B.Y.C. Dorking Club!

[capayvalleychick]

I have a question regarding how dominant a trait is...
I have found a pair of SG hens from another breeder that look to have very nice size. I really like the look of them, except one is duck footed.
She's offering this trio to me and I'd really like to use their size to increase that in my flock. But duck foot is a DQ.
So, my question is, how dominant is duck footedness? Does anyone have any experience with this?

Usually, the general rule is never breed birds with DQs. But SGDs with good size are so difficult to come by. I'm wondering, in this case if it would be throwing the baby out with the bath water?

Has anyone used duck footed birds in their breeding? If so, how difficult is it to breed out?

Thanks,
Kim

 

[ki4got]

Quote:

I have a question regarding how dominant a trait is...
I have found a pair of SG hens from another breeder that look to have very nice size. I really like the look of them, except one is duck footed.
She's offering this trio to me and I'd really like to use their size to increase that in my flock. But duck foot is a DQ.
So, my question is, how dominant is duck footedness? Does anyone have any experience with this?

Usually, the general rule is never breed birds with DQs. But SGDs with good size are so difficult to come by. I'm wondering, in this case if it would be throwing the baby out with the bath water?

Has anyone used duck footed birds in their breeding? If so, how difficult is it to breed out?

Thanks,
Kim

i think i would consider that a lesser evil than size... my roo is duckfooted, worse on one side than the other, the hens aren't perfect either but not as bad as the roo... but the chicks range from good to not good so I don't think it would be something to turn down, especially if the size is there.

 

[007medic]

Capa, the last breed I worked with had issues with size as well. When I found a great, big ol' typey bird that I knew would benefit the size and shape of my birds, I went for it. Body shape and size are boogers to establish in your line but things like duck-foot, iffy color, and messy combs, those can usually (there have been exceptions) be corrected in a couple of breeding cycles-- hatch big, cull hard and eh-voila` better size in the line.
J

 

[Yellow House Farm]

By all means! Just hatch like holy heck. Inspect toes at the incubator door, and then hatch some more. (until you reach the total number of birds you raise out comfortably.)

 

[ki4got]

ROFL

i was talking with hubby over dinner tonight about dorking plans, quoting several people on here in regards to "hatch heavy cull hard" and such...
his response was 'that's fine, we need the meat too'

after dinner we got our fortune cookies. mine said

 

[RareBreedFancier]

I have a question regarding how dominant a trait is...
I have found a pair of SG hens from another breeder that look to have very nice size. I really like the look of them, except one is duck footed.
She's offering this trio to me and I'd really like to use their size to increase that in my flock. But duck foot is a DQ.
So, my question is, how dominant is duck footedness? Does anyone have any experience with this?

Usually, the general rule is never breed birds with DQs. But SGDs with good size are so difficult to come by. I'm wondering, in this case if it would be throwing the baby out with the bath water?

Has anyone used duck footed birds in their breeding? If so, how difficult is it to breed out?

Thanks,
Kim

Structure first, then details. I'd grab those birds, size is hard to find. Karen, I love it! Good luck with your plans.

 

[DaveK]

Capa, the last breed I worked with had issues with size as well. When I found a great, big ol' typey bird that I knew would benefit the size and shape of my birds, I went for it. Body shape and size are boogers to establish in your line but things like duck-foot, iffy color, and messy combs, those can usually (there have been exceptions) be corrected in a couple of breeding cycles-- hatch big, cull hard and eh-voila` better size in the line.
J

It's just me but I don't care if a detail is a DQ or just something that niggles away at possibly only me. A detail is a detail and the sort of thing to worry about when there are real Dorkings stomping about your yards. Size is part of Dorking type so go for all that will make your chickens big old Dorkings excelling in breed type and character. Then the little things can be looked at harder. Plus, as Joe as mentioned, this detail needn't get past the incubator door.

 

[Yellow House Farm]

"go for all that will make your chickens big old Dorkings excelling in breed type and character"

At times, Dave, thou art a true poet, couldn't've said it better!

 

[dorkings]

Enjoying our Dorkings.

 

[capayvalleychick]

Enjoying our Dorkings.

Good to hear. Cute pic.

Kim