A naked neck chicken named Timmy who was found with a wounded wing and a swollen eye last month has recovered and was adopted today in Burlingame, a Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA spokesman said.
Timmy was found in East Palo Alto on Oct. 7 by a resident who called the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA to get help with what the person thought was a quail, shelter spokesman Scott Delucchi said.
Staff members weren't sure what it was either and decided to settle on calling it a turken.
Timmy, who is about 2 months old and 10 inches tall, is actually a type of chicken called a naked neck or Transylvania naked neck. They are common in Europe, but they are rare in North America.
Timmy's feathers are a multitude of colors, including brown, black and gold. The chicken doesn't have feathers on its neck or chest, which is reportedly normal, Delucchi said.
While Timmy was first thought to be a male, now those caring for Timmy are thinking it may be a female.
"There are dog people out there and cat people, and we are hoping there is a turken person," Delucchi said this morning. "People are definitely interested. All we need is one."
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It turns out there was one.
Shortly after the shelter opened, a Brisbane hen owner adopted Timmy from the Tom and Annette Lantos Center for Compassion at 1450 Rollins Road.
"She believes Timmy is Tammy based on the feathers," Delucchi said. "If Timmy is Timmy she will find a farm for him." Most cities don't allow roosters.
Timmy's new owner is part of a tight community of hen owners who share eggs, according to Delucchi. Within a couple months, its owner should know if the naked neck will be contributing to the egg exchange or finding new digs on a farm.
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