🐔 Meet the Turken: The Naked Neck Chicken That Turns Heads

If you’ve ever spotted a chicken that looks like it’s part turkey, you’re not seeing things. Meet the Turken, also known as the Naked Neck — a unique and surprisingly practical breed that’s gaining popularity among backyard chicken keepers and regenerative farmers alike. I first got Turkens as part of an all purpose layer pack from a hatchery. I had never seen a Turken before a worried that there was something wrong with my chicks. Maybe they had pecked each other in transit? So of course I immediately googled chicks missing feathers on their necks and found that nothing was wrong at all. I just had Turkens. Upon learning this fact I was not particularly happy. These unusual (kind of ugly) looking birds were not what I was hoping for. I was so wrong! I ended up falling in love with these gals and have intentionally ordered more Turkens since then. What I also learned is that the naked neck gene is dominant so if a naked neck chicken is bred to a regular rooster the chicks will all have naked necks. I kind of love that. So lets jump in and talk about Turkens!

🧬 What Is a Turken?

Despite the name, Turkens are 100% chicken — no turkey genes involved! The “naked neck” trait is the result of a natural genetic mutation. It gives them a featherless neck and sparse feathering elsewhere on their body, making them instantly recognizable.

🌞 Why They’re Awesome

1. Heat Tolerance Thanks to their exposed necks and lighter feathering, Turkens are exceptionally heat-tolerant, making them ideal for warm climates or hot summers.

2. Dual-Purpose Birds Turkens are excellent dual-purpose birds, meaning they’re valued for both egg production and meat quality. They lay a good number of brown eggs and grow into a decent table bird.

3. Easy to Pluck If you're raising chickens for meat, Turkens are a favorite among homesteaders because their sparse feathers make them easier to pluck at processing time.

4. Friendly and Hardy Turkens are generally docile, curious, and hardy, with good resistance to disease. They do well in both confinement and free-range systems and adapt easily to mixed flocks.

❄️ Cold Weather Considerations

While they’re stars in the heat, their exposed skin means they need a bit of extra TLC in cold weather — draft-free coops, deep bedding, and sometimes even petroleum jelly on their necks and combs to prevent frostbite in extreme temperatures. Chicken sweaters and neck warmers are also a cute way to keep them warm in the cold.

🥚 Egg Production

• Egg Color: Light to medium brown

• Egg Size: Medium to large

• Laying Rate: About 3–5 eggs per week

Not the most prolific layers, but consistent and reliable — and they often keep laying when other breeds slow down. Mine have always laid one large size egg a day unless broody or injured. They do not usually go broody but I have found that a few will. If they do, they make wonderful mothers!

👀 Love ‘Em or Leave ‘Em

Let’s be honest: Turkens aren’t winning any beauty contests. Their “naked” look tends to be divisive — some find it endearing, others... not so much. But what they lack in fluff, they make up for in personality, performance, and practicality. For me its Love 'em all the way! I have even come to think they're pretty cute!

Turken Chick at 3 days old

🐥 In Summary

The Turken/Naked Neck is a one-of-a-kind chicken breed that offers great utility for small farms, homesteads, and backyard flocks. They're heat-hardy, productive, and easy-going — a little weird, a lot wonderful. If you're looking to add a low-maintenance, high-functioning bird with a whole lot of character, the Turken might just be the perfect addition to your coop.