B.Y.C. Dorking Club!

[Yellow House Farm]

Quote:
We'll see.

Yeah! When we talk this way it feels unifying, and that is good.

There are so many potential differences between strains. Start where you stand and breed heavy then cull heavy. Today I was setting eggs and fitting wing bands. I thoroughly enjoy the process. It's engaging and centering. I could do it for hours, but what's great about the whole thing is that just about the time it gets to be burdensome, it will be time to change chore.

 

[TOL Chick]

Quote:
i might be interested in eggs to... im looking forward to your pic's...

Sure! The more the merrier Will get some sorted over the next couple days...

Ok - finally pics of the Reds at Tree of Life Farm. Looking for feedback, suggestions, etc. so please don't worry about hurting my feelings, etc.

I hatched this trio last June from eggs from Roger Tice. As I have mentioned in some past posts, Llewelyn (roo) has been fairly rough on the girls, so they are a little mangled and have blue kote hairdos at the moment -

Llewelyn, Rosemund & Rowena:

(Rosemund is on the roost behind him)

Rowena: darker red hen

Rosemund: blonde red hen

Thanks for your thoughts

 

[Chickhick]

Purdy!!

 

[TOL Chick]

Quote:
Glad you like 'em

 

[Yellow House Farm]

Well, first of all, they're great birds and make a worthy start. If you're asking for a direction of where to go next, well, the first thing I see is that the breast rounds in. If you look at all three of the photos you provided, the breast rounds in. If you could imagine the breast descending more in the front to create a blockier line. When you look at the birds head on, their breast should form a square, as if they were a three dimensional rectangle. When you look down on your birds, you want them to be as close to rectangular as possible. You want to avoid specimens who taper into their tail, creating a triangle from a bove which points out from the tail.

Read the ALBC educational resources on improving your stock and then spend some good handling your stock. The first thing to do with Dorkings is to insure their frame.

You certainly have a nice start. Breed heavy and cull hard.

Cheers,

Joseph

Edited to add: It's also good to remember that sometimes photos are hard to judge. Just take the idea of a cinderblock out to your coop and breed away.

 

[TOL Chick]

Quote:
Words of wisdom from Yellow House Farm are always welcome. Thanks for your thoughts, they are certainly a repeat on some points you've made earlier to others. I plan to spend some quality time with the ALBC resources here in the near future.

My first batch of 42 eggs will go in the incubator here in a few weeks, and I plan to do at least another round with that same amount so i can CULL.


Many Thanks,
Jen

p.s. the cinderblock will magically disappear with the snow

 

[Yellow House Farm]

Awesome! It's great to have another person dedicated to breeding for progress. This is such a neat breed, and when wellbred they're absolutely stunning. The red are so distinctive with their color contrasts.

Be sure to join the Dorking Breeders Club. You'll find there some big fans of the red variety.

Cheers,
Joseph

PS: I'm waiting for the emergence of my cinderblock, too....

 

[TOL Chick]

Quote:
I am a member of the breeders club already and of the Dorking Yahoo Group... Yes - I am hooked on them as well.

Hope to make it up your way some day, as your homesteading "classes" look very interesting to me. I truly choose the Dorking because of it's ability to be a "homestead' bird, hearty, resourceful, and a great provider of meat as well as eggs. The fact that they are lovely to look at is truly an added bonus!

Jen

 

[capayvalleychick]

There is a trio of Dorkings for sale near me for $125. He says they are Urch line. What do you all think? I asked for better pics but this is what he sent.

Kim

 

[DaveK]

Quote:
Words of wisdom from Yellow House Farm are always welcome. Thanks for your thoughts, they are certainly a repeat on some points you've made earlier to others. I plan to spend some quality time with the ALBC resources here in the near future.

My first batch of 42 eggs will go in the incubator here in a few weeks, and I plan to do at least another round with that same amount so i can CULL.


Many Thanks,
Jen

p.s. the cinderblock will magically disappear with the snow

I have to agree with YHF. A very nice start but pay attention to body. You mention a cinderblock. That is the shape you want your Dorkings to be.