Naked Neck
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Naked Neck is the only breed of chicken that is naturally devoid of feathers on its neck. Originating in Central Europe, the breed is also called the Transylvanian Naked Neck, as well as the Turken. This latter name arose from the mistaken idea that the bird was a hybrid of a chicken and the domestic turkey. Naked Necks are fairly common in Europe today, but are rare in North America.
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[edit] Characteristics
Despite its highly unusual appearance, the breed is not particularly known as an exhibition bird, and is a dual-purpose utility chicken. They lay a respectable number of light brown eggs, and are considered desirable for meat production because they need less plucking. The breed is also reasonably cold hardy despite its featherlessness. Naked Neck roosters carry a single comb, and the neck and head often become very bright red from increased sun exposure.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Graham, Chris (2006). Choosing and Keeping Chickens. 2-4 Heron Quays London E14 4JP: Octopus Publishing. ISBN 9780793806010.
- Rossier, Jay (2002). Living with Chickens. Guilford, Connecticut: The Lyons Press. ISBN 1-59228-013-7.
[edit] External links
- Naked Neck at the University of Oklahoma Dept. of Animal Science breeds list
