Breed profile
Naked Neck (Turken)
The bird that starts arguments at the fence line. Naked Necks carry an incompletely dominant Na gene that strips feathers from neck and vent — roughly half the feather total of other chickens — which earned them the 'Turken' nickname and a permanent rumor mill about turkey crosses. They're all chicken: documented in Transylvania by the late nineteenth century, refined in Germany, APA-recognized since 1965. Production is real dual-purpose: estimates run 220-280 brown eggs a year, the hens are rated setters, and the Na gene improves breast size on a 6.5/8.5-pound frame.
The egg numbers
| Eggs per year (first laying year) | 180–280 |
|---|---|
| In-lay rate | ≈3–5 a week |
| Strain note | One hatchery FAQ estimates 220-280 for its flock; another 180-240; an independent guide 150-200. We publish the hatchery spread — the strain in your order decides which end shows up. |
| Egg color | brown |
| Egg size | large |
| Starts laying | 26 weeks |
Body and climate
| Form | standard |
|---|---|
| Strain | heritage |
| APA class | All Other Standard Breeds |
| Comb | single |
| Leg feathering | clean |
| Leg color | yellow |
| Distinguishing features | bare neck and reduced feathering from an incompletely dominant Na gene · about half the feathers of other chickens — heat resistance and easier plucking · extremely likely to go broody |
| Bird size | extra large |
| Skin color | yellow |
| Recognized varieties | APA-recognized since 1965 in black, white, buff and red; hatchery flocks keep mixed colors including silver. |
| Weeks to maturity | 20 |
| Mature hen weight | 6.5 lb |
| Mature rooster weight | 8.5 lb |
| Weight note | The hatcheries print the same figures: 6.5 lb hens, 8.5 lb roosters. The standard reference runs 3 kg hens (6.6 lb) and 3.9 kg cocks (8.6 lb). |
| Cold hardiness | excellent |
| Heat tolerance | good |
| Climate note | The feather paradox, on the record: one hatchery grades cold tolerance excellent — 'In spite of the feather shortage, Turkens stand cold weather very well' — while the breed carries roughly half the feathers of other chickens, making them resistant to hot weather; another hatchery FAQ calls heat tolerance one of their strengths and asks only for a dry, draft-protected coop in winter. |
Character
| Temperament | Docile and easy to handle; very good foragers; the spec table grades disposition 'better'. |
|---|---|
| Disposition | better |
| Free range | better |
| Meat production | better |
| Broodiness | high |
| Broody note | One table grades broodiness 'extremely likely' and calls the hens good setters; another lists Setter. If you need eggs more than chicks, that's a management item, not a bonus. |
| Good first breed | Yes |
What this means for your setup
The husbandry surprise is that the bare neck isn't a winter liability — the cold tolerance grade is excellent and the hatcheries only ask for a dry, draft-protected coop — while the feather reduction is a genuine summer advantage and makes processing easier. Plan for the broodiness instead of around it: the table says 'extremely likely', so either keep a broody-friendly setup or collect eggs promptly. One hatchery keeps its flocks mixed in color (black, red, buff, white and silver chicks from one order); the APA recognizes black, white, buff and red.
Gear that fits this breed
Coop Size Calculator
turn 6.5-lb hens into coop, run and roost numbers
Egg Calculator
turn the 180–280 egg-a-year range into a hen count
Best Coops for Cold Climates
a cold-excellent breed earns the winter-spec picks
Brooder Temperature Chart
a broody breed hatches chicks, and chicks need the week-by-week heat schedule
How Much Space Chickens Need
heavy fowl are the reason the generous end of the space math exists
Naked Neck (Turken) FAQ
How many eggs do Naked Necks lay a year?
One hatchery FAQ estimates 220-280; another 180-240; an independent guide 150-200 at 3-4 eggs a week. The honest answer is a hatchery-dependent spread of roughly 180-280.
Is a Turken part turkey?
No. The bare neck is an incompletely dominant gene (Na) on chromosome 3 — the breed is a chicken documented in Transylvania by the late 1800s and refined in Germany. The nickname is a myth that stuck.
Do Naked Necks get cold with that bare neck?
Less than you'd think: the spec table grades cold tolerance excellent — 'in spite of the feather shortage, Turkens stand cold weather very well' — and the hatcheries recommend only the standard dry, draft-free coop.
Why keep a Naked Neck instead of a fully feathered breed?
Heat and meat. The breed carries about half the feathers of other chickens, making it resistant to hot weather and easier to pluck, and the Na gene improves breast size.