Everything You Need to Know About Naked Neck Chickens
Interested in a chicken that will really turn heads - or should I say, necks?
If that's the case, you may want to consider the Naked Neck chicken.
Never heard of it? I hadn't, either - at least, not until I read this post by my friend Jessica. Read on for everything you need to know about this unusual breed in today's guest post!
Owning chickens can be an excellent way to produce your own food, whether raising them for eggs or meat. Choosing the right breed for your operation can be tricky. One exceptional option is the Naked Neck chicken.
The Naked Neck chicken has a neck devoid of any feathers and an overall reduced body count of feathers compared to other breeds. Because of this, it thrives in warmer temperatures and struggles in the cold. It is a dual-purpose chicken for meat and eggs.
This article will explore the Naked Neck chicken in-depth, including how to raise it and its main characteristics. We’ll also cover potential problems and benefits of raising this breed.
Read on for everything you need to know about the Naked Neck Chicken.
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What is the Naked Neck Chicken?
The naked neck chicken is a unique bird to add to your farm or homestead. It has several defining characteristics, including the following:
A featherless neck
Have a gene known as BMP12 that prevents feather growth
Thrive in hot climates
Do not do well in colder climates
Will grow between 2 and 2.5 feet tall
Many color varieties
Good at avoiding predators
Feed efficient
Good layers
Docile and gentle temperament
Very talkative
What Do Naked Neck Chickens Look Like?
The Naked Neck chicken has, as its name suggests, a naked neck. This lack of feathers extends from the top of the chicken’s neck to the crop, meaning the top of the breast is also naked. It’s not uncommon for this bird to be confused for a turkey.
In addition, the Naked Neck has much fewer feathers than comparably sized chicken breeds. They carry a special gene, BMP12, that causes this reduction in feather production.
Naked Neck chickens come in many different colors and patterns, including the following:
Black
Buff
White
Cuckoo
Red
Blue
Mottled
Partridge
Blue laced
Dun
Splash
White
Blue laced red
However, white, black, red, and buff are the colors accepted for this breed by the APA and ABA. Regardless of their color, these birds will have a single red comb and loosely packed feathers with a light density across their body.
Their comb is medium-sized and upright. In addition, they have medium-sized wattles and red-colored earlobes. Most Naked Neck chickens also have yellow beaks, yellow shanks, and reddish eyes.
You may also find some of these chickens that are heterozygous for the BMP12 trait, which means they received it from one parent but not the other. This allows them to develop some tufts of feathers on their necks.
Telling the Difference Between a Naked Neck Hen and a Naked Neck Rooster
There are minimal differences between Naked Neck hens and roosters - and many of these are the same differences you'll find in other breeds as well.
The average Naked Neck chicken will stand between 2 and 2.5 feet tall. Hens will weigh an average of 6.5 pounds, while roosters will weigh an average of 8.5 pounds.
In addition, roosters will have bright red skin color on their bare necks. For hens, this skin is more of a red-white. However, in areas where the birds are exposed to more sun, their necks will often be a deeper red color from the UV rays.
On a rooster, the comb and wattle will be larger than on a hen. Roosters also have sharp, sickle-like feathers on their tails. Also, notably, the roosters will crow while the hens will not.
Are There Bantam Naked Neck Chickens?
In addition to large fowl, there are also Bantam Naked Neck chickens. These birds weigh approximately 2.1 pounds for males and 1.9 pounds for females.
What Are Naked Neck Chickens Raised For?
Naked Neck chickens are recognized for being feed-efficient and great egg layers. Being feed-efficient means that they can convert their feed into eggs or meat relatively easily. They are raised for their meat and egg production.
As a dual-purpose breed, you’ll find raising Naked Neck chickens quite beneficial to your operation. They produce a lot of meat, with many homesteaders reporting it to be highly flavorful.
Do Naked Neck Chickens Lay Eggs?
As mentioned, one of the reasons Naked Neck chickens are raised is their excellent ability to lay eggs. They generally start laying around six months. They typically lay three to four large brown eggs weekly.
However, some will lay more, and some will lay less. This is largely dependent on a genetic variation within the breed. They lay fewer eggs during colder seasons, as they thrive in warmer climates.
On average, you’ll get between 150 and 200 eggs per hen annually, making them decent at egg production.
How to Raise Naked Neck Chickens
Naked Neck chickens are recognized as being a very hardy breed. As long as you provide them with a steady, safe water source, they’ll thrive in hot climates. However, when the weather gets cold, they’ll need extra protection.
Health Issues and Diet
Their smaller number of feathers places them at risk for frostbite on their bare parts. They’ll need a heater for their chicken coop to keep them the most comfortable. If you live in a consistently cold area, this may not be the chicken breed for you.
The pellets you feed these chickens should be 16 - 20% protein. If your hens cannot consistently forage, you’ll need to supplement their diet with grit and calcium. As feed-efficient birds, they will readily convert this diet into meat.
Housing
Naked Necks are considered to be a larger breed of chicken and will require more space to move around. Each bird will need approximately six square feet within its coop. If possible, 15 square feet per bird is ideal.
Nesting boxes should be 12 inches deep and 14 inches wide to accommodate three hens at once. You’ll need enough boxes for all your hens. Perches for roosting should be roughly 12 inches from the ground.
Naked Neck chickens are much better at confinement than other chicken breeds. They handle not being able to forage regularly exceptionally well, too. However, raising them in a free-range setting will produce the best results.
Housing should be a secure setup where predators cannot get inside, and the chickens are kept safe from harm. It should be well-ventilated. The entire structure should be designed to allow easy access for cleaning.
Maintaining the house is essential to keeping your Naked Neck chickens healthy, especially if they are being raised in confinement. You’ll need to clean it regularly and ensure it’s getting fresh air often.
Broodiness and Other Behavioral Characteristics
This breed is not particularly broody. They will sit on their eggs when the time is right, but these hens would much rather be foraging than keeping eggs warm.
They’re easier to maintain in your yard or field because they are flightless. You won’t have to spend so much time worrying about containment, as they will be confined to the area where you place them.
Naked Neck chickens are beginner friendly, making owning this breed an excellent experience for those just starting in the chicken industry. They don’t require a lot of input from their owners, except they enjoy interacting with them.
Potential Problems With Naked Neck Chickens
Naked Neck chickens, while exceptionally hardy, are prone to problems with colder temperatures. Because of this, you have to be very proactive about ensuring they are warm enough and don’t catch a chill.
While their lack of feathers makes them unique, it also makes them susceptible to frostbite. They’ll need a heat source or good insulation to prevent this from happening when the weather gets extremely cold. Their combs are more at risk than anything.
If you live close to your neighbors, this may not be the breed for you. These chickens are known for being very talkative and can get quite loud. They’ll hold an entire conversation with you or the rest of the flock.
They are physically not able to brood over as many eggs as other breeds. Because of their reduced number of feathers, they cannot cover a large batch and keep them all warm. In addition, these chickens are known for constantly moving their eggs around.
The problem with this is that none of the eggs will stay consistently warm, resulting in poor or no hatching. You’ll have to intervene when your Naked Neck hens begin brooding to ensure they only have as many eggs as they can lay on.
You may have to physically incubate any eggs you want to hatch, as these chickens don’t often care much for laying on their eggs.
While they will thrive in hot climates and temperatures, your Naked Neck chickens are susceptible to sunburns. Because of this, you must provide enough shelter to allow them to have shady spots when they need them.
Final Thoughts
The Naked Neck chicken is a unique breed with a neck devoid of feathers. This lack of feathers introduces several advantages and disadvantages compared to other breeds. The primary benefit is the ability to thrive in hot climates and temperatures.
However, the lack of feathers can cause problems with colder temperatures, causing the birds to require a heater in the winter months. Without proper preparation and care, your Naked Neck chickens could experience frostbite on their bare spots and combs.
As a dual-purpose breed, these birds offer excellent-quality eggs and meat. You’ll have access to around four eggs weekly per hen. In addition, as double-breasted chickens, the Naked Necks provide a good deal of meat - meat that is said to be exceptionally tasty.
So what do you think? Why not give this breed a try - while this might not be the most attractive breed, looks can certainly be deceiving!
Want to learn more about raising chickens? Be sure to check out these articles!
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