Have you ever seen a chicken that looks like it’s wearing a featherless turtleneck? That’s a Turken chicken! These unique birds often make backyard chicken enthusiasts do a double-take with their strange appearance. Despite what many folks think, they’re not some weird science experiment crossing turkeys and chickens (though that’s how they got their name).
I’ve been raising various chicken breeds for years and lemme tell you, Turkens are some of the most interesting additions to any flock. Let’s dive into everything you need to know about these peculiar poultry.
The Origin Story: Not What You Might Think
Contrary to popular belief, a Turken chicken isn’t a turkey-chicken hybrid. The Naked Neck is a breed of chicken that is naturally devoid of feathers on its neck and vent. They’re also called Transylvanian Naked Necks, which gives you a hint about their origins.
These unusual birds originated in Transylvania the central region of Romania. They were likely bred there in the 19th century before spreading to other European countries like Germany, France and Austria.
Some interesting historical tidbits:
- Archaeological evidence suggests chickens were present in the Carpathian Basin (where Transylvania is located) as far back as the first century BCE
- During Ottoman Empire rule (1541-1699), larger, red-eared Asian chickens were introduced to the region
- These Asian birds may be the source of the naked neck gene
- Turkens first gained international attention at the 1875 International Agricultural Show in Vienna
- The American Poultry Association (APA) officially recognized the Naked Neck in 1965
The name “Turken” came about because of their turkey-like appearance – specifically that distinctive bare neck. Americans seeing them for the first time assumed they must be some kind of turkey-chicken hybrid, which hurt their popularity until recently.
What Makes Turkens Look So Different?
The most obvious characteristic of Turken chickens is their lack of feathers on the neck, breast, and vent areas. This distinctive trait is caused by a single dominant gene that reduces feathering by about 50-60%.
Here’s what makes Turkens stand out physically
- Their necks are completely bare of feathers, showing bright red skin (roosters) or pinkish-white skin (hens)
- They have small tufts of feathers on top of their heads
- Overall, they have only 40-50% of the feathers of normal chickens
- They have less fat under their skin compared to other breeds
- Standard sizes: roosters weigh about 8.5 pounds, hens about 6.5 pounds
- Bantam versions are much smaller at around 34 ounces (roosters) and 30 ounces (hens)
- Available in various colors including black, white, buff, red, cuckoo, and blue
When a Turken inherits two copies of the naked neck gene, there is very little or no feathering on the neck and under the thighs and breast. Birds with just one copy of the gene have a small tuft of feathers at the front base of the neck.
Temperament: Don’t Judge a Book by Its Cover
You might think these unusual-looking birds would have strange personalities to match, but that’s not the case at all! Despite their somewhat intimidating appearance, Turkens are known for being sweet and friendly chickens.
Most Turken owners describe them as:
- Docile and calm
- Friendly toward humans and other chickens
- Happy to sit on their keeper’s lap for pets
- Active foragers who enjoy free-ranging
- Intelligent and entertaining to watch
- Fairly talkative with typical chicken vocalizations
- Good at integrating into mixed breed flocks
The roosters can get a bit territorial over their hens, so it’s best to maintain a higher hen-to-rooster ratio. But overall, they’re excellent backyard flock members with personalities that quickly make you forget about their unusual looks.
Egg Production: Consistent Layers
If you’re considering adding Turkens to your flock for egg production, you won’t be disappointed. They’re reliable egg layers that produce a moderate number of eggs year-round.
Turken egg facts:
- Lay approximately 150-200 eggs per year
- Eggs are cream to light brown in color
- Large eggs, typically 2+ ounces (55-70g)
- Start laying around 6 months of age
- Maintain production in hot weather when other breeds slow down
- Some hens go broody and make excellent mothers
The heat tolerance of Turkens means they often outperform other breeds during hot summer months when many chickens reduce laying. However, their broodiness means some hens will take breaks from laying to sit on eggs.
Meat Production: The Efficient Protein Machine
One of the most practical advantages of Turkens is their efficiency as meat birds. Their unique genetics allows them to use feed more efficiently to build muscle instead of growing feathers.
As meat producers, Turkens offer:
- Quick growth rates, ready for processing at 8-12 weeks
- Delicious flavor and texture
- Very easy plucking due to fewer feathers
- Good feed conversion ratio
- Heat tolerance that maintains growth in hot weather
The lack of feathers makes processing these birds much easier than fully-feathered breeds. With fewer feather follicles left in the skin, they’re the easiest chickens to pluck after processing.
Weather Adaptability: Hot and Cold Specialists
The naked neck trait isn’t just for show – it actually provides significant advantages in certain climates. These birds are remarkably adaptable to different weather conditions, especially heat.
Hot Weather Superstars
Turkens absolutely shine in hot climates. Their lack of neck feathers gives them about 40% more heat dissipation than fully-feathered chickens. Research has consistently shown that Naked Neck chickens:
- Maintain egg production during heat waves
- Continue to grow and gain weight when other breeds slow down
- Stay more active and forage during hot weather
- Require less energy for feather production, redirecting it to growth and egg formation
This heat tolerance has made the naked neck gene valuable worldwide. It’s been incorporated into commercial hybrid chickens for both meat and egg production in hot regions.
Cold Weather Considerations
You might think these partially naked birds would struggle in cold weather, but they’re surprisingly hardy. While they do need a bit more protection than fully-feathered breeds, Turkens can handle winter conditions well if provided with:
- Draft-free housing
- Extra bedding
- Protection for their combs, which are prone to frostbite
- Adequate shelter during extreme cold
Care Tips for Your Turken Flock
If you’re thinking about adding these unique birds to your backyard, here are some essential care tips:
Housing Requirements
- Provide each Turken with at least 4 square feet of coop floor space
- Have one nesting box for every 3-4 hens (12″ x 12″ x 18″ size)
- Allow 8-10 inches of roosting space per bird
- Aim for 8-10 square feet per bird in the run if confined
Feeding Guidelines
- Chicks: 20% protein starter feed for first 8 weeks
- Growing birds: 18-19% protein grower feed
- Mature layers: 15-17% protein layer feed
- Always provide oyster shell or other calcium supplement for laying hens
- Fresh water at all times
Health Considerations
- Monitor for typical chicken pests like lice and mites
- Provide shade and sun protection since their exposed skin can burn
- Avoid using petroleum-based products on their skin
- Watch for frostbite on combs in winter
The Conservation Status of Turken Chickens
While Turken chickens are becoming more popular in backyard flocks across America, the original Transylvanian landrace remains under protection in Europe. Conservation efforts include:
- Gene bank preservation in Hungary and Romania
- Breeding programs at research institutions
- NGO involvement since the 1990s
- Private farm participation in preservation
In Romania, as of 1993, there were fewer than 100 females and 20 males purebred in each variety, though their progeny numbered in the thousands. Hungary has had more success, with over 4,000 of each variety recorded in 2021 (up from just 566 Black, 521 Cuckoo, and 170 White in 1994).
The National Naked Neck Breeders Society in the US helps breeders maintain standards and preserve these unique birds.
Are Turkens Right for Your Flock?
I personally think Turkens make a fantastic addition to most backyard flocks. They’re definitely conversation starters when visitors see your chickens for the first time! Beyond their unique appearance, they offer practical benefits that make them worth considering:
Pros of Raising Turkens:
- Excellent heat tolerance
- Good egg production
- Efficient meat birds
- Easy to process
- Friendly temperament
- Disease resistance
- Self-sufficient foragers
Potential Cons:
- Unusual appearance isn’t for everyone
- Need extra cold protection in harsh winters
- Can sunburn on exposed skin
- May not lay as many eggs as production breeds
- Not as common, so might be harder to find
Where to Find Turken Chickens
If you’re interested in adding these unique birds to your flock, you have several options:
- Specialty hatcheries – Many now offer Naked Necks/Turkens
- Local breeders – Check Facebook groups or agricultural forums
- Poultry shows – Great place to find quality breeding stock
- Online marketplaces – Sometimes have hatching eggs or chicks
Chicks typically cost around $2-5 each in mixed gender batches, making them quite affordable compared to some rarer breeds.
So what is a Turken chicken? It’s a remarkable breed with a dominant genetic mutation that gives it a naked neck resembling a turkey. But beyond its strange appearance lies a practical, friendly, and adaptable bird that deserves consideration for any backyard flock.
These dual-purpose birds offer efficient meat production, consistent egg laying, excellent heat tolerance, and entertaining personalities. Whether you live in a hot climate, want an unusual conversation piece, or simply appreciate heritage breeds, the Turken chicken might be the perfect addition to your flock.
Have you ever raised Turkens? I’d love to hear about your experiences with these unique birds in the comments below!
The Sublime Heat-Tolerance of the Naked Neck Chicken
Reading Time: 6 minutes
BREED: A Turken chicken has little or no plumage on the neck, giving an appearance similar to a turkey.
ORIGIN: This gene is present in many native chickens worldwide, particularly in Asia, Africa, and Central and South America. It is likely to have originated in Asia. The founding population best known to breeders in Europe and America is the Transylvanian Naked Neck from the plateau surrounded by the Carpathian Mountains, in Romania. [optin-monster-shortcode id=”e9huclfjt4oy1ak6ifrp”]
Archaeological finds of small-bodied chickens in the Carpathian Basin date back to the first century BCE. Chicken keeping must have already been common in the region before Magyars moved in at the turn of the tenth century. Magyars may have also brought fowl from the steppe east of the Carpathian Mountains. During Ottoman Empire rule (1541–1699), larger, red-eared Asian chickens were introduced. These may be the source of the naked neck gene which spread through Transylvania, Serbia, and Bosnia. Later, poultry arrived from western countries, during the Habsburg reign of Austria-Hungary. All of these influences melded to form the Transylvanian breed. Over centuries, the birds adapted to the damp, temperate climate, while foraging at range in the valleys and hilly plains.
Conservation of the Breed
In the 1930s, examples of native Hungarian hens, including those from Transylvania (which by now was part of Romania), were collected at the research institute at Gödöllő, Hungary. The gene bank’s aim was to protect historical breeds, through standardization of colors and body shape and improvement of egg production and body size, while preserving meat quality. These lines were propagated successfully and distributed throughout the country and abroad.
Although most of their stocks were destroyed in the Second World War, breed scientists managed to restore a large population by the 1950s of Buff, Cuckoo, and White varieties. However, even small farms began to replace their stock with imported hybrids during the 1960s. A government breeding authority stepped in during the 1970s to ensure preservation of heritage poultry breeds. The baton was passed to NGOs in the 1990s, with university and government support.
A breeders’ association, the Gödöllő research center, two Hungarian universities, and several private farms work together to preserve the breed. Equally in Constanța, Romania, original lines were recovered in the late 1960s and preserved.
The APA recognized the Naked Neck in 1965. Recently, the National Naked Neck Breeders Society and their Facebook group have been set up to help breeders meet the standard.
Worldwide, both turken hen and turken rooster of many types have been found to cope well with heat. Research has focused on the effect of the gene for the naked neck trait on heat tolerance in commercial hybrids (both broilers and layers). Encouraging results suggest that lines with the gene adapt better to high temperatures and can maintain production. In addition, they save the energy needed for feather production in favor of growth and egg formation. Consequently, the naked-neck gene has been incorporated into both intensively-farmed hybrids and pasture-based regional types, such as the “Label Rouge” hybrids of France and the Pirocón Negro of Venezuela.
CONSERVATION STATUS: Although turken chickens are widespread and numerous worldwide, the Transylvanian landrace is under protection. In Romania, under 100 females and 20 males were purebred in each variety, as registered in Constanța in 1993, although their progeny is in the thousands. In Hungary there were over 4,000 of each variety in 2021, compared to 566 Black, 521 Cuckoo, and 170 White in 1994.
About Turken chickens for backyard pets and flocks
FAQ
Is a Turken half turkey half chicken?
Turkens are not half chicken and half turkey; they are a unique chicken with a bare neck like the turkey and with very little feathering around the breast and wing areas. Despite their lack of feathers, they are very cold weather tolerant.
What is the point of a Turken?
The Naked Neck, also known as the Turken, is a chicken breed with bare skin on its neck and vent. Developed in Germany from Transylvanian origins, the Naked Neck is a dual-purpose breed raised for both meat and brown eggs.
Are Turken chickens rare?
They have an unusual look that some people don’t care for, but they are also calm, very friendly and one of the easiest chickens to tame. Relatively rare in North America, Naked Necks are very popular in Europe, especially France and Germany.
Are Turken chickens aggressive?
Qualities of the Turken
Those that do make excellent mothers. Temperament – Naked Necks are generally docile and friendly. Occasional Naked Neck roosters can be aggressive. Foraging – Naked Necks forage well and are well-suited to free range operations.