About the Breeds

Coming Spring 2026

Who knew turkeys and chickens could interbreed? This bird looks like a turkey due to its "naked neck", but it's all chicken! It was bred this way to be easier for cooks to pluck. Strangely, Turkens are said to fare very well in the cold despite their feather shortcomings and big combs (though these features do help them in the heat). They have an unusual look that some people don't care for, but they are also calm, very friendly and one of the easiest chickens to tame. Relatively rare in North America, Naked Necks are very popular in Europe, especially France and Germany.

Origins/History:

Class: All Other Breeds

Type: Large Fowl & Bantam

Size: Medium (6-7 lbs)

Rarity: Common

Purpose: Dual

Recognized Varieties: Black, White, Buff, Red

Egg Facts:

Egg Laying: Fair (2/wk)

Egg Color: Light Brown

Egg Size: Medium

Fancy Features:

Comb Type: Single Comb

Crested: No

Feathered Legs: No

Number of Toes: 4

Suitability to Backyard Life:

Cold Hardiness: Hardy in winter

Heat Tolerance: Not especially heat hardy

Bears Confinement: Bears confinement well

Especially Docile: Yes

Setter/Broody: Yes

Personality: Easygoing and easily tamed

Source: MyPetChicken.com

Of all the ornamental chicken breeds, the Silkie Bantam is one of the most popular and beloved, and certainly one of the most entertaining to watch. Can't you tell why? They're the lap kitty of the chicken world, complete with hair-like plumage and an incredibly sweet temperament. We have heard it said that Silkies are like a "flock" of kittens... but unlike your other pets, your chickens can actually provide your breakfast! Silkies originated in the Far East, where they are still kept (and eaten) today. They have black skin and bones and 5 toes instead of the normal 4. In addition, Silkie hens make wonderful brooders and mothers, and are even known to adopt baby ducks if given the chance!

Origins/History:

Class: Feather-legged Bantam
Type: Bantam
Size: Bantam
Rarity: Common
Purpose: Ornamental
Recognized Varieties: Bearded & Non-Bearded: Black, White, Partridge, Buff, Gray, Blue

Egg Facts:

Egg Laying: Good (3/wk)
Egg Color: Cream or Tinted
Egg Size: Small

Fancy Features:

Comb Type: Walnut Comb
Crested: Yes
Feathered Legs: Yes
Number of Toes: 5

Suitability to Backyard Life:

Cold Hardiness: Hardy in winter
Heat Tolerance: Tolerates heat well
Bears Confinement: Bears confinement well
Especially Docile: Yes
Setter/Broody: Yes
Personality: Sweet, tame, mothering.

Source: MyPetChicken.com

At Twin Oaks Farm we offer splash, blue, paint, and black silkies and frizzled paint or black silkies.

Because Coturnix quail are a non-native species of game bird and not classed as farm poultry like chickens, there are few regulations about keeping them in an urban environment. Quail actually enjoy being in small enclosed spaces together. Unlike backyard chickens, you don’t need any outdoor space, although if you do have a yard, that’s great too. 

Temperament and Behavior

Quail are shy ground-dwelling birds. Coturnix that are hand-raised from a young age can be easily tamed with regular gentle handling. 

The docile nature of the Coturnix also makes them suitable for a beginner. They are relatively tolerant of human handling, quick to mature and have few needs above water, food, shelter, and security. If you tame your chicks, they even learn to enjoy human contact and the receiving of treats.

There is no predisposition to broodiness in Coturnix quail, in fact, they make terrible parents and the best way to breed the birds is by incubating their eggs. Alternatively, give them to another bird, such as a silkie chicken or a pheasant to brood.

Quail have something of a reputation when it comes to being aggressive towards their flockmates. Certain situations make this problem far more likely and the birds will fight to the death under certain circumstances. Young males attack each other and shouldn’t be kept together. It’s best to keep a minimum of four females to one male. In established flocks, there are only occasional spats, but be careful when introducing new birds into a flock, as quail are quite territorial and this can cause problems.

Quail Breed Specifics and Traits

Uses – Coturnix quail are dual-purpose birds suitable for both egg and meat production. The Jumbo variety, being larger, is often preferred for meat production. 

Weight – Jumbo = 10 to 16 ounces.

Lifespan – It is common practice to raise a meat bird only until they reach maturity at 8 weeks of age and dispatch them then. Otherwise, they are only kept for a maximum of one year. Egg-laying hens are usually kept for a maximum of two years, as quail egg production and viability reduce with age.  

At Twin Oaks Farm we carry jumbo brown Coturnix Quail.

Source: HeritageAcresMarket.com

All domesticated turkeys descend from wild turkeys indigenous to North and South America. They are the quintessential American poultry. For centuries people have raised turkeys for food and for the joy of having them.

Many different varieties have been developed to fit different purposes. Turkeys were selected for productivity and for specific color patterns to show off the bird’s beauty. The American Poultry Association (APA) lists eight varieties of turkeys in its Standard of Perfection. Most were accepted into the Standard in the last half of the 19th century, with a few more recent additions. They are Black, Bronze, Narragansett, White Holland, Slate, Bourbon Red, Beltsville Small White, and Royal Palm. The Livestock Conservancy also recognizes other naturally mating color varieties that have not been accepted into the APA Standard, such as the Jersey Buff, Midget White, and others. All of these varieties are Heritage Turkeys.  

Source: LivestockConservancy.org

At Twin Oaks Farm we carry Narragansett and Royal Palm varieties.

Royal Palm Turkey

Personality: Active, but males tend to be less aggressive than other turkey varieties. 

Lifespan: 12 years

Weight: Hens (10-12 lb) Toms (16-22 lb)

Time to Maturity: 36 weeks

Uses: ornamental

Egg Production: 100 per year

Egg size: Large

Egg Color: Cream with brown spots

Known For Broodiness: Yes

Good With Children: Yes

Origins: Florida

Feather Colors: Royal Palm are white with a sharply contrasting, metallic black edging on the feathers.

Narragansett Turkey

Personality: Excellent temperament although males can become aggressive.

Lifespan: 7-10 years

Weight: Hens (12-15 lb) Toms (22-28 lb)

Time to Maturity: 28 weeks
Uses: egg & meat

Egg Production: 50-100 per year

Egg size: Large

Egg Color: Cream with brown spots

Known For Broodiness: Yes

Good With Children: Hens most likely better than Toms

Origins: Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island

Feather Colors: Narragansett are related to wild turkeys and have black, gray, tan, and white colors in their feathers.

Available 2026

Available 2026

Available 2026