B.Y.C. Dorking Club!

[Urbanfarmerkc]

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Not sure I have that much room. I haven't committed to one breed yet. I like having multiple breeds. Unfortunately, that means I will have to depend on others to supply a good rooster.

Dave

 

[Yellow House Farm]

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In-breeding is desirable in a controlled fashion. From a first mating with a couple of your hens and your cockerel, you could retain three cockerels, two of which are used over your remainging hens which are divided into two separate pens. The third cockerels is put back over the two original hens. You save a couple of new pullets to go with your bred male. Now you have a rotation of for pens, from wich you can carefully pair up matings for several generations without bringing in any new blood.

Hatch heavy and follow the ALBC plan for culling, and cull heavily.

 

[Urbanfarmerkc]

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In-breeding is desirable in a controlled fashion. From a first mating with a couple of your hens and your cockerel, you could retain three cockerels, two of which are used over your remainging hens which are divided into two separate pens. The third cockerels is put back over the two original hens. You save a couple of new pullets to go with your bred male. Now you have a rotation of for pens, from wich you can carefully pair up matings for several generations without bringing in any new blood.

Hatch heavy and follow the ALBC plan for culling, and cull heavily.

What did you look for specifically in year one of your flock? From what I've read, I'm looking for size and growth rate more than coloration. The articles I found on ALBC weren't Dorking Specific. I'm working on my Silver Greys and from my perspective, they look pretty good. I'll get some pics of the girls and then get your opinion. I have 30 eggs set in the incubator right now and I will be setting more throughout the season. I appreciate any help you can offer.

Dave

 

[Yellow House Farm]

Hi Dave! Where did you get your start, meaning where did your stock come from?

 

[Yellow House Farm]

Greetings Everyone! Check out this video. Now, these fowl are not Dorking; they are La Fleche, another fantastic old breed. However, the reason to see this is to connect to the beauty of specialization. Check out these birds on the level of type--blocky, meaty, thick and strong shoulders, deep bodies. Check out the wide legs stance. Notice how the breadth of back reaches back to the tail such that they are not pinched.

What an awesome goal for our Dorking flocks.

 

[DaveK]

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Not sure I have that much room. I haven't committed to one breed yet. I like having multiple breeds. Unfortunately, that means I will have to depend on others to supply a good rooster.

Dave

One of the other posters said something about the reality of rare breeds being rare. That will be an obstacle to locating a good new rooster every so often even in the beginning. As your birds progress and become more of what you want and they should be that good new rooster will be even harder to find as you won't want to be using one that isn't worthy of your own hens. If you can keep and use even just three cocks a year you can be in decent shape for some time to come using the rolling matings or some other simple but effective game plan.

 

[DaveK]

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Ha! You've been raiding the La Fleche thread. And thanks for doing so. This is a magnificent group of birds that are a good lesson for many different breeds. Everything you've said is right there to be seen. What I liked especially about those cockerels besides general size and quality is the fact that there is plenty of body below the wing line and with both sexes toplines and underlines are long. Those cockerels show none of that upright, highly carried shallow breast business that is either one of the first things to go when stock starts to degenerate or is just something that really bothers me. As far as Dorkings those illustrations in the old Standard are realistic and obtainable if a good start is made and the breeder has some patience. Back to the La Fleche; did you see the cockerel with the reddish wing bows? Not surprising as these seemed to have quite a lot of green sheen. Great fun to see them again.

 

[Urbanfarmerkc]

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The Silver Grey Dorkings came from Ideal Hatchery. My Le Fleche came from Sand Hill. My Dels are a product of me hatching about 500 chicks last year and culling down to the 6 I have now. No rooster to put with them though...

I'm raising some this year so next year the Dels will reproduce. My cochins are mutts but cute... They are my yard art. LOL

Dave

 

[Yellow House Farm]

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Ha! You've been raiding the La Fleche thread. And thanks for doing so. This is a magnificent group of birds that are a good lesson for many different breeds. Everything you've said is right there to be seen. What I liked especially about those cockerels besides general size and quality is the fact that there is plenty of body below the wing line and with both sexes toplines and underlines are long. Those cockerels show none of that upright, highly carried shallow breast business that is either one of the first things to go when stock starts to degenerate or is just something that really bothers me. As far as Dorkings those illustrations in the old Standard are realistic and obtainable if a good start is made and the breeder has some patience. Back to the La Fleche; did you see the cockerel with the reddish wing bows? Not surprising as these seemed to have quite a lot of green sheen. Great fun to see them again.

Dave, I agree, their depth and breadth are outstandingly impressive. At one point, there are some cockerels that turn around and give you a great view of their stance. It's just darned impressive. Of course, it's the lines that you pointed out that open the stance. It's true, too, what you mentioned concerning American La Fleche that don't seem to have a lot of bidy below the wing. It's a rude testament to neglect.

I agree with you, too, that the Standard images of the Dorking are attainable. We just have to do the breeding that it requires.

 

[rtroxel]

Anyone notice with SilverGs that they take a very long time to mature? Or is it just mine? Especially the male. I was ready to cull him, but he has turned a corner. (other than that he just got meaner, too.)