The Scots Dumpy - Page 3

I don't live far from Cooperstown.  Would love to see your birds sometime, or maybe you are showing in the area?  Are you getting the Scotts Grey also?  My family is also from Scotland.

Happy Country Hens

A polite question:  Has anyone determined if the Scots dumpy actually exists in America?  Not just hearsay, but has someone on BYC personally laid eyes on one in the United States?

I see them every day in my barn which last time I checked was in the US.

Haven't found a source for Scots Greys. I expect to bring some to Cobleskill &/or Syracuse this fall if they are developed enough. Having not had them before I'm not sure about their growth rate. Where are you from?

Also... to the person having issues with the Dorkings, have you thought about Caponizing them? I think we'll start caponizing all our extra cockerels next spring to make them even more marketable as meat birds. Caponize the cockerels, and talk to your local feed stores about buying orders of pullets from you. We did this this year and it's been a complete feeding frenzy. Every time we go in with chicks the response is always the same "more, we need more!" this is with our Dominiques. If you advertised them as a good heritage meet bird, I think you could do the same!

The gene is only fatal if short is crossed with short (50 % short, 25% long, 25% dead in shell.) If short is crossed with long, you get a 50/50 split between short and long with no fatalities (at least not due to the mutation.)

These were only saved in the '70's by enthusiasts and dedicated breeders. Like many worthy breeds that neared extinction (Chanteclers and Crevecoeurs come to mind), much had to due to passing fancies, impact of wars (on Crevecoeurs), the homogenizing poultry industry.  Arkansas is the at the heart of the chicken industry and you I guarantee you find very few non-production chickens around, even in backyard flocks. My granmother raised RIR and Dominques, but you don't see these anymore, even in the country.  My nephews raise chickens for 4-H, but the ONLY breed available to them to "order" is Cinnamon Queens. 

I laud all of you on this list that work to keep all of these heritage breeds alive!

On a less serious note, I find the dumpies adorable.  Of course, I love Bassetts and Corgis, so of course I would love a short-legged chicken.    Placed an order to Sand Hill and hope my order will be filled this year (sold out until 24Jul, with only 2 remaining hatches, so not definite.) 

I have Dumpies in eastern Ohio. Stock came from Glen at Sandhill in 2011. They are hardy birds and lay fairly well. Hope to set up breeding groups in the near future and plan to use non lethal pairs or trios. Have to wait till breeding pens are open as right now there are Welsumers and Icelandics in them. The hatches for the Welsummers and Icelandics are going well and the first batch  of Minature White turkeys should hatch this weekend. I love spring hatching time!!    Ohioann

Would LOVE to see pictures, OhioAnn!!!