B.Y.C. Dorking Club!

[ki4got]

ok and another thought just occurred to me...

I'm trying to come up with a breeding plan, and have a couple things bouncing around in my head, but I wonder what others do? I'm planning on having 2-3 colors, so don't want to just toss them all together. what I'm looking for, is how many birds do you have, set up in trio? quad? large group with multiple roos? and how do you plan for future breedings, or do you? not selection of the birds themselves, but do you worry about inbreeding much? and if you're continually selecting for the best birds, do you continue breeding older birds that were good or send them to the cull pen?

I've seen a number of systems explained, and would like to do a system similar to bob blosl's (google "blosl heritage rock" if you're not familiar with what he's described), but at the same time want it as uncomplicated as possible.

I'm just trying to plan what i need to build for breeding sheds/runs, as right now i don't have anything formally arranged. I know what i'd LIKE, but that's totally different from what I'm likely to GET. LOL



maybe i'll win the lotto. LOL

 

[neopolitancrazy]

Ok, my "breeding plan" is pretty simple, really. I plan to have the only roosters on my farm be roosters of my chosen breed, with hens in my breed plus whatever other breeds appeal to my husband (and lay different colored eggs!). I then plan to place wire over one 12x12 stall area in the barn and place one trio/quad/breeding group inside, while the other group free-ranges with the laying hens. (part way through the year I will switch the penned group with the free-range group.) I will only incubate or allow broody hens to set on the "chosen" colored eggs, theoretically ensuring purebred hatching chicks. Each autumn I will cull down to a trio/quad of the best "old" chickens and another breeding group of the best birds hatched out that year.

Obviously, actual experience may be very different than my plan

Angela

 

[ki4got]

Ok, my "breeding plan" is pretty simple, really. I plan to have the only roosters on my farm be roosters of my chosen breed, with hens in my breed plus whatever other breeds appeal to my husband (and lay different colored eggs!). I then plan to place wire over one 12x12 stall area in the barn and place one trio/quad/breeding group inside, while the other group free-ranges with the laying hens. (part way through the year I will switch the penned group with the free-range group.) I will only incubate or allow broody hens to set on the "chosen" colored eggs, theoretically ensuring purebred hatching chicks. Each autumn I will cull down to a trio/quad of the best "old" chickens and another breeding group of the best birds hatched out that year.

Obviously, actual experience may be very different than my plan

Angela

LOL i think reality is going to vary from "the plan" more often than not... that's why i posed this question, especially to those who have been breeding for successive years/generations.

 

[Mrs MIA]

This is actually similar to the setup I have... 12x20', with individual runs out both sides, walkway down the center with enclosed nesting areas. Works well for a trio.

ok and another thought just occurred to me...

I'm trying to come up with a breeding plan, and have a couple things bouncing around in my head, but I wonder what others do? I'm planning on having 2-3 colors, so don't want to just toss them all together. what I'm looking for, is how many birds do you have, set up in trio? quad? large group with multiple roos? and how do you plan for future breedings, or do you? not selection of the birds themselves, but do you worry about inbreeding much? and if you're continually selecting for the best birds, do you continue breeding older birds that were good or send them to the cull pen?

I've seen a number of systems explained, and would like to do a system similar to bob blosl's (google "blosl heritage rock" if you're not familiar with what he's described), but at the same time want it as uncomplicated as possible.

I'm just trying to plan what i need to build for breeding sheds/runs, as right now i don't have anything formally arranged. I know what i'd LIKE, but that's totally different from what I'm likely to GET. LOL



maybe i'll win the lotto. LOL

 

[ki4got]

This is actually similar to the setup I have... 12x20', with individual runs out both sides, walkway down the center with enclosed nesting areas. Works well for a trio.

ok, but how many trios do you have set up (per color, if you have more than one)? and do you have a system for choosing who is bred back together of the birds you choose for the next breeding?

 

[Yellow House Farm]

One of our buildings is also this way: four runs on either side. It's a great set up. We also have several individual coops. This sort of set allows for a high level of controlled breeding and the maintainence of biodiversity within the flock.

 

[Yellow House Farm]

This certainly is a nice beginning. Everything seems to be aimed in the right direction. The second photo, that of the lone female, is a good indicator. I think this is the general state of Dorkings right now. She has the strong, angular appearence. The color pattern is basically correct. You can see the need for depth, length, and bulk. The ear lobe of that female appears white. Still, everything seems poised for progress. I think it's just a question of hatching heavy and culling heavy.

Do you have another cock/cockerel? It would be cool if you did because it would set you up to have an extended breeding plan. You'd be able to carry on for multiple generations without going outside your flock. Otherwise, there are some specific line-breeding schemes you could follow if you had the housing.

Is this your only variety? It's great if it is, starting out with too many varieties leads to waste. If you get these Reds up and kicking you'll know all there is to know, and you'll have the ability to focus on the fine details, which only arise wtih specialization.

I find that I'm rather excited for this up-coming hatching season. It seems that there are some interesting, focused, disciplined breeding flocks emerging that could really start to bring this breed to the next level.

Best,

Joseph

Yellow... wow. Just..WOW!

The pic REALLY helps see what a Dorking should look like.. thank you for posting that. It says more there, then just reading a description in the SOP.

Here's a couple pictures of the Red quad I have. I couldn't get a pic of them seperately standing relaxed...they were not happy being disturbed. They should fill out some more now that they've got ranging room, and are just finishing up molting for the last couple months.

 

[RareBreedFancier]

I'm working on using something simmilar to YHF's breeding plan to breed up from my quad. Here is the link to what I'm talking about: Starting Your Own Heritage Flock Chapter 5 in particular.

I'm still looking for other SG Dorkings, if I can find some I'd like to breed them separately so I can use my own unrelated families as out crosses. Idealy I'd like to have 4 or more separate families but that won't happen any time soon.

I would have liked to keep many colors but it has become apparent the numbers of birds needed to progress long term without bringing in new stock is prohibitive and since finding stock is difficult, finding good stock is near impossible so I'll stick with the SG's since that's what I've got.

 

[Yellow House Farm]

I would have liked to keep many colors but it has become apparent the numbers of birds needed to progress long term without bringing in new stock is prohibitive and since finding stock is difficult, finding good stock is near impossible so I'll stick with the SG's since that's what I've got.

This is the reality. You can only do so much. All of the breeds and varieties, especially in large fowl, that ever become major breeds/varieties: White Rocks, Barred Rocks, RI Reds, White Wyandottes, New Hampshires, Buff Orpingtons, White Leghorns, Brown Leghorns, etc... all have their success due to breeders who bred them exclusively, over time. They are still the best large fowl at any show decades later.

 

[Mrs MIA]

ok, but how many trios do you have set up (per color, if you have more than one)? and do you have a system for choosing who is bred back together of the birds you choose for the next breeding?

I haven't concentrated on just one breed before... this year the entire coop (all 8 pens) will be dedicated to the Dorkings and my Orpingtons. I only have one red hen, so she'll stay in the layer coop until such time as I have a roo. So each SG rooster will be paired up as a trio. Unless something else happens and I am only able to pair them up. The last 3 years I've had 7-8 different breeds of chickens, with a trio in each pen.