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MacCana, sorry for your mutt dorkings. How frustrating. I wouldn't cull down to just one of those cockerels. I'd save both of them and if they are equal, use both. Extra cockerels are not a bad thing. I do not know what quality Dick Horstmann's SGs have. I can tell you that his Reds...

I got Reds from Dick Horstmann. They are growing out nicely and are a very consistent lot. I've not culled a single one for toes and so far all the combs on cockerels look decent at worst, altho too soon to really tell. I'm afraid my problem when its time to cull is going to be one of...

I was thinking about this some more. I think one of the battles with poultry is that they aren't used. They don't have a job. When they had a job at the height of their usefulness, the breeds were not in bad shape. No one 'needs' their chickens in the same way. If they do they have gone to...

This is a very interesting discussion. I think one of the things that is hard for newcomers to wrap their head around is that breeding is for the patient. Our culture no longer values those things which require patience. Now its about moving on to the next interesting thing. Breeding...

The cockerel might not be pure evil. It might just be hormones and time to separate the boys and girls or it might be that he needs some meat. Hamburger or cooked liver are my go to meats when I have chicks or young stock that are feather picking. Life got in the way of paying attention to my...

Its clearly growing and clearly a defect. I'd take a picture but this gosling is especially enamored of my phone. Pretty sure its something I don't have the ability to deal with myself, so a vet it is.

My tufted roman gosling has a feather growing from her upper inner eye lid. Great...how do I deal with that? Is this the geese equivalent to an ingrown eye lash? It looks a problem to just pluck because its fairly large and causing inflammation to the inner eye lid.

When ever I see pics of many british breeds they seem overly 'fluffy'. I have not seen that particular article or photos. The UK standard is different. They also seem to like to breed birds fluffy as their interpretation of the standard. TheDragonLady used UK orps to stunning success with her...

Absolutely maintaining multiple cock birds requires good infrastructure. I've gotten away with a few things in the past with the dorkings only. When I throw them all back together after the breeding season, there are scuffles, but they work it out with little bloodshed as long as there is lots...

Walt, I hope you stop by the new thread. It would be great to have more APA people involved. Some of us are trying to make up for lost time and would like the additional voices. It adds balance. It might also suck in new people that might turn out to be committed breeders and exhibitors...

I don't have a hatred of corn. In fact I love the stuff, but can't eat it. Anyway, I think its great fed to the birds on a cold night. But I don't like the origins of much of the corn that is available to me as livestock feed. I don't think the chemical residues are any better for the birds...

I hope your ration is an improvement for you. Testing will help you work out the kinks. Let us know when you feel that you've gotten it down. I'm always interested! I know you've been frustrated with your hatchability. Its sounds like you have a plan when the weather cools. Hopefully...

Can you tell me a bit about this breeding? What are you trying to accomplish? Is the cock bird the sire of these hens? Where did your stock originate? Do you have a back up cockerel or cock bird to do side matings with? Jennifer

bmvf, that was great information. Its easy to get hay tested. We do it every year. The feed companies are eager for your business because they want you to use one of their products to balance your hay for the horse. There are also independent companies testing hay and silage. Darn hard to...

There is a move to import stock from england. I'm neither for or against actually. Some days I'm one way, some days I'm another. Mostly I think I don't know enough to have an opinion. I know that english stock is bred to a larger standard than US stock. I've crossed a Red to SG hens in the...

carcass weight is going to be a goal. Once a upon a time, these birds were the pinnacle of a good roaster. Modern genetics has created faster growing birds, but I think it can be argued that they don't taste better. I also think it can be efficient to grow them out with proper management of...

I'm excited to see this new thread. Thanks for starting it. My chicks from Dick Horstman should arrive next week. Then I need to be patient and wait for them to grow out to see what I have and where I'm starting. I think a standard bred bird should have utility. I think its what those...

You could run some guinea hens and some Sumatra chickens. Yes, you'll hear the rooster in the morning, but unless there is a threat, not much at other times of day. I've not had Sumatras but those that do, say that if allowed they basically go feral. You might not find many eggs to eat, but...

I've been running in and out all day. Get started and then the skies open up and I stop for a bit. Anyway back to the purpose of this thread. Part of helping people find stock, is often helping them figure out what they want to do and narrowing the choices for them. This takes some...

Thanks Walt. That was kind of my point, imported, story, not much to look at. Fad market. I haven't quite figured out how to go about it, but I'm going to figure out a way to start getting Dorkings in front of people who want gourmet meat. Marketing can be many things. Social media has...