I understand that Buckeye won't be perfect for every person or situation. But they are TRULY exceptional birds for so many reasons. I just think they should be routinely included in the list. Also, I believe the sad reality is, the birds are rare enough that few have had experience with quality...
I'm amazed that in this thread no one has mentioned Buckeye. I've maintained a breeding flock for over 10 years and love them. Calm, friendly, good broodies, beautiful carcasses (male and female), fair to good egg layers of medium/large brown eggs, heat tolerant, super cold hardy, good foragers...
That's what I do, too. My luck in having the hens stay in the new location is pretty spotty. I've even tried restraining them with a laundry basket or milk crate for 12 or 24 hours after the move and they still won't sit. Sometimes they even go back to their original choice of a nest when I...
Karen,
Thank you for the suggestion. I'm lucky in that I have an avian veterinarian at my beck and call (husband). We have given some nutritional support and the chick is somewhat stronger today, though far from normal. It's hard to know how much intervention is appropriate if the ultimate goal...
Of the 6 Dorking embryos that made it to day 18, only one hatched. One even zipped completely and died without emerging. The surviving Dorking is extremely weak, and I'm doubtful it will make it. From the same incubation, 8 of 9 mixed-breed chicks hatched successfully and are thriving. Don't...
Thanks for the suggestions. However, she's given up altogether. You've mentioned before using broodies extensively to hatch and brood. Have you had luck moving Dorkings that are broody? Or do you have a setup that allows isolation where they decide to set in the first place?
Mary
My broody would not settle in a new location. She's back with the flock and only half hearted in her setting. My injured rooster got his stitches out today and should be ready for graduated return to normal activity in a week or so. Of the 22 eggs, only 6 are developing, but if they hatch and...
My Michigan contact was able to provide 22 hatching eggs, set on August 1st in the incubator. Now one of my hens is breathtakingly broody! I can hear her shrieking at the other hens from a hundred yards away. She makes me think of an overdone bride, draping her wedding dress over the entire nest...
White Dorking Enthusiasts,
I've been following the Dorking and Heritage threads for a couple years, but am not much of a poster. Since the number of White Dorking flocks appears to be so limited, I thought it was important to become more visible. I'm in Michigan and obtained a small number of...