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If you enter the query “hybrid turkey and chicken” into the search service, the search engine will surely return photos of chickens with a bare red neck, similar to the neck of an angry turkey. In fact, the photo is not a hybrid. This is a bare-necked breed of chickens that appeared as a result of a mutation.
It is believed that the breed comes from Transylvania. But this opinion is debatable, since they have just begun to spread across Europe from Romania and Hungary. In these countries they were called Semigrad golosheyki. Spain, more precisely, Andalusia, also claims the authorship of the breed. Bare-necked Transylvanian (Spanish) chickens are especially common in Germany and France. France has already bred its own breed, which is not related to Transylvanian bare-necked chickens. At the same time, holococks are very rare in England and unknown in the USA.
The name is formed from the compilation of the names of parental species traditional for hybrids. It took root due to confusion when genetic research was not yet developed and it was believed that the bare-necked chicken was a hybrid of a turkey and a chicken. In fact, the North American turkey does not cross with any of the pheasant species, and the bare-necked chicken is a purebred bird belonging to the Banking chicken species.
Although not found in the US, the American Poultry Association recognized it in 1965. In the UK, the first bare-necked chicken was shown in 1920. On the territory of the CIS, the Transylvanian (or Spanish) version of bare-necked chickens is bred.
In the photo, bare-necked roosters. On the left is a Spanish hollow neck, on the right is a French hollow neck.
Compared to the French version, Spanish chickens are more like a turkey in an angry state.
Description of the naked breed of chickens
Large chicken meat and egg direction. The average weight of a rooster is 3,9 kg, chicken – 3 kg. Egg productivity is low. Chickens lay no more than 160 eggs per year. The eggs are large, weighing 55-60 g. The eggshell can be white or beige. Due to the small number of eggs, it is not profitable to breed bald necks only as an egg breed. But bare-necked hens reach the age of egg-laying already at 5,5-6 months, so culled hens and unnecessary roosters can be used as broilers. By 4 months, hens reach a weight of more than 2 kg, which is not a bad result for a non-specialized breed, although broilers grow faster.
The main difference between this breed and other chickens – the naked neck – is caused by a dominant mutation, which is why bare-necked chickens are born when crossed with ordinary chickens. Moreover, the bare neck of the chickens from the moment they hatch from the egg. The absence of fluff and feathers on the necks of chickens is caused by the underdevelopment of feather follicles.
Heterozygous bare-necked hens have average feathering rates between normal and bare-necked hens.
The homozygous neck has not only a completely naked neck, but also non-feathered areas under the wings: apteria. There are small bare patches on the shins as well. In general, chickens of this breed have only half the feathers of the norm.
In fact, the birds are all right, this is their normal appearance. But it is precisely because of this specific appearance that the golonecks are not popular with farmers.
Breed Standard
The head is small and wide. The comb is acceptable both leaf-shaped and rose-shaped. On a leaf-shaped comb, the teeth should be “cut out” in the same shape. The front part of the crest slightly creeps over the beak. The back of the head and crown are covered with feathers. The face is red. Earrings and earlobes are red. Bare-necked chickens have orange-red eyes. The beak may be yellow or dark, slightly curved.
The skin on the neck is rough, often with “bulbs” similar to those found on the neck of a turkey. The neck is completely devoid of feathers up to the goiter.
The body is elongated. The chest is rounded, with well-developed muscles. The back is straight. The topline seems to be gently curved due to the low, high set tail.
The tail tufts are wide, but short and barely cover the tail feathers. A variant with long, but rare braids is possible. The wings are slightly down. Legs are short and strong. In “colored” bare-necked chickens, the metatarsus is yellow-orange or gray in color. Exception: white body color. In this case, the metatarsus may be white.
The colors of bare-necked chickens are quite diverse. The UK standard allows white, black, red, cuckoo and lavender colors. In the USA, only 4 varieties are allowed: black, white, red and red. At the same time, Transylvanian bare-necked chickens have not received distribution in these countries.
The vices of the standard
In most cases, these signs indicate an unclean chicken:
- white earrings;
- dark eyes;
- black face;
- feathered neck and inner part of the lower leg;
- graceful body;
- yellow skin on exposed areas.
Since the Na gene is dominant, a bare neck can occur in crossbreeds of bare-necked chickens with ordinary ones. But in the case of a crossbred bird, any of the signs will definitely break out of the breed standard.
Pros of the breed
Although the egg characteristics of these chickens are low, only 2 eggs per week, they are kept as a gene pool for breeding other breeds, including broilers. Oddly enough, but bare-necked Transylvanian chickens are not afraid of cold weather, and heat is their element.
Studies have shown that the bare neck gene in homozygous non-broiler chickens reduces heat stress and improves breast size. In hot countries, the Na gene is specifically introduced into broiler strains, as it contributes to the increase in broiler chicken weight, lower body temperature, and improves feed conversion and carcass quality compared to conventional well-feathered broilers.
Hollow necks are well carried even at low air temperatures. True, at 1-4 ° C, egg production decreases, and at sub-zero temperatures in the chicken coop, they completely stop laying eggs. The optimum temperature in the chicken coop in winter is 12-14 ° C.
Hollow necks have a calm character, easily getting along with other chickens. Due to the peculiarities of the plumage, the carcass of the neck is easier to pluck than any other chicken. You can also get meat from them, in quality close to turkey.
Cons of the breed
The disadvantages include the unpresentable appearance of birds. Because of the appearance, not many farmers dare to have Transylvanian bald necks.
The second disadvantage can be called a poorly developed maternal instinct. The hollow neck can even make a nest, lay eggs and sit on them. And then suddenly “forget” about the nest. For this reason, it is better to hatch chickens in the incubator way or lay eggs under other hens.
The productivity of roosters is average, so it can not be attributed to either pluses or minuses.
The diet of adult calves and chickens
Problems with what to feed bare-necked chickens are not worth it. Hollow necks are unpretentious to feed. Their diet includes the same components as the diet of ordinary chickens: grain, grass, root crops, animal proteins, fodder chalk or shells. The only difference is that in cold climates in winter, holocausts need energy feed. In case of frost, the golosheyka increases the proportion of grain and animal feed in the diet. A good solution would be to feed the Transylvanians with a balanced feed containing all the necessary elements. In this case, in winter, you can slightly increase the rate.
Like any laying hen, an obese calf will stop laying eggs.
Chickens are grown either on starter feeds, or do-it-yourself food is made for them. In the latter case, animal proteins and fish oil must be included in the diet of a bare-necked chicken to prevent rickets. Wet mixes include grated carrots, beets, finely chopped vegetable tops or grass.
Reviews of owners of bare-necked breed of chickens
Conclusion
The bare-necked Transylvanian breed cannot be widely distributed because of its appearance. Although in other respects it is a good meat and egg chicken, almost ideal for breeding in a private compound. A special advantage of the breed is the high survival rate of chickens. Connoisseurs highly value chickens of this breed and believe that over time, bare-necked Transylvanians will take their rightful place in poultry yards.