Hmmmm...that's because you're reading too much into it, and not reading in progression with what I said. I was discussing hatcheries and my references were to hatcheries, which if you reread the paragraph which gave you offense, you'll notice that the very first sentence in the paragraph made it clear. The hatchery in question is a "hatchery" not a breeder. I made specific mention of Dick's birds because they have at least the possibility of being a different line as opposed to other hatcheries/pseudo-hatcheries (such as this one).
When I said this: "If there are any even moderately SQ Dorkings in America, they are in the Reds, Whites, and SGs. " Yours were some of what I had in mind. I didn't mention you, but then again I didn't mention, us, Rudy or Dick in that statement--thus neither did I exclude you. As to your comment: "when you frequently imply that - aside from Dick Horstman and you and maybe Rudy - there are no other breeders with Dorkings that are any better than hatchery stock." This is an assumption on your part, and it is incorrect. I enjoyed the photos of your birds. You'll also notice that I did not elevate mine above the Reds or the SG's--including yours. When I mention those birds, it is as sources for stock. I don't tell people to go to you because I've not ever been under the impression that you are actively working to make stock available: shipping chicks, etc... Are you? Did I miss that? Or are you just being sensitive?
And to the point that you are admiring stock, that's great. Your eye is not mine. I have a very critical eye, and I'm harshest at home. When I look at current stock, whether it be Rudy's, Dick's, yours, mine, what I've seen of Mary's, I see stock in need of improvement. I don't see show quality, and I don't "admire" any of it. I see potential, and I see building blocks. When there's actually a Dorking that can take Champion English in good competition, I'll admire it.
Now that we're all offended, the only reason I chimed in here at all, which I try to avoid because of this very sort of silliness, was for the sake of beginning lurkers who might be coming here for advice, it would be a shame were they to get a false start by ordering from this "hatchery" believing in any way that they are ordering SQ stock imported from Britain. So, with that, back to lurking.
