Houdans - Page 19

Yes, I would definitely use the white rose comb Dorkings from Yellow House Farms. It's the only flock of Dorkings I know of off the top of my head that is being utilized for production purposes in an actual working farm environment, and they seem to be doing well for them. Nice large birds, beautiful shape. I know a few with Silver Gray Dorkings that have had serious hardiness and reproductive issues. That is something I want to steer clear of!

I am intimidated by the prospect of regaining that beautiful three part leaf comb. I don't know how one would best go about it. Would single combs be better to mix in, or the rose combs? All things considered, the comb is low on my priority list, but it is something to think about. It would kind of be crappy to work for years and finally get a bird you really like and only want to continue dialing in, and all of a sudden have to bring in a total wild card to get the comb. Better to just knock it all out at once. Right? LOL

             If I were starting again there'd be a Dorking infused group as well as the pures, as long as progress was being made. Even imperfect Dorkings could impart some of that long, low and horizontal aspect as well as a deeper, fuller, rounder breast. Also a lot better idea of where and how the legs are placed compared to degenerative and/or Polish infused stock.  Here's another thing about Dorkings. They will not ruin the texture, grain and overall quality of a Houdan carcass. If serious about breeding Houdans for what they used to and hopefully could be carcass quality is the reason why they were a great meal. I've never eaten a Polish but besides the horrendous effect on overall type and impression what is a Polish going to contribute to that carcass on the table? Silver gray Dorkings are actually not such a bad choice. The silver doesn't tend to be hiding other colors. Dig underneath a white and you may find a whole rainbow of colors including those from the various red families. All the Dorkings will give you pretty much the same set of positive and negative issues but red can be a bugger to work out of a color variety where it isn't wanted.

     I have seen the leaf comb pop up as something of a surprise. I am guessing not very well developed as the impression was of something small and shriveled but it was leaf. I've no idea how to make it appear though or how to foster it once we have it.
 

Greetings!  If I were to do it.  I'd do a couple of breedings using two or more Dorkings such that there were unrelated progeny.  I'd cull any without a muff.  Then I'd cross F1 to F1, i.e. crosses on crosses.  From this it would take hatching a ton and culling heavy, but you'd get the best chicks.  This way you have the genetics for Houdan traits and the Dorking size and shape on both sides of the breeding.  From these matings you should be able to pull some pretty good Houdans.  It would take a few seasons to add some finesse, but I bet they'd be the best Houdans available.  It would produce both mottled and white.  It would take hatching hundreds of chicks, but one would end up with good mottleds and good whites.  Inspection for crests, nostrils, muffs and color could be done at the incubator door.