B.Y.C. Dorking Club!

[cukooformarans]

That is interesting. My oldest three are all laying now. The eggs are beautiful (which, by the way, I never thought I would say that about a white egg). They may not quite be Piggly Wiggly white, but they are close. I will try to remember to take pics and post them if you are interested. Shouldn't ours be the same color....?

 

[Sydney Acres]

That is interesting. My oldest three are all laying now. The eggs are beautiful (which, by the way, I never thought I would say that about a white egg). They may not quite be Piggly Wiggly white, but they are close. I will try to remember to take pics and post them if you are interested. Shouldn't ours be the same color....?

When I read through the journal notes of Dorking breeders in England in the late 1800's/early 1900's, one of the criteria they used in judging the "pureness" of a Dorking was the color of the egg. The eggs were not expected to be pure (Leghorn) white, but if they were anything more than lightly tinted the hen was suspected of having some mixed genetics.

This became a huge issue because the judges at the local fairs started putting too much emphasis on size, and not enough on the other characteristics of the Dorkings. So to win, and thus be able to sell their stock at a higher price, farmers started crossing their birds with the larger Asiatic breeds. Apparently it became so bad in some areas that birds of obvious mixed breeding were still winning the Dorking ribbons. That worked great for a few decades, until the Dorking blood became diluted enough that the meat became coarser. Then demand fell, and prices with it. Very few purebred flocks were left, and the ones that were laid ivory white to very lightly tinted eggs. Most of the mixed flocks had more heavily tinted eggs. So breeding quality hens (and their clutchmate roosters) were often sold after they started laying to improve their price.

I only have seven Dorking hens, which is not enough to be statistically significant, but I have noticed that egg color in my small group does correspond to the overall quality of the bird. The hens with the heavy cinderblock frames on shorter legs lay ivory eggs that are largish medium to large size, whereas the thinner birds with the longer legs lay lightly to medium tinted eggs that are large to jumbo size. Again, not statistically significant with such small numbers, but maybe something for people with larger flocks to watch for???

 

[ronott1]

When I read through the journal notes of Dorking breeders in England in the late 1800's/early 1900's, one of the criteria they used in judging the "pureness" of a Dorking was the color of the egg. The eggs were not expected to be pure (Leghorn) white, but if they were anything more than lightly tinted the hen was suspected of having some mixed genetics.

This became a huge issue because the judges at the local fairs started putting too much emphasis on size, and not enough on the other characteristics of the Dorkings. So to win, and thus be able to sell their stock at a higher price, farmers started crossing their birds with the larger Asiatic breeds. Apparently it became so bad in some areas that birds of obvious mixed breeding were still winning the Dorking ribbons. That worked great for a few decades, until the Dorking blood became diluted enough that the meat became coarser. Then demand fell, and prices with it. Very few purebred flocks were left, and the ones that were laid ivory white to very lightly tinted eggs. Most of the mixed flocks had more heavily tinted eggs. So breeding quality hens (and their clutchmate roosters) were often sold after they started laying to improve their price.

I only have seven Dorking hens, which is not enough to be statistically significant, but I have noticed that egg color in my small group does correspond to the overall quality of the bird. The hens with the heavy cinderblock frames on shorter legs lay ivory eggs that are largish medium to large size, whereas the thinner birds with the longer legs lay lightly to medium tinted eggs that are large to jumbo size. Again, not statistically significant with such small numbers, but maybe something for people with larger flocks to watch for???

The egg on the right is from my SG Pullet egg. She came from Emma, Poultry Palace.

 

[fzouk]

It's so interesting reading through more of the history of the breed! I only knew a little about them, but always loved their funny short legs, and when I saw some available this recent spring I got two Silver Greys. Next year I will be getting many more!! In my 5 years of chicken keeping now I've had lots of breeds, and those two Dorkings are my most favorites BY FAR!! My 6 year old carries them (carefully) around like dolls and they just sit there and let her! They are so friendly and curious and funny. Plus they are really beautiful and were my first, and have been my most steady layers of this year's chickens. Their eggs are a beautiful, bright white which I guess is good, after reading the earlier post about egg color? All I know is that I love the two Dorkings I ended up with this year!

 

[Mickey Lou 04]

It's so interesting reading through more of the history of the breed! I only knew a little about them, but always loved their funny short legs, and when I saw some available this recent spring I got two Silver Greys. Next year I will be getting many more!! In my 5 years of chicken keeping now I've had lots of breeds, and those two Dorkings are my most favorites BY FAR!! My 6 year old carries them (carefully) around like dolls and they just sit there and let her! They are so friendly and curious and funny. Plus they are really beautiful and were my first, and have been my most steady layers of this year's chickens. Their eggs are a beautiful, bright white which I guess is good, after reading the earlier post about egg color? All I know is that I love the two Dorkings I ended up with this year!

How cute!

 

[pysankigirl]

your daughter is adorable too! I need her to come 'round here and socialize my chickens! I just don't have time to pick them up and get them used to that much any more.

 

[ki4got]

Quote:
I don't do anything to 'socialize' mine... turn them free range and they rapidly figured out I was the source of the food. LOL in the mornings I just scatter the feed because i'm in a hurry, but in the afternoons, if I give them any, I drop it between my feet and just stand there. they get over it pretty quick. some I can pick up easier than others, but for the most part they've just figured out if i'm catching them it's to fix something - like baling twine wrapped around a foot, or a clump of burdocks stuck to the butt fluff. LOL (happened this morning with Big Guy...)

 

[fzouk]

Thank you! She LOVES them, and holds all 10 of them- even the more shy ones that don't particularly *want* to be held get handled everyday by her.

If it was up to me that wouldn't happen, as much as I do love them! The Dorkings and a couple of the Ameraucanas are the only ones that really seem to like it. I've never had such nice chickens as the two Dorkings, that's for sure. After realizing exactly how rare they are I'm amazed this guy I got them from breeds them- he says he just has a few for his wife, who adores them. I'm thankful for her!! Next year I plan on making them a bigger percentage of my flock for sure.

 

[ki4got]

Thank you! She LOVES them, and holds all 10 of them- even the more shy ones that don't particularly *want* to be held get handled everyday by her.

If it was up to me that wouldn't happen, as much as I do love them! The Dorkings and a couple of the Ameraucanas are the only ones that really seem to like it. I've never had such nice chickens as the two Dorkings, that's for sure. After realizing exactly how rare they are I'm amazed this guy I got them from breeds them- he says he just has a few for his wife, who adores them. I'm thankful for her!! Next year I plan on making them a bigger percentage of my flock for sure.

for anyone wanting to make a drive of it, I do have 2 girls for sale... one is from the gene Patterson line I got, and the other one of my original girls. the only reason i'm selling them, the 'older girl' (spring '11) is slightly smaller than the rest of the girls, and the Patterson girl is annoyingly broody. LOL she's been broody for 3 of the last 4 months, almost constantly. if I don't give her chicks she will incubate an empty nest. if I do she's ok at it, but then quits when they're a couple weeks old and goes back to sitting on eggs. LOL

 

[doaghcoop]

my wee man !! Silver dorking . Thee most friendliest bird !!