B.Y.C. Dorking Club!

[pysankigirl]

I want purple eggs!!!!

 

[Yellow House Farm]

Well, I recognize the eggs on the left. Our strain tends to lay a rounder egg, which should start to come of good size once they get their rhythm. They'll be that white-cream color.

We keep getting more eggs, still small but more each day. We are getting brownish eggs from some of the birds. Yesterday I found 2 small brownish eggs where there are only black hens. I am getting nice white eggs and brownish eggs in the coop where we have black and white hens together.

I think some of these eggs are a little too brown to be considered creme. Are the browner ones acceptable colors for Dorking eggs?

 

[backroomtreasures]

She is Sweet! good name for her.

 

[RedBugPoultry]

I would like some opinions on these two birds. Below are 6 pictures of my 2 oldest Red Dorking Roosters. This first one is the most massive of these 2 roosters though he and the next rooster are the same age. He is missing most of his tail feathers at the moment which may make him look chopped off and shorter/squarer then the other rooster--what do people think?









This boy below is my second bird and actually my choice of birds. He is not as aggressive to the other younger roosters and I just like his look. My Hubby does not like his comb and yes, he is smaller in size than the first bird but I think he has a better shape. Both have pretty good feet and both are pretty short in the legs though I think this second bird might be a little shorter legged. I have the first bird separated out from the flock at the moment trying to give this guy below a chance to become a little more dominant. I can not tell much with the first bird as far as width at the tail but this bird does not look to bad from behind.










What do people think?

 

[ki4got]

i would say both look about equal in the body, but without a tail it's hard to judge on the first. but overall i like your first guy better.

don't know if it's the angle or the comb or what, but the second looks a bit crowheaded. i don't much care for his comb, and if anything (held something to block his tail LOL) his back looks a bit shorter than the first.

as for personality, yes that's a big factor in selecting a good roo, but you have to have body type first and foremost IMO. you can always replace the roo with a better personality chick next year.

 

[RedBugPoultry]

i would say both look about equal in the body, but without a tail it's hard to judge on the first. but overall i like your first guy better.

don't know if it's the angle or the comb or what, but the second looks a bit crowheaded. i don't much care for his comb, and if anything (held something to block his tail LOL) his back looks a bit shorter than the first.

as for personality, yes that's a big factor in selecting a good roo, but you have to have body type first and foremost IMO. you can always replace the roo with a better personality chick next year.

I have been thinking about what you said(and by the way thank you for your opinion) and spent sometime in the pen this morning looking at all 4 of my roosters in there. I think you are right about the longer back as I have another bird from the same breeding, younger than the first one in the picture, that does have his tail and I believe his back is longer than the others. Now, although the 2 birds I posted look similar in body shape the first one out weighs the second one by a good amount. I have not weighed him but he is massive in the chest compared to the second and the 2 are the same age. I guess my biggest thing is I like the color of the second one more but that is not a big deal. The tail missing on the first bird is a bummer as I really can not get a good idea of his length. I also think the first bird and the younger that I have from the same breeding have longer legs than the other roosters. I will have to watch them develop a little more but now I have some more things to watch for in them.

 

[Sydney Acres]

It's a bit difficult to compare the two roosters from these pictures, since the pictures for #1 are taken at different angles than for #2. I am a very new breeder, so my judgment is not yet developed, but I also like the first rooster more than the second. He seems to have a blocker body, longer back, better size, and IMO better color. But the lack of tail can really throw off the comparison.

That said, I wouldn't go with an internet opinion just based on these pictures. There's not enough angles, or comparable angles between the two, for anyone to decide with any certainty.

 

[ashandvine]

Alright... I reluctantly post pics of the trio I have recently gained. I refrained from taking pics of their feet as they were quite muddy. I am worried that one pullet has a twisted comb but we'll see what turns out of their first hatch... feedback at will















They are only about 25 weeks, maybe 26...

 

[capayvalleychick]

ashandvine, from what I can see, they look fine. I'm not familiar with the Red coloring, so can't comment on that.

Redbug, I agree with what Sydney Acres said, about the pics not being uniform enough to make a fair observation.

I'm not the best photographer, but I have some tips to get better shots for evaluating....

If you have a small pen, put the chicken in that to be photographed. I've used puppy playpens or wire livestock panels. Scatter some grain or special treats in the area to get them to stop and hold still.

Sit on the ground on the same level as the chicken. Wait for them to become comfortable with you being there. Be patient. Take lots of photos to have more to choose from. You can either take a series of stills or make a video and freeze frame, to get the best shots.

Take shots of their side view, front & rear. Stand & take shots of their top.

Holding a chicken may seem like the only way to get them to hold still for the camera, but it doesn't give a true representation of the fowl. It's much better to have them standing, relaxed, so you can see how they carry themselves. Taking lots of shots in succession- or video- will allow you to eliminate shots where they are stretching, turning, etc.

Having photos taken of your birds from similar distance in similar angles will make it much easier to evaluate them.

 

[RedBugPoultry]

ashandvine, from what I can see, they look fine. I'm not familiar with the Red coloring, so can't comment on that.

Redbug, I agree with what Sydney Acres said, about the pics not being uniform enough to make a fair observation.

I'm not the best photographer, but I have some tips to get better shots for evaluating....

If you have a small pen, put the chicken in that to be photographed. I've used puppy playpens or wire livestock panels. Scatter some grain or special treats in the area to get them to stop and hold still.

Sit on the ground on the same level as the chicken. Wait for them to become comfortable with you being there. Be patient. Take lots of photos to have more to choose from. You can either take a series of stills or make a video and freeze frame, to get the best shots.

Take shots of their side view, front & rear. Stand & take shots of their top.

Holding a chicken may seem like the only way to get them to hold still for the camera, but it doesn't give a true representation of the fowl. It's much better to have them standing, relaxed, so you can see how they carry themselves. Taking lots of shots in succession- or video- will allow you to eliminate shots where they are stretching, turning, etc.

Having photos taken of your birds from similar distance in similar angles will make it much easier to evaluate them.

Thank you for suggestions but my big problem is my camera only lasts a few minutes and dies on me. I need a new battery so I had to use what pictures turned out before the camera died. I just have not gotten out for a second photo session~