B.Y.C. Dorking Club!

[Puddin Fluff]

Do you know what color she is? I ordered a variety of Dorkings and I have one just like her but she's headed towards being a full sized bird. Her colors are the coolest!!!

Try posting the pic again. Nothing came through.

 

[chickendreams24]

they are so sweet but they dont tolerate being bullied but i dont have a rooster of that breed though they are very good in mixed flocks my dorking prefures to stick by my modern game hen then my other dorking hen and yes the pullet is darker than the cockerel what color are you getting?@chickendreams24

We'll probably get SG Dorkings but I'm not sure. We really lean towards the DP heritage breeds so maybe next year we'll look into adding some. Anyone added any from a hatchery? How were their temperaments? Meat and egg qualities?

 

[summerb123]

We'll probably get SG Dorkings but I'm not sure. We really lean towards the DP heritage breeds so maybe next year we'll look into adding some. Anyone added any from a hatchery? How were their temperaments? Meat and egg qualities?

we have had ares about 3 months and have SG Dorkings not planning to eat them but, I've read that there a great dual purpose bird I got mine at Tractor Supply i guess they came from a hatchery not sure there temperment is absalutely wonderful i've also read about the rooster being sweet too mine like to perch on my leg arm shoulder and head

 

[kittydoc]

I'm thinking of converting my homestead to all heritage breeds and crops.  Rather than buying chicks every year for meat and eggs, I'm looking at building and sustaining my own dual purpose flock. Right now Dorkings are towards the top of the list.  How do they handle captivity?  Free ranging?  Winter?

Dorking meat is supposed to be excellent in flavor and texture.

 

[kittydoc]

Does anyone have an opinion about Horstman line SGD's? I am not near any breeders to physically visit. I have 2 M and 1 F from Sand Hill, and two more cockerels from a jerk on eBay who is literally nameless (plus shipping eggs illegally, not NPIP). I need girls. I really like the breed so far. Thanks for any suggested sources of hatching eggs or chicks not too far from Indiana.

 

[Talithahorse]

Dorking for the dinner table is excellent. We have enjoyed them and so far they are my favorite chicken for eating. We have eaten several at different stages from 20 weeks to over a year old and all were good.

 

[bellmare]

kittydoc, have you tried Facebook? There's a FB group called Dorking Club USA. Most of what I've heard about Horstman lines are positive - though I have never ordered from him personally. I tried for years to get Dorkings until someone pointed me in the direction of that FB group. They have an interactive map of some of their members who are breeders so you might have a great chance there. It's a closed group so you'll have to request to join but I was accepted the next day and they have a good little group going. I know some of them have ordered from Horstman before and you might be able to ask more detailed questions there.

 

[Catalana]

Hello, I'm new to chicken keeping and after raising 25 chicks from Sandhill I've decided to focus on the Dorkings I have from them. I have two dark grey dorkings and three black (they only had "mixed dorkings" available). Long story short, to even out the numbers of my flock to 20 hens and the five cockerels I want to keep (one a small charming golden campine, 3 ameraucanas, and some kind of Dorking) I need 5 more pullets.
I'm hoping to find a Dorking breeder around my area who would be willing to sell me a few pullets and maybe a cockerel. I'm in Virginia, a few hours from Richmond, and I could drive to pick them up. I realize that this is a long shot, but I just thought I would try. I'm in the process of reading through this thread but it's quite long.
Here are the dark grays

And the blacks, one of which I hope might be a pullet?

Also wondering, what would happen if I breed the dark gray dorkings with a black Dorking?

And one of my dark gray dorkings has more silver and less rose color to her. Are these both truly dark gray dorkings? Could one just be a gray?

I really like the look of my dark grays. I'd love to find 5 dark gray/ gray pullets and a dark gray cockerel, but realize my chances are slim.

Just how different are dark gray and gray dorkings? If I bred them together would they produce random unpredictable chicks, or more varieties of gray?
Thanks so much in advance for any information!

 

[Puddin Fluff]

https://livestockconservancy.org/index.php/heritage/internal/dorking

I think that only the White, Silver Gray and Red are recognized in the USA for colors. There is a color genetics thread if you are interested in what will happen if you cross colors, they could tell you. Enjoy your birds!

 

[macgro7]

Hello, I'm new to chicken keeping and after raising 25 chicks from Sandhill I've decided to focus on the Dorkings I have from them. I have two dark grey dorkings and three black (they only had "mixed dorkings" available). Long story short, to even out the numbers of my flock to 20 hens and the five cockerels I want to keep (one a small charming golden campine, 3 ameraucanas, and some kind of Dorking) I need 5 more pullets.
I'm hoping to find a Dorking breeder around my area who would be willing to sell me a few pullets and maybe a cockerel. I'm in Virginia, a few hours from Richmond, and I could drive to pick them up. I realize that this is a long shot, but I just thought I would try. I'm in the process of reading through this thread but it's quite long.
Here are the dark grays

And the blacks, one of which I hope might be a pullet?

Also wondering, what would happen if I breed the dark gray dorkings with a black Dorking?

And one of my dark gray dorkings has more silver and less rose color to her. Are these both truly dark gray dorkings? Could one just be a gray?

I really like the look of my dark grays. I'd love to find 5 dark gray/ gray pullets and a dark gray cockerel, but realize my chances are slim.

Just how different are dark gray and gray dorkings? If I bred them together would they produce random unpredictable chicks, or more varieties of gray?
Thanks so much in advance for any information!

Are you sure those are even dorking?
Dorking have 5 toes. I can't see properly on your pics but I don't think they have the extra toe.
Dorking only come in silver, red (I just got a trio of those!), dark, white and cuckoo.
All colours combined there are only about 700 registered birds! White and cuckoo only are a couple of dozens each!
There's no such thing as black dorking though...