiment.

[lazy gardener]

Yes, the Naked Neck gene is dominant. Dominant genes are easy to eliminate. It’s the recessives that are hard to get rid of.

Supposedly NN have a lot fewer feathers than other breeds. Might that make plucking easier?

That is one of the + attributes of NN. I've also heard lots of good stuff about them, but can't wrap my head around the ugliness factor. They are reported to be cold tolerant, but... I can't wrap my head around that statement either. Agreed, this thread will be fun. Time for a bit of cerebral stimulation.

 

[aart]

Seriously? But that neck! I guess on the other hand, at least I'd know which chicks belong to which flock..... Something to ponder, I suppose. You people possibly just saved his ugly neck....
They are Fugly!
But, hey, it's an experiment!
The ugly may be worth the meat...and you can test their cold hardiness.

Quote:
Yep, it is....and the meatier carcass..

 

[Mrs. K]

no naked necks for me...ugh!

 

[bobbi-j]

no naked necks for me...ugh!

That was my thought, too, but this guy showed up with my McMurray order. He was my "free rare breed" chick. Am away from home today (going to see my granddaughter ) but will try to post a pic of that ugly thing tomorrow when I get home. Maybe I should learn to knit. I could make him a little chicken scarf....

RR, thanks for your input. DH likes the idea of fewer feathers. At least we know the neck will be easier to pick, right?

 

[Ridgerunner]

no naked necks for me...ugh!

That was my thought, too, but this guy showed up with my McMurray order. He was my "free rare breed" chick. Am away from home today (going to see my granddaughter ) but will try to post a pic of that ugly thing tomorrow when I get home. Maybe I should learn to knit. I could make him a little chicken scarf....

RR, thanks for your input. DH likes the idea of fewer feathers. At least we know the neck will be easier to pick, right?

And easier to hit with an ax or hatchet.

For the record, I do not have NN's.

 

[Den in Penn]

Always interesting to watch others work at a goal. Right now my biggest roosters are the Buff Rocks over a GLWs. Interested to see if you choose to keep the BR. Don't know why I never thought to get a NN. As I always like to see peoples reactions to something that's different like a NN.

 

[Folly's place]

I'll be watching too; this is fun! I also can't face seeing NNs in my yard, no matter how useful. I had some Buff Rocks from MMcM and they were nice large birds, much closer to the breed standard than the Barred Rocks that everyone has. I'd consider keeping three for a while; the Buff Rock, the Giant, and the largest other cockrel. Any that are nasty, or with poor conformation, need to go. Also, I like to keep older hens who are still somewhat productive, healthy, and broodiness is a plus. Breeding for health and longevity isn't done as it should be, IMO. This year I have some three month old white Chanteclers, Chanty/ Speckled Sussex crosses, and one BCMarans/ splash laced red Wyandotte cockrel. He's the largest, by the way, although he's going to move on; beautiful blue copper, nice, but doesn't fit into my breeding plans. Mary

 

[bobbi-j]

I'll be watching too;  this is fun!  I also can't face seeing NNs in my yard, no matter how useful.  I had some Buff Rocks from MMcM and they were nice large birds, much closer to the breed standard than the Barred Rocks that everyone has.  I'd consider keeping three for a while;  the Buff Rock, the Giant, and the largest other cockrel.  Any that are nasty, or with poor conformation, need to go.  Also,  I like to keep older hens who are still somewhat productive, healthy, and broodiness is a plus.  Breeding for health and longevity isn't done as it should be, IMO.  This year I have some three month old white Chanteclers, Chanty/ Speckled Sussex crosses, and one BCMarans/  splash laced red Wyandotte cockrel.  He's the largest, by the way, although he's going to move on;  beautiful blue copper, nice, but doesn't fit into my breeding plans.  Mary

Thanks for the info on the buff rocks! It's encouraging to know that I might have actually picked a good breed. I definitely don't plan on keeping any cockerels with a bad attitude. Every say I go out there and just mosey through the flock, making them move away. So far no challenges, but they're young yet. For sure the generic red one will go, probably the Aussies. From there, I will see who passes the "heft test".

I will keep the one older hen that has a history of broodiness, hoping she continues that habit. They are all 3 years old. Laying nicely right now, but I don't want to winter them again. I'm not sure I'm going to even keep all 20 pullets. We'll have to see.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I got some Buff Rock cockerels from Ideal last spring and kept one for this year’s flock master. I put 18 in the freezer and kept only one. Some of those 18 dressed out really nicely, some not so much. I really hate to put much emphasis on breed because I see so much difference in the chicks I get from a hatchery of the same breed that are raised together. If you only got one, did you get one of the good ones or one of the bad ones? If I only have one chicken of one breed, I’m not going to assume every other chicken of that breed is exactly the same. It just doesn’t work that way whether from breeders or a hatchery.

I think you need to evaluate the ones you have according to your criteria. Don’t get too hung up on breed. I consider that a diversion.

 

[bobbi-j]

I got some Buff Rock cockerels from Ideal last spring and kept one for this year’s flock master. I put 18 in the freezer and kept only one. Some of those 18 dressed out really nicely, some not so much. I really hate to put much emphasis on breed because I see so much difference in the chicks I get from a hatchery of the same breed that are raised together. If you only got one, did you get one of the good ones or one of the bad ones? If I only have one chicken of one breed, I’m not going to assume every other chicken of that breed is exactly the same. It just doesn’t work that way whether from breeders or a hatchery.

I think you need to evaluate the ones you have according to your criteria. Don’t get too hung up on breed. I consider that a diversion.

Thanks for the input, RR. McMurray did send me two of them for some reason. One is clearly larger than the other. He is also larger than the rest of the cockerals overall. Except, maybe the White Giant.