Willoughby Croft

Facts:

Recognized by APA since 1965

Recognized colors: Black, White, Red & Buff

Class: All Other Breeds
Type: Large Fowl 
Size: Large (females, 6 lbs-Males, 8 lbs)
Rarity: Common
Purpose: Dual (meat & eggs)

Cold Hardiness: Hardy in winter
Heat Tolerance: Very heat tolerant
Bears Confinement: Bears confinement well

Free range: Preferred
Especially Docile: Yes
Setter/Broody: Yes

Eggs:

Egg Laying: Over 200 per year
Egg Color: Light Brown
Egg Size: Medium to Large

Features:

Comb Type: Single Comb
Crested: No

Skin color: Yellow

Leg color: Yellow (except for blacks)
Feathered Legs: No
Number of Toes: 4

Feathers: 40-50% less

Health: Immune to most poultry diseases. Extremely hardy.

Meat: Better feed conversion (due to less feathers), larger breasts, faster growing

Eggs: This breed is known to lay eggs for longer than other breeds. Some for 4 years or more.

 

 

Has there ever been a more confusing or divisive breed of chicken? It seems people are either captivated by them or they think they are the ugliest chickens they've ever laid eyes on. True, they look unlike any other breed of chicken. Which, quite honestly, is what drew me to them. I do not refer to them as Turkens. They are NOT a cross between a chicken and a turkey. They are 100% chicken and unique chickens, at that. 

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Their origins are murky. Some say they originated in Romania or Hungary. Others insist they originated in Malaysia or SE Asia. What isn't disputed is that the breed was perfected in Germany and is quite popular throughout Europe and many other parts of the world.

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There is quite a bit of confusion regarding these birds. Is Naked Neck a breed or is it simply a dominant trait? Well, it is BOTH. At Willoughby Croft we will focus on raising Naked Necks according to the American Poultry Association's Standard of Perfection for the breed. The gene this breed carries is dominant so if you breed a Naked Neck to any other breed of chicken, some of the offspring will have naked necks. However, they will be mixed breed birds who happen to have naked necks. They will NOT be Naked Necks. Clear as mud? Yes, it's confusing and I suspect it may be the main reason this breed is not more popular. It's unfortunate they were not given a better name. 

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Their unique looks aside, they have many positive attributes which make them worth considering:

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*** Friendly, docile personalities. They make great pets.

*** Unique appearance. Odds are no one else in your area is raising them.

*** True dual purpose. Meat AND eggs.

*** Plenty of eggs (over 200 per year)

*** Lay eggs for longer than other breeds. Up to 4 years or more.

*** They are known to lay throughout the winter months.

*** Large birds with lots of delicious meat. They have larger breasts like other             meat birds.

*** Half the feathers of other chickens. They are much easier to pluck.

*** Less feathers makes them better able to stand hot temperatures. Yet they do          just fine in cold temperatures, as well.

*** The hens can go broody and are good mothers.

*** They do well in a free range environment but also do well confined.

*** They come in a wide range of colors.

*** They are recognized by the American Poultry Assoc. in colors black, red,               white, and buff.

*** They are much hardier and healthier than other breeds. It is said they are             immune to many poultry diseases and are resistant to coccidia.

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There is a gene responsible for Naked Necks having less feathers. The birds can be HOMOZYGOUS DOMINANT if they received the naked neck gene from both parents, meaning they have 2 copies of the gene. These chickens will have no feathers on the neck or just a very small amount, like a little bow tie, and all of their offspring will inherit a NN gene. Or they can be HETEROZYGOUS, meaning they only inherited the naked neck gene from one of their parents. These chickens will have a mostly naked neck but also quite a large patch of neck feathers. About 50% of their offspring will inherit a NN gene. The third option for the offspring of Naked Neck chickens is HOMOZYGOUS RECESSIVE. They inherit no naked neck gene and will be fully feathered. 

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Here at Willoughby Croft we began raising Naked Necks in the spring of 2021. At first we raised 3 APA recognized colors; white, red and black. In spring 2022 we realized we missed the delicious flavor of the American Bresse chickens we had previously raised. We set out to acquire some Bresse chicks. Not an easy thing to do during covid and with food prices going sky high. We will be raising purebred Bresse but will also try to create a hybrid. Our perfect chicken would have the flavor of Bresse but the ease of plucking of Naked Necks. We are excited to get started with this new project. Stay tuned!