Want to add some Naked Neck.

[DesertBrahma]

I have 5 4 month old Dark Brahma chickens. I had 6 but something got 1 of my hens. In a month or 2 I will be down to 3 after I freeze a couple of the boys. I have been looking at the Naked Neck breed. Does anyone have any experience with this breed? I live in the desert so it gets pretty hot. We've had over 105 degrees already and that was in May. We can also get down to the single digits in the winter. So I want a really hardy breed. My Dark Brahmas are doing great so far. As long as they have cool area to relax in during the heat of the day, and fresh cool water they're happy. Goofy things are more like my dog when I'm in the back yard than chickens lol. What I'm wondering is can I safely integrate some Naked Necks into a small flock of 2 hens, and 1 roo? Are they really as hardy as everything I've read says? I have a couple outdoor/indoor cats that go in the backyard. Will these chickens attack the cats, or my young children who go back there with me? They both love the 3 we're going to keep. I don't want chickens that are going to attack us or my cats. Heck even my dog goes back there with us and leaves the chickens alone. I love the unique look of the Naked Neck, and from what I've read the hardiness of them. I would love it if they were as gentle as my Dark Brahmas too. So someone please give me some insight on this breed. Thanks in advance.

 

[GitaBooks]

Naked-necks are pretty awesome, even if I wouldn't call them the prettiest of birds.

My Naked Neck is actually a Silkie Naked-neck and he does well in both 100 F and 0 F, wet and rain or dry. I have heard that Naked Necks do well in hot weather, but that they can get sun-burn?

You should be able to integrate them over time, though your brahmas may be confused about the bare necks. I would suggest getting younger birds, so you can raise them to get along with you, your cats and your other chickens.
My Naked-neck isn't aggressive towards me, but he doesn't really like to be held (none of my chickens do, however), but then again, he's a silkie mix and not a true Turken.


Flo, my Naked-neck silkie rooster (he was suppose to be a girl, hence the name)



I hope this helps. Best of luck!

 

[DesertBrahma]

I want to get chicks. I feel it's easier on them and us to get them as chicks and raise them. Then they'll be used to how we are. They are cool looking to me. Even my husband said they were cool looking birds and he isn't particularly fond of birds lol. I'm thinking of going through Murray McMurray to get them. My Dark Brahmas aren't fond of being held but aren't aggressive. My youngest cat plays tag with them lol. No he doesn't use his claws but he swats their butts until they chase his and gets him. They'll do that for a couple hours in the morning. Then go lay under my pine tree where it's cool together. In the morning when I go out he's in the coop with them just "chillin" lol. They're funny. That's the kind of relationship I want. None aggressive, curious, happy. Those are my thoughts on a flock. Since my husband vetoed getting some ducks or geese I want a unique cool looking bird. Now to price them again lol.

 

[GitaBooks]

McMurray is awesome!

By the way, a great desert bird would be a Guinea Fowl. They are loud, but their energy and personality makes up for this.

 

[DesertBrahma]

I can't do guineas lol. I grew up around them and they were loud, annoying and harrassed me. They would yell when I was trying to hide in my favorite tree and read a book to tell everyone where I was. From what I've read about the Naked Neck it's a better desert chicken than most. I want something that I can use as a dual purpose bird. I know they're not as big as the Dark Brahmas but they can be used as a dual purpose. Which is a good thing. I'm slowly trying to get my family off of grocery store produce, and meat. If my husband would let me do a couple goats I could make cheese, and butter too. Baby steps to get where I want lol.

 

[GitaBooks]

Yeah, we don't keep guineas because of those reasons too. And they would probably bully our cats and get chased by our dogs.

Goats are awesome, though they certainly get themselves into all sorts of trouble (they love escaping). Storey's Guide to Raising Dairy Goats is a great book to read.

Ethel with her kid, Buckeye. She had to have a C-section, but was fine after that. They were Nigerian Dwarf goats.

 

[DesertBrahma]

That's the breed I'm looking at. My love says we have enough of a menagerie as it is without adding goats too lol. I have 2 indoor/outdoor cats that are already bullied by my 3 indoor cats lol. They don't need to contend with guineas too. My dog would want to play with them and he'd get beat up lol. From everything I've read about the Naked Neck chickens they are laid back, and not aggressive. I know I would have to clip their wings to keep them in the backyard. Now if I added a couple of Nigerian Dwarf Does I would have a couple goats to milk, and protect the chickens from aerial predators. I don't have to worry about coyotes getting in the backyard. I have chicken wire around the bottom, and the run they are in while I'm gone and at night has a cover. The coop is on a cement slab, and inside the run. I'm going to work on making a bigger coop inside the backyard soon. Man I really want some Naked Necks now lol. And a couple goats.