There were a couple of questions on here, and I'd like to give my observations from my own flock of reds.
It is very hot and humid in Central Alabama this time of year -- the adult Dorkings are doing very well even in their new pens that don't have the mature shade trees they grew up free ranging under last summer.
If I collect eggs, my hens do not go broody. If I leave eggs for a few days, it is easy to get them to brood.
Someone was asking about roost heights. Once mature, 3 ft. is plenty as a 9 lb. cock jumping straight down in an enclosure can jamb his feet or injure legs. Flying off a perch with a steady easy decent across a yard is different thing entirely.
The strain of reds that I have are very mellow easy going birds that rarely hop a fence. If I open the gate, they span long distances grubbing for seeds and bugs and are EXCELLENT free ranger foragers.
I've also had Sandhill birds that went where ever they wished. Excellent foragers, but would hop the fence every day. This is a large yard with a 6ft. board fence around it.
CapayKim has stated this before -- Dorking temperment varies with different strains.
It is very hot and humid in Central Alabama this time of year -- the adult Dorkings are doing very well even in their new pens that don't have the mature shade trees they grew up free ranging under last summer.
If I collect eggs, my hens do not go broody. If I leave eggs for a few days, it is easy to get them to brood.
Someone was asking about roost heights. Once mature, 3 ft. is plenty as a 9 lb. cock jumping straight down in an enclosure can jamb his feet or injure legs. Flying off a perch with a steady easy decent across a yard is different thing entirely.
The strain of reds that I have are very mellow easy going birds that rarely hop a fence. If I open the gate, they span long distances grubbing for seeds and bugs and are EXCELLENT free ranger foragers.
I've also had Sandhill birds that went where ever they wished. Excellent foragers, but would hop the fence every day. This is a large yard with a 6ft. board fence around it.
CapayKim has stated this before -- Dorking temperment varies with different strains.
