If you’ve ever seen a chicken with a completely bare neck, you’ve likely discovered the unique Naked Neck chicken.
Also nicknamed the Turken (or even “Churkey” in the UK), this breed stands out with its turkey-like appearance – no feathers on its neck and fewer feathers overall.
Don’t let the odd look fool you: Naked Necks are 100% chicken (not a turkey hybrid), and they offer fantastic benefits for backyard flock owners.
In fact, this bare-necked chicken is popular for their hardiness, productivity, and friendliness.
Also read: Naked Neck Chicken (Complete Breed Guide)
21 Facts About The Naked Neck Chickens (The Turken Chicken Facts)
Below, we’ll cover 21 bare facts about the Naked Neck chicken, so you can get to know this unusual bald-neck breed inside and out.
1. They Truly Have Naked Necks:
The defining feature of the Naked Neck chicken is, of course, its featherless neck. A genetic mutation causes these chickens to grow no feathers on a broad band of their neck and crop area.
What’s more, Naked Necks have about 40-50% fewer feathers on their body compared to regular chickens.
If you raise one, you’ll notice how sparsely feathered they are all over. This “no-feather neck” chicken looks a bit like a tiny turkey, with exposed skin on the neck that’s usually reddish in roosters and pinkish in hens.
Despite jokes about “hairless chickens,” remember that chickens don’t have hair – in Naked Necks, it’s just bare skin where feathers would normally be.
2. Not a Turkey Hybrid
Just Called “Turken”: One look at a Naked Neck and you might think it was part turkey. In the early 1900s, some even believed it was a cross between a turkey and a chicken – hence the name “Turken.”
In reality, Turkens are 100% chickens (species Gallus gallus domesticus). The strange name is a portmanteau of “turkey” and “chicken,” but there is no turkey DNA in these birds.
So while the turkey-neck chicken myth persists, you can confidently tell your friends that Turkens are all chicken. They just happen to look a bit like turkeys because of that naked neck!
3. Originated in Transylvania:
The Naked Neck chicken has a fascinating history. It’s often called the Transylvanian Naked Neck because the breed was noted in Transylvania (modern-day Romania) over a century ago.
In fact, Naked Necks have been known in Romania since at least 1918. Breeders in Hungary and Romania developed the trait, and then German breeders refined the breed in the late 19th century.
Some evidence suggests the trait may have originated even earlier in Asia before spreading to Europe.
By the early 20th century, Naked Necks gained popularity in Germany and France, and eventually made their way around the world.
Today, they’re recognized by poultry associations in many countries, including the American Poultry Association (which accepted them in the 1960s), cementing their place as a distinct breed.
4. A Breed of Many Names:
Besides “Naked Neck” and “Turken,” this chicken has picked up numerous nicknames. In the UK, they cheekily call it a “Churkey” (chicken + turkey).
In South Africa, it’s known as “Kaalnek” (Afrikaans for “bare neck”). You might also hear “Turkey Neck chicken” or just “Transylvanian chicken.”
Scientifically, they’re a variety of Gallus gallus domesticus. No matter the name, they all refer to this unusual breed with the bald neck.
Its unique appearance has made it something of an “ugly duckling” among chickens – but fans simply see beauty in its uniqueness.
5. One Simple Gene Makes the Difference:
The Naked Neck trait is determined by genetics. A single incompletely dominant gene (Na) causes the lack of neck feathers.
Due to its dominant nature, only one parent needs to pass it on for chicks to inherit a naked neck. Interestingly, if a chick gets one copy of the gene (heterozygous), it often still has a small “bow tie” of feathers beneath its chin.
Chicks with two copies (homozygous) have fully naked necks with maybe just a miniature tuft. This gene also decreases the total number of feathers.
And here’s a fun thing: the naked neck gene can be bred into any chicken breed pretty easily. There’s even a bantam Silkie variety with a naked neck (known as a “Showgirl”), created by crossing Silkies with Naked Necks over many generations. This is proof that this gene doesn’t discriminate and can pop up in all kinds of chickens!
In my backyard, I have bred them with Aseel and Kadaknath chickens, and they look lovely. My few Naked Neck chickens have almost the same body shape as an Aseel but have bare necks.
6. 50% Fewer Feathers (Less Preening, Easier Plucking):
These Turken chickens originally don’t just have naked necks – they have half the feathers of a normal chicken.
Researchers found they often have only 40–50% of the total feather count of other breeds. This means less mess from molting and fewer feathers to clean up in the coop.
If you’ve ever processed chickens for meat, you’ll love that plucking a Naked Neck is fast – there’s very little feather coverage to remove.
In fact, many chicken raisers note that Naked Necks have the easiest carcasses to pluck in the chicken world. Less time plucking, more time enjoying your chicken dinner!
7. Built for a Hot Climate:
Naked Neck chickens easily live in hot climates. All those missing feathers actually help them stay cool.
With exposed skin and fewer feathers, these birds can tolerate high temperatures far better than most breeds.
You’ll notice on humid days, they handle heat stress well – they keep eating, foraging, and laying when other chickens might pant and slow down.
This makes them popular in tropical regions and extreme hot summers. Of course, you must provide shade and water, which are essential for their daily life. But generally, heat is no problem for this heat-tolerant chicken breed.
8. Surprisingly Cold-Hardy (With a Little Care):
You might assume a “half-naked turken” would freeze in winter, but Naked Necks are highly heat-hardy and also a lovely cold-hardy chicken.
They do fine in freezing climates as long as they have shelter from extreme cold and wind. Their bodies still have feathers, and they fluff them up to stay warm.
You’ll need to take a bit of extra care in frigid weather: their large single combs and exposed neck skin are prone to frostbite.
Providing a dry, insulated coop and applying Vaseline to the combs in the bitter cold will help. Despite the naked neck and thanks to their resilient genetics, Turkens can thrive even in winter with minimal intervention. They’ve surprised many by doing very well in freezing temperatures.
9. Good Egg Layers:
Don’t let the funny looks fool you – Naked Necks lay a respectable number of eggs. A healthy hen typically produces around 3–4 brown eggs per week, totaling roughly 150–200 eggs per year.
Some strains are even more prolific, occasionally laying 250+ eggs in a year. The eggs are usually medium to large in size with light brown shells.
Many Naked Neck hens keep up their laying through hot summers and even into the colder months, when other breeds might pause. So, if you want a steady supply of eggs, these Turken hens won’t let your egg basket empty..
10. Broody and Great Mothers:
If you’re interested in hatching chicks, Naked Neck hens have you covered – literally! They have a strong tendency to go broody and love to sit on eggs.
My Turken chickens raise their chicks very efficiently, dutifully caring for their chicks from the moment they hatch.
An interesting problem is that Naked Neck hens often compete when broody, sometimes sharing a nest or clashing over who gets to sit – they really enjoy motherhood!
One thing to note, however, is that due to having fewer, tighter feathers, a Turken hen can’t cover as large a clutch of eggs as a fully-feathered hen.
They physically can’t spread out and insulate, say, a dozen eggs at once. Usually, they can properly cover maybe 6–8 eggs.
So if your broody Naked Neck has more eggs than she can handle, it’s wise to remove a few so all the embryos stay warm. Within their capacity, though, they’ll hatch and raise chicks with wonderful care and attentiveness.
11. Excellent Meat Birds with Tasty, Lean Meat:
The Naked Neck isn’t just a good “egg layer” – its meat is also tasty and lean. These chickens have broad, well-muscled bodies and develop a larger breast muscle because of the naked neck gene.
A full-grown rooster averages around 8–9 lbs (3.5–4 kg) and hens about 6–7 lbs (2.5–3 kg), making them a solid dual-purpose size.
The meat itself is often described as tender, juicy, and flavorful, with a lower fat content than that of other chickens.
Turken meat has an extra something – possibly because these birds love to free-range and forage, adding depth to the flavor. As mentioned, plucking is quick due to the sparse nature of the feathers.
It’s no wonder the American Poultry Association ranks Naked Necks among the top four meat-producing chicken breeds in the country, alongside giants like Jersey Giants and efficient producers like Plymouth Rocks.
If you’re raising your own table birds, Naked Necks are a smart choice for quality meat and easy processing.
12. Super Feed Efficient:
Naked Necks turn feed into growth and eggs with impressive efficiency. How? Since they aren’t growing lots of extra feathers, more of the protein they eat goes straight into body mass and egg production.
Feathers are made of protein (keratin), so a normal chicken shifts a significant portion of dietary protein to feather maintenance.
The body of Naked Neck chickens essentially reserves that protein for more important uses – such as making eggs or building muscle.
Studies have shown they can eat less yet gain weight similarly, lowering feed costs for the farmer.
This high feed-to-product conversion is a big reason Naked Necks are valued in meat production – they’re not wasting feed on fluff. Your feed bill might thank you for choosing this efficient, “low feather, high output” breed!
13. Docile, Friendly, and Great Pets:
Naked Necks have a reputation for having an excellent temperament. They are sweet, gentle, and even cuddly.
These birds tend to be calm around people and easy to handle, making them wonderful for families and children.
You will surprise that Turken hen wants to sit in your lap because of their affectionate nature. Even the roosters are generally very calm and less aggressive than some other breeds.
If you’re looking for a pet chicken that will follow you around the yard and eat from your hand, Naked Necks are the best. Their friendly nature is one more reason that Turkens are one of the best backyard chicken breeds.
14. Smart and Alert Escape Artists:
Naked Neck are quite intelligent chicken breeds. They are popular resourceful foragers and clever during free-ranging.
They can find ways out of coops or fenced areas that other breeds wouldn’t figure out. They also have strong survival instincts.
Turkens are good at evading predators and quickly learn the boundaries of their territory. However, because they love to free-range and explore, you’ll need a secure coop/run to keep them from wandering off or flying over low fences.
It’s a good signs that they’re active and love to roam but their safety also is most important from predators. Just be prepared to clip a wing or build higher fences if you have particularly adventurous Naked Necks.
Their high intelligence and curiosity can be entertaining, as they’ll interact with their environment in savvy ways.
15. Distinct Appearance (Red Skin, Comb, and “Bow Tie”):
Beyond the bare neck, Naked Necks have some other striking physical traits. They sport a single upright comb (usually red) and matching red wattles and earlobes.
The exposed neck skin on a mature rooster turns bright red with sun exposure (hens’ necks stay a paler pink).
Most Naked Necks have yellow skin on their bodies and yellow shanks (legs) with four toes per foot. Some birds – especially those with just one copy of the naked gene – display a feathery “bow tie” patch on the front of the neck, right below the beak.
This tuft of feathers is a cute little signature of the heterozygous Naked Neck. Overall, they have a sturdy build: well-rounded breasts, broad backs, and, in roosters, impressively long tail feathers that they carry high.
There’s no other breed that looks quite like a Naked Neck – they’re truly a one-of-a-kind featherless-neck fowl in appearance!
16. Many Colors and Even a Bantam Version:
You can find Naked Necks in a rainbow of colors. The American Poultry Association (APA) recognizes four standard color varieties: red, white, black, and buff.
European and other standards include even more colors, like blue, cuckoo (barred), and others. This means you might see a white Naked Neck with black neck skin, a buff (tan) one, or stunning black-feathered Turkens with their red necks – a striking contrast.
In addition to full-sized birds, Naked Necks also come in bantam (miniature) form for those who prefer smaller chickens. The bantams are just as naked on the neck and make adorable, pint-sized versions of the breed.
Whatever the color or size, they all share the same general look and traits. You could have a flock of multi-colored “turkey-neck” chickens adding visual variety to your coop!
17. Hardy and Generally Healthy:
Naked Necks are known to be robust, hardy birds with few health problems. In fact, some breeders observe that Naked Necks seem to have natural resistance to many common poultry diseases.
They tend to be vigorous and strong, likely a result of their diverse heritage and the utility breeding in their background.
Their hardiness extends to climate as we saw with heat and cold tolerance and overall constitution. A testament to their health is their lifespan – on average, Turkens live around 7–8 years, and with good care, some make it to 10 years or more.
That’s on the higher end for chickens, indicating robust genetics. Of course, good nutrition and care are important for any breed, but you won’t need to pamper Naked Necks – they thrive in backyard conditions.
As one source put it, these chickens are “healthier than your average chicken”, making them a low-maintenance, durable addition to the flock.
18. Great for Beginners and Backyard Flocks:
Are you new to raising chickens? The Naked Neck is actually an excellent beginner-friendly breed.
They handle a wide range of conditions, are not high-strung, and their docile nature makes them easy to manage.
Turkens also integrate well into mixed flocks – Naked Necks typically get along with other breeds and aren’t known to be bullies.
Their moderate size means they’re not as intimidating as giant breeds, yet they’re sturdy enough not to be fragile.
They also have the advantage of being dual-purpose (good eggs and meat), so a small homestead flock of Turkens can provide both breakfast and Sunday dinner.
Because they’re so underrated, you might find them to be a fun conversation piece if you’re the only one in your neighborhood with “those chickens with no feathers on their neck.”
Overall, their gentle temperament and hardiness make them a solid choice for any chicken-keeper, begineer or experienced.
19. Underappreciated and Unusual (Not as Popular in the U.S.):
Despite all their great qualities, Naked Necks remain relatively uncommon in North America. They’re not a mainstream breed for backyard keepers – perhaps because some folks can’t get past the unusual look.
In the show arena and certain farming circles, they have their fans, but you may not see a Turken at every feed store.
That said, they’re widely bred in Europe and South America (especially in France and Germany), where they’re quite popular.
So while you can buy Naked Neck chicks from many hatcheries in the U.S., they are still considered a bit of a rare sight in American backyards. Don’t let that deter you; if anything, it means you’ll have a unique flock.
Those who do keep them often become enthusiastic ambassadors for the breed, proudly correcting myths and showing others how productive and friendly these birds are. The Naked Neck may be an “odd bird,” but it deserves far more appreciation than it gets!
20. They Can Get Sunburned:
Here’s an unexpected fact – that bare skin isn’t just exposed to the eyes, it’s exposed to the sun too. Naked Neck chickens can sunburn on sunny days.
If you notice your Turkens’ neck turning extra bright red in summer, it could be a mild sunburn from UV rays.
So, the best prevention is to provide tree shade and cool resting area in their run or yard. Usually, the birds self-regulate by seeking shade when they’ve had enough sun.
The sunburn isn’t usually severe – it might just make their neck skin tougher and redder – but it’s something to be mindful of in very hot, bright climates.
Ensuring they have the option of shade and cool water will keep your “naked” chickens comfortable. Think of them like fair-skinned people at the beach: a little sun is fine, but they shouldn’t roast all day.
21. Perfect for Dual-Purpose Homesteads:
At the end of the day, Naked Necks are one of the most versatile backyard chickens you can choose. They provide plenty of eggs and quality meat, all in one bird.
They’re tough enough to free-range and forage for a lot of their food, yet they also tolerate confinement reasonably well when necessary.
They rarely have health issues, they’re good with kids and other chickens, and they save you effort with their easier processing and lower feed needs.
Whether you’re a small-scale farmer, a homesteader, or just a chicken enthusiast in the suburbs, Turkens can fit the bill.
FAQ: Naked Neck (Turken) Chickens
Q: What are Naked Neck (Turken) chickens good for?
A: Naked Necks are an excellent dual-purpose breed. They lay up to ~200 eggs per year (light brown, medium-large eggs) and are also valued for meat production. Their feed efficiency and decent growth rate make them good table birds, and their friendly temperament makes them great pets in addition to their farm value. In short, they’re good for eggs, meat, and companionship all at once.
Q: Are Naked Neck chickens rare?
A: In some places. In North America, Naked Necks are still relatively uncommon (considered rare) in backyard flocks. Many people haven’t seen one in person. However, they are much more common in Europe and South America, where the breed enjoys more popularity (particularly in countries like France, Germany, and Brazil). They’re available through hatcheries in the US, but you might have to seek them out.
Q: Are Turken chickens cold-hardy despite the bare neck?
A: Yes – surprisingly cold-hardy. Even with fewer feathers, Turken (Naked Neck) chickens handle cold weather quite well. They thrive in freezing climates with minimal protection, as long as they have a dry, insulated coop to prevent frostbite on their exposed skin and comb. Their bodies still have enough feathering to keep warm, and they’ve proven very resilient in winter. Just be sure to shield them from extreme wind and cold, as you would for any breed.
Q: What color eggs do Naked Neck chickens lay and how big are they?
A: Naked Neck hens lay light brown eggs that are typically medium to large in size. In terms of quantity, they’re good layers (about 3–4 eggs per week on average). The eggs are just like those of other brown-egg breeds – perfect for your breakfast table, even if the chickens themselves look a bit unusual!
Q: Do Naked Neck chickens require special care?
A: Not particularly. Aside from providing shade (to prevent sunburn) and winter shelter (to protect their necks from frostbite), Turkens don’t need much extra care beyond standard chicken husbandry. They eat normal poultry feed (their high feed efficiency is a bonus), enjoy free-ranging for bugs and plants, and should have the usual fresh water and secure coop at night. In fact, their hardiness and low-maintenance nature make them an easy breed to keep for beginners and experienced keepers alike. Just treat them as you would other chickens – and maybe knit them a little scarf if you live in the Arctic (only kidding!).
Summary:
The Naked Neck chicken may draw stares for its bizarre appearance, but now you know the bare facts – it’s an all-around amazing breed.
From their Transylvanian roots to their heat tolerance and gentle nature, Naked Necks (Turkens) are a case of “don’t judge a book by its cover.”
They offer a great mix of egg laying, meat production, and pet-like friendliness, making them a superb choice for many flock owners.
Hardy, productive, and downright lovable, these chickens with no neck feathers prove that beauty is more than skin (or feather) deep.
If you’re looking to add an unusual yet useful chicken to your coop, the Naked Neck might be the perfect fit. Give them a chance, and you might find yourself the proud owner of some of the most fascinating chickens around!
