Heritage White Dorking Thread

[Yellow House Farm]

Greetings! This thread is being established to create a space specifically for the White Dorking. It is an excellent and ancient variety of a wonderful breed. The Dorking is among the very first breeds that truly served a dual-purpose function, and throughout its history, it has been especially acclaimed for the quality of its flesh. The White Dorking combines the advantages of high quality meat with the easy to finish carcass of a white bird.

In The Poultry Yard by William Charles Linnaeus Martin published in 1893 it states: "The rose-combed white Dorking is the Dorking of the old fanciers. B. P. Brent says, 'the old Dorking, the pure Dorking, the only Dorking is the white Dorking'". In light of the more than 120 years since the publishing of this book, much has come to pass in Dorking history, and this statement is no longer a realistic pronouncement. Nevertheless, it does hint at the kind of primacy and authenticity that surrounded the White variety of the Dorking when the other varieties were being drawn out of it by crosses in the 1800's.

I hope that this thread will flush out any other breeders working with the fine variety and, perhaps, inspire others to begin their own journey as a breeder and fancier of the White Dorking.

 

[Yellow House Farm]

Some pics of White Dorking cockerels and pullets in early November 2013. The pullets are set to be gone over tomorrow. The cockerels will wait until after the Ohio National.

 

[Yellow House Farm]

Setting up our last run of pullets for selection. It's been exciting to go over pullets this season. There are some really strong candidates. Here are some early morning shots of the set up.

 

[colburg]

YHF, looking forward to learning more about the White Dorkings. They were a 2nd choice to the White Rocks we chose. Maybe someday.

Cheers,

 

[Extra Java]

Good idea to begin this thread...It's about focus!

Your hard work and dedication is evident in your birds Yellow House Farm. Just look at the depth of body and width of the breasts.

Are they tender?! YES! Dorkings are and we are having one as a "dinner guest" tonight. My hope is that the other colors can be brought up to this level as well.
What a wonderful mentor you are and a great place to learn about the Dorking.

Dedication and perseverance. I hope more will join in.
I often wonder why the importers of rare breeds don't make some effort in importing other Dorking colors so they can be brought up to this level in the US.

Fabulous birds Yellow House! The whites in particular leave behind such a beautiful carcass for the table. Your photos speak volumes.

 

[Yellow House Farm]

YHF, looking forward to learning more about the White Dorkings. They were a 2nd choice to the White Rocks we chose. Maybe someday.

Cheers,

White Rocks are an awesome choice. I'm sure they'll be great for you, and I'm sure you'll be great for them!

 

[Yellow House Farm]

Good idea to begin this thread...It's about focus!

Your hard work and dedication is evident in your birds Yellow House Farm. Just look at the depth of body and width of the breasts.

Are they tender?! YES! Dorkings are and we are having one as a "dinner guest" tonight. My hope is that the other colors can be brought up to this level as well.
What a wonderful mentor you are and a great place to learn about the Dorking.

Dedication and perseverance. I hope more will join in.
I often wonder why the importers of rare breeds don't make some effort in importing other Dorking colors so they can be brought up to this level in the US.

Fabulous birds Yellow House! The whites in particular leave behind such a beautiful carcass for the table. Your photos speak volumes.

Thank you, Extra Java, I've been enjoying posting pics and speaking about the White Dorkings, but I did not want to monopolize the Heritage Large Fowl Thread, which is such a strong conversation thread.

Bon Appetit! I hope your Dorking Dinner is absolutely delicious.

The white plumage is really nice to dress out in concert with the white skin. It's a beautiful dressed bird, and the meat is a real treat.

I think several people are getting ready to take them on. I hope that some of them mature into strong breeders that advance the White Dorking in a powerful way.

 

[Yellow House Farm]

Speaking of White Dorking Breeders.......

An enormous round of applause needs to go to Jeremy Woeppel of XW Poultry Ranch for his success at the Nebraska State Fair. He took Reserve CHampion English with a White Dorking. Moreover, he has a photo in the Poultry Press on page 40. Excellent! I wonder what the last time was that there was a White Dorking in the Poultry Press--a little bit of break-through chicken history right there!

 

[Jwhip]

Thanks. Now it is your turn to get a photo in the press.

 

[Yellow House Farm]

Thanks. Now it is your turn to get a photo in the press.

I'm working on it, but it's going to take some doing to beat the killer Australorps in New England.