Dorkings.

[Hennypen]

I thought Dorkings only came in silver and red. What's the scoop on these dorkings?

http://cgi.ebay.com/12-RARE-ASSORTED-DORKING-HATCHING-EGGS-/330458046027?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0

 

[blackdotte]

Dorkings come in Silver Grey, Red, Dark (Colored in the US), White & Cuckoo. Some must be single comb, others only rose comb.
The birds shown are not Dorkings in my opinion. Google 'Dorking chicken club'

 

[Hennypen]

Well, I don't know... I was surfing and came across the same picture again from what sounds like a reputable dorking breeder. (scroll down and look at the ovabid ad)

http://www.blackdiamondguestranch.com/index-3chicken.html found link from this older dorking forum: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=118388&p=3

 

[birdsNbeesNseeds]

Want some information on Dorkings? Well, I have you covered!!!

As usual, Europe is far ahead on this breed in availability, it is almost dead here in the states. Not even sure how available it is anywhere anymore.

Most of the links here are for information purposes.

http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/Clubs/Dork/DorkHome.html (Unfortunately the club is no longer active)

http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/CGD/Dorks/BRKDorks.html

http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/SPPA/OldBreeds.html

http://www.albc-usa.org/cpl/wtchlist.html

http://dorkingbreedersclub.webs.com/ (unfortunately not very active but has some good info)

What a dorking should look like in form:


http://dorking.monsite-orange.fr/page6/index.html

Hope this helps!

 

[Hennypen]

Why isn't it doing well in the US? lack of interest in the breed or ???

 

[birdsNbeesNseeds]

Quote:
Unfortunately, I can't really answer that because I LOVE them.

I imagine that as people became less interested in farming in the 20th century the people that still had chickens wanted the new and shiny breeds and old ones started to die away.

 

[BlackBart]

I like my Silver Grey Dorkings. I got them from a private breeder who has been breeding them for years and has several different lines. Mine go broody but they make the best mothers.
They are friendly, like to free range and sun bathe.
http://www.qllc.ca

 

[Yellow House Farm]

Dorkings are excellent. Their meat quality is certainly one of the very best, truly elite among heritage fowl. They made quite a showing at the ALBC taste test, taking 1st place in both judgings.

The Dorking cock in the original photo of this thread is a RC Colored cock. Dorkings come in several color patterns, even several that are not in the Standard. Then again the Dorking is about 2000 years older than the Standard of Perfection.

It's hard to say exactly how each breed was eclipsed along the path of the industrialization of our food. However, beginning in the early/ mid 1800's through the 1950's every decade had its new rising star that eclipsed the steadfast fowl which had fed us for centuries. There's the rise of the Plymouth Rock, then the Wyandotte, the Orpington, the RI Red. Then the NH, the Australorp and finally the Delaware. Then...nothing. At this point industry shifts to hybrids as the rule and we end up today hearing Obe Wan Kenobe, "...more machine now than [chicken]--twisted and evil."

Nevertheless, yes, the Dorking is still alive and kicking!

 

[gootziecat]

I ask this question in all sincerity. Most pictures of Dorkings that I've seen they are rather squatty, almost dumpy looking, with short legs. But I note the photo from eBay (see HennyPen's site reference) and perhaps the photo on Yellow House Farm, the birds (esp. the roos) look elegant, not squatty. Is it a difference in strains? Or is it simply the photo itself causing an illusion?

 

[Yellow House Farm]

THANK YOU!! Well, the Dorking in HP's photo is of poor quality. Our stock is of better quality, yet I would not yet call it good. It's on it's way. Well bred Dorkings are exteremely elegant.

We must rememebr though that, whereas each year is a chicken generation, when we sya that heritage fowl have been neglected for decades, we are actually saying that heritage fowl have been neglected for tens of generations.

However, a little dedication can do A LOT to reverse the neglect. It is beginning to be visible in our stock. Our meat customers are starting to comment on the transformation that they're seeing. It's awesome. There's still a long way to go, but we'll get there.

ALL of our heritage fowl can be saved. All they need is dedication and a breeder willing to do the necessary!! The HP cok bird could be the beginning of something beautiful if its owner begins to breed tightly.