B.Y.C. Dorking Club!

[LilyD]

I have 10 Dorking chicks arriving this week. Getting excited to have a new breed.

Mine won't be here until June 5th but I guess good things come to those who wait. Where are you getting yours from?

 

[pysankigirl]

I have 10 Dorking chicks arriving this week. Getting excited to have a new breed.

congrats!!! you'll love em!!! they have the best personalities!!!!

 

[pysankigirl]

so question: is there a good age/weight chart for dorkings? ie: at what age should they weigh what amount to be on track with eventually weighing enough?

This new red guy I have looks really big but alot of it is fluff. He is only 7 lbs. (at 7 months old) I like him (even though he's a wuss) the other two cockerels are alot smaller at this point. but I haven't actually put them on the scales.

I know we have an age/weight chart for Leonbergers (dogs) that is pretty accurate. don't know if that type of thing works for chickens.

 

[ki4got]

so question: is there a good age/weight chart for dorkings? ie: at what age should they weigh what amount to be on track with eventually weighing enough?

This new red guy I have looks really big but alot of it is fluff. He is only 7 lbs. (at 7 months old) I like him (even though he's a wuss) the other two cockerels are alot smaller at this point. but I haven't actually put them on the scales.

I know we have an age/weight chart for Leonbergers (dogs) that is pretty accurate. don't know if that type of thing works for chickens.

not really for the dorking, but i think mostly because the breed is still recovering from lack of attention for so many years... but that sounds like an ok weight to me... my big guy didn't top out until he was probably 18 months old, at just under 9 pounds...

 

[Framac]

Mine won't be here until June 5th but I guess good things come to those who wait. Where are you getting yours from?

I am getting mine from Dick Horstman

 

[Kilsharion]

I am getting mine from Dick Horstman

That's where one of batches is originating. Look forward to hearing how yours do through their travels, etc.

 

[bethbug74]

8 lbs sounds like a really decent weight to me for a cockerel just learning to crow!!!!! I think they are only supposed to be 9 lbs when grown, if I am remembering right, although bigger than that is great.

I weighed "big red" this evening and he's only 7lbs. I guess alot of his "size" is just fluff. Not sure if he is crowing...I haven't heard him but he's in a new place and maybe doesn't feel like it yet. He doesn't have his spurs, but other than that I don't know his age. another question I need to ask. approx ages of the new chickens.

The dingbat I got them from stated that they were 10 months old when i bought them in December...but neither had reddened up, no laying, and not even a hint of crowing. I would have estimated them to be around 5 months, then, but I didn't have any Dorking experience prior to that. They are slow to mature, from what I understand...and keep in mind, that's the genius who insisted on giving me a big tin of rolled oats, since "that's what you feed chicks until they are grown." It is quite possible that they WERE in fact 10 months old, then, just stunted because of her "knowledge." Immediately after being put on a normal, high protein diet (NatureWise All Flock), and having their parasites eliminated, they both blossomed. So I'll go with them being around a year old now. Napoleon Is starting to grow big fat spur stubs, this month.

 

[BlackPanther]

Is it... is it bad, (

) if I'm excited about Silver-Grey Dorkings when I probably won't get any this year?

 

[yinepu]

Does anyone here wing band their Dorking chicks?

I'm looking into getting the numbered bands for mine.. but all the sizes and types are a bit confusing especially when they just list sizes but don't tell you if they are for quail, large fowl, bantams and so on

So basically what I am looking for is what kind of wing bands do you prefer and what size are you using on young Dorking chicks?


also I read on an old thread where someone had issues with the colored wing bands causing allergic reactions in their birds.. any experience with this?
I'm thinking it may have been a fluke since I have only seen the one complaint.


thanks in advance!

 

[pysankigirl]

Is it... is it bad, (

) if I'm excited about Silver-Grey Dorkings when I probably won't get any this year?

yeah, it is bad.
why won't you get any? if it is a space issue, cant help about that, but there are plenty of people that have the silver greys if you really want some. and I am a huge enabler when it comes to chickens. I cant see anyone suffer without trying to match them up. I am sure there are plenty of people here on the list that can help you out if it is an availability thing!