B.Y.C. Dorking Club!

[Yellow House Farm]

Dave, I agree completely. Especially when it comes to growing birds reaching their genetic potential.

 

[Mrs MIA]

Too funny... all of my coturnix went to a new home yesterday, and I'm clearing out all but my orpingtons and Dorkings before spring. Tis the season for downsizing I guess....

and again, like RareBreedFancier, I'm paring down on the nonessential birds. odd breeds, mutts, etc (anyone want some coturnix quail?).

 

[ki4got]

Too funny... all of my coturnix went to a new home yesterday, and I'm clearing out all but my orpingtons and Dorkings before spring. Tis the season for downsizing I guess....

well, i'll be honest, if i don't find a taker soon, they're all going in the freezer. i'm not attached to them, and the dogs have already proven they like quail for dinner. LOL (also frozen at the time).

 

[ki4got]

ok you got me to thinking about doing a split breeding cycle... here in sw virginia, spring's already almost here LOL (sorry for those still freezing, supposed to be 60+ tomorrow)...

are dorking pullets usually laying consistently by 6 months old? would there be any reason not to put their eggs in the hatching mix?

 

[RareBreedFancier]

Karen, you said you were going to free range your bantam Cochins, do you have cats around? I'd love to free range my cute mutts (they make great broodies) but I'm pretty sure my cats would be delighted with that situation. :/

 

[ki4got]

Karen, you said you were going to free range your bantam Cochins, do you have cats around? I'd love to free range my cute mutts (they make great broodies) but I'm pretty sure my cats would be delighted with that situation.

ROFL
I took this pic today at 3pm... I should try to get pics of the girls (torti Maine Coon cats). they sleep on top of the dog house under the horse blanket when it's cold, because the heat emitter is inside for the chicks. they'd move in if i'd let them LOL.

Fuzzbutt acts like he's stalking the chickens, but the roos keep him within reach most of the time. (within the roo's reach, if he acts out of line that is). that's my oldest pullet and an EE hatchmate (hatched october 21). the jug of vinegar just never made it from the car to the pantry at that point. LOL.


for the most part, Fuzzbutt (aka Hunter, the cat) can walk thru the flock without worries and nobody tries to hurt him.

oh and a side note, he was on the bench all by himself, the chickens had to go check HIM out...

 

[RareBreedFancier]

Well looks like your roos have the situation under control.

I'm sure my big roos would look after their ladies but I wasn't so sure about the banties. Guess it's just a matter of the roo's teaching the cats to have some respect.

Funny you have a Fuzzbutt, I have one that goes by that name too! He's a very pretty kitty by the way and those are some pretty ladies.

In Dorking news I'll be setting another 6 or 7 hopefully tomorow, I'm waiting for seme eggs coming through the post. They handle them better than last time.

 

[blessedacre]

I am wanting to start raising a small backyard flock of chickens. This is my first time with chickens. I am interested in the Dorking because it is a dual purpose bird and I am wanting both eggs and table meat. I also think their history is pretty awesome. I have read that the Dorking does not reach maturity for 2 yrs. What exactly does this mean? Will they not lay eggs for almost 2 yrs or does this mean you can wait until they are between 1 yr - 1 1/2 yrs old to process them and still have a roasting bird verses a crock pot bird. I do want to keep my breed pure, but I am also a little worried about the broodiness of the breed ( I understand they do not lay eggs when the "go broody"?). I can only house 10-13 birds. I thought that I might get a few (3) hens of another breed to supply us with eggs when the Dorkings are not laying. I would like the alternative breed to lays brown eggs so I can keep them separate from the Dorking eggs. Is this something that will work in reality or only in theory? Also is there a breed you would recommend for this supplemental purpose, that will get along with the docile Dorking ? Could you recommend a reputable hatchery or most preferably a small reputable back yard person to get some chicks from. Also I live in the Panhandle of Florida....I have a nice coop and run and plan to allow free ranging as much as possible and also plan to have a couple PVC frame chicken tractors. Do u think the breed will do ok in this area? I have spoke with a couple of friends about the breed and they seem interested....... would be great if we could get a few established in the area. Thank you so much for your time.

Blessings

 

[capayvalleychick]

Hi,

and to raising chickens!

The Dorking can keep maturing for 2 years, but with any chicken, you want to butcher them before a year of age or they be too tough. There is a great article, written by Gina Bisco, on the American Livestock Breed Conservancy (ALBC) about cooking heritage chicken.
Today's industrial Cornish crosses that you find in the grocery store mature very fast for butchering at a young age. The modern hybrid Freedom Rangers are better for raising in a free range system and also can be butchered young. All the older heritage breeds take longer to mature to a size where they are a good size for eating. My Dorkings have been taking about 7 months to get to where I like them as a meat bird, (for roasting) but other breeders butcher them at a younger age.
Dorkings start laying eggs at the same age as other breeds. Slow maturing does not affect that.
Not all Dorkings go broody. I have not heard of that being an issue very often. Sand Hill's strain seems to be especially broody. McMurray's have not gone broody for me.
I also have raised brown egg layers in addition to the Dorkings, so yes you can tell them apart. If you have roosters of both breeds, they are still going to cross breed. Dorking roosters are also more passive than the other breeds I've tried, so it's necessary to keep them separate if you intend to breed. Multiple breeds of hens seem to get along fine.
I tried Buckeyes (hatchery strain) and was not pleased with their egg laying, plus they also took longer to mature for butchering. I love the Delawares, both for a faster maturing meat bird ( compared to older heritage breeds) and for their egg laying ability. None of my chickens lay eggs during moult and part of winter.
You can check on the Dorking Club for breeders.
My Dorkings do well in our dry, high heat. I have no experience with them and humidity.
Mine do very well free ranging. Make sure that they still are protected from predators. One concern with PVC tractors is wind. Ours was blown from one pasture into another, so we have to use heavier materials for our coops.
Best wishes,
Kim

I have read that the Dorking does not reach maturity for 2 yrs. What exactly does this mean? Will they not lay eggs for almost 2 yrs or does this mean you can wait until they are between 1 yr - 1 1/2 yrs old to process them and still have a roasting bird verses a crock pot bird. I do want to keep my breed pure, but I am also a little worried about the broodiness of the breed ( I understand they do not lay eggs when the "go broody"?). ...I thought that I might get a few (3) hens of another breed to supply us with eggs when the Dorkings are not laying. I would like the alternative breed to lays brown eggs so I can keep them separate from the Dorking eggs. Is this something that will work in reality or only in theory? Also is there a breed you would recommend for this supplemental purpose, that will get along with the docile Dorking ? Could you recommend a reputable hatchery or most preferably a small reputable back yard person to get some chicks from. Also I live in the Panhandle of Florida....I have a nice coop and run and plan to allow free ranging as much as possible and also plan to have a couple PVC frame chicken tractors. Do u think the breed will do ok in this area?

 

[RareBreedFancier]

blessedacre!

Dorkings are perfect for what you have in mind. It is possiable to have brown egg layers with Dorkings, I have both here at the moment. You will most likely find with that many hens though not all the hens will go broody at once. I only have 3 hens and have only ever had 1 broody at a time.

If you do keep brown egg layers only keep a Dorking roo! I had a horrible experience here and nearly lost my breeding roo as I had 2 roos (one not a Dorking) sharing the big pen during the winter, the other roo nearly starved my Dorking to death and attacked him so badly he lost part of his comb! That was just coming into early spring and I didn't think hormones would be kicking in so soon. The other roo simply didn't let him eat, I'd noticed a scuffle or two in the day or two leading up to the attack and was going to move him out that day anyway. Went out to the pen and found him covered in blood and I'll never forgive myself for not moving him out the day before. My boy is fine back in his own breeding pen and has put the weight he'd lost back on but it's not a mistake I'll make again.