I have a hen with some mixed chicks and I wanted to get some naked necks to put with them. I went to a feed store in Houston and was told that no one was getting any naked necks from the hatcherys because there was a virus that had something to do the respriatory (sp?) system. Has anyone heard anything about this? Eagle

-- eagle (eagle@alpha1.net), June 19, 2000

Answers

Try placing a wanted ad in the local paper. Perhaps someone raises them. I have a turkey neck rooster I bought at a consignment auction which included critters.

-- Ken Scharabok (scharabo@aol.com), June 19, 2000.

I got a turken from McMurray this spring (she was my free chick) and she is doing great. I just went to www.McMurrayhatchery.com, and under heavy breeds, they are still offering turkens. Roosters are $0.99 and hen chicks are $2.05.

-- Rachel (rldk@hotmail.com), June 19, 2000.

Yes, I too got a naked neck from McMurray 9 weeks ago. He's doing fine along with my white rocks. He's my favorite. Haven't heard of any problems.

-- Derrick Comfort (dcomfort@ccnmail.com), June 20, 2000.

I love turkens!! I experimented one year and bought (from McMurray hatchery) 15 top hats, 15 araucanas and 15 turkens. After a northern tier winter, I had 6 top hats, 9 araucanas and all 15 turkens remaining. They are hardy and also friendlier and I think a little smarter than your average chicken. I also bought a few turkens hens from McMurray hatchery a few months ago and they are doing just great! Good luck!

-- Kim Scales (barkinbarnyard@rrv.net), July 04, 2000.

i havent heard of any problems involving turkens. i have three of them. they are the best chickens i have. they are very friendly and very smart.they follow me around the house like little dogs!

-- paul r franek (realbigboy9@hotmail.com), December 30, 2001.

Do the Turkens lay very well? Sit eggs? Butcher up good?

-- Tracy (zebella@mindspring.com), January 24, 2002.

I just bought some chicks too. 1 turken,1 silkie,1 cochin. I adore my little turken. She is really sweat and friendly. I encourage people that are getting chickens to get a few turkens. I named my Cou wich means neck in French,isn't that cute?! : )

I haven't heard anything about this virus thing. Cou is really healthy and showing no respriatory problems.

-- Char (charpoultry@aol.com), March 25, 2002.

We ordered an assortment from Murray McMurray last year. In that mix we received one Turken. Our chickens came down with a cold (can't spell respetory either). Their heads swelled and they had problems breathing. I did a search on the Internet and found the problem, a contagious diesese that they can pull out of with the help of Terramycin. The only one that did not make it was the Turken.

-- Diana in FL (dvance4@juno.com), March 26, 2002.