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Thank you.
He has the best comb of all my various roos, I wish I could copy it for all the others.
The main reason I was so exited about the toes is both the older boy and one of the girls have only 4 toes. I didn't feel breeding those together would produce anything good. The pullets have pretty good combs so hopefully the 4 toed girl will pass hers on when mated to the new boy. The original quad are also full siblings so some outside blood is probably a good idea as I know nothing about their breeding. Everyone will be marked so if I find the new guy is producing lots of hideous combs and white spotted chests I can cull that line. I want the toes, I don't want the other issues.
I am definitely planing to use the ALBC selection guides. Lucky for me space isn't an issue.
I'm planing on building portable tunnel houses on skids as grow outs to place out in the paddock beside the house. That way I can move them around and let them range on the paddock. Electric fence will keep foxes out at night.
Planing to hatch 100+ in spring which shouldn't be too hard with 3 laying. Although... how many eggs do they lay before going broody? I have had exactly 8 Dorking eggs (all went into the 'bator today) and this afternoon I have my laying Dorking sitting on the nest growling at me. I discovered her when I went to steal today's eggs as I'd not had time to grab them this morning. Carefully fished them out and offered her 3 ping pong balls that are supposed to be cat toys. She growled at me again then scooted them under her.
Can she actually be broody after laying only 8 eggs?!?! It sure looks like it!
Absolutely possible, you won't know until night time and you go out to check. If she is gone and a real egg is in the nest where she was, then no not broody. If yes and only the golf balls are there, they yep, probably. LOL
Mine are not particularly broody as of yet. I have one that is considering it... So far, every time I move her over to another nest where she could actually go set, she hops off and goes back to the roost. I'd prefer her to be a layer than a momma as I have tons of people wanting to work with this breed in my area and I LOVE that idea. I'd be great to make Kansas City the Dorking Capital!
Thank you.
The main reason I was so exited about the toes is both the older boy and one of the girls have only 4 toes. I didn't feel breeding those together would produce anything good. The pullets have pretty good combs so hopefully the 4 toed girl will pass hers on when mated to the new boy. The original quad are also full siblings so some outside blood is probably a good idea as I know nothing about their breeding. Everyone will be marked so if I find the new guy is producing lots of hideous combs and white spotted chests I can cull that line. I want the toes, I don't want the other issues.
I am definitely planing to use the ALBC selection guides. Lucky for me space isn't an issue.
Planing to hatch 100+ in spring which shouldn't be too hard with 3 laying. Although... how many eggs do they lay before going broody? I have had exactly 8 Dorking eggs (all went into the 'bator today) and this afternoon I have my laying Dorking sitting on the nest growling at me. I discovered her when I went to steal today's eggs as I'd not had time to grab them this morning. Carefully fished them out and offered her 3 ping pong balls that are supposed to be cat toys. She growled at me again then scooted them under her.
Can she actually be broody after laying only 8 eggs?!?! It sure looks like it!
Absolutely possible, you won't know until night time and you go out to check. If she is gone and a real egg is in the nest where she was, then no not broody. If yes and only the golf balls are there, they yep, probably. LOL
Mine are not particularly broody as of yet. I have one that is considering it... So far, every time I move her over to another nest where she could actually go set, she hops off and goes back to the roost. I'd prefer her to be a layer than a momma as I have tons of people wanting to work with this breed in my area and I LOVE that idea. I'd be great to make Kansas City the Dorking Capital!
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