B.Y.C. Dorking Club!

[Mrs MIA]

Quote:
That's a thought... I have three hens, one red, two SG. And only one rooster, so I can't even swap him out for another Dork.

So, if I put her in another pen, my choices of roosters are:
1: Rose Comb RIR
2: Single Comb RIR
3: Barred Rock
4: Black Copper Marans
5: Blue English Orpington
6: Lavender Orpington

Which would you choose? I'm thinking Red Dorking hen with one of the RIRs...

I usually wait until 2 weeks. But when you have a tray of 50+ eggs, and they're all developed at day 7 except those darn see-through white eggs...

*sigh*

 

[tgrlily]

Mrs. AK-Bird-Brain :

Quote:
That's a thought... I have three hens, one red, two SG. And only one rooster, so I can't even swap him out for another Dork.

So, if I put her in another pen, my choices of roosters are:
1: Rose Comb RIR
2: Single Comb RIR
3: Barred Rock
4: Black Copper Marans
5: Blue English Orpington
6: Lavender Orpington

Which would you choose? I'm thinking Red Dorking hen with one of the RIRs...

I usually wait until 2 weeks. But when you have a tray of 50+ eggs, and they're all developed at day 7 except those darn see-through white eggs...

*sigh*

First ------ Please realize that I'm a "radical" and only think outside the box! Frankly -- I don't even believe in the box.

If you're just testing for fertility, any of the roosters would work.

RC RIR over the red hen would be good for the comb & general coloring. It looks a little more complicated than I thought in the chicken calculator.

Barred Rock --- wouldn't be the perfect choice for this, but it could be done --- Put him over a SG hen to start a cuckoo Dorking project. You'll have to breed out the leg color, select for type, etc. But why not? They're ridiculously hard to find. Here, we're going to use Dominique.

Barred Rock over the red girl would be the start of a Crele project.

I love Crele!

Young Master Noah suggests, "Make Lavender Dorkings!"

The Dorking was one of the breeds used to create Orpingtons. It's actually not a difficult cross... I would use the Red girl, not SG. After you cross back the F1s you'll have options -- solid lavender or isabel, which is going to be a very popular color in the next few years. We'll also be trying this one here. Part of Noah's theory to repopularize the Dorking is to create excitement by making new colors that people really want -- which will bring the Dorking back into the spotlight. Crazier things have been known to happen!

See??? Told ya I'm a radical!

 

[RareBreedFancier]

Sorry to hear your still having fertility issues.

Just a thought, if you put one of the SG hens in with a RIR roo you'll make sexlinks so you could sell them sexed at hatching if you don't want to keep crossbreeds.
Still on fertility... I couldn't help myself and peeked at my Easter eggs... it's only day 3!

I have a Dorking developing!

Going to keep my hands off till day 7 now and see what I have then but I'm soooooooooooo exited!

 

[Mrs MIA]

Quote:
That is very awesome! I'm glad SOMEONE is hatching Dorks!!

Renee, I like the way you think.

I'm going to print your post to keep for future reference. However, in order to keep family peace I do believe I'm going to go with RBF's RIRxSG for the sexlinks. I am two breeding pens short as it is, and I don't need another project right now (hubby's not buying the "what's one more breed?" argument anymore)

So if I can at least sex the chicks at birth, I'm one step ahead of the game. But later... it is ON! I love crele too, and the idea of making my own is tempting, so tempting!!

Thank you for all the ideas. I think I'm going to put her in with the RC RIR roo... more room, and with our winters, the more RC chicks I have the better.

to you all!

 

[Allsardane]

Wow,

That is a mighty fine looking Roo!



Quote:

 

[tgrlily]

Mrs. AK-Bird-Brain :

Quote:
That is very awesome! I'm glad SOMEONE is hatching Dorks!!

Renee, I like the way you think.

I'm going to print your post to keep for future reference. However, in order to keep family peace I do believe I'm going to go with RBF's RIRxSG for the sexlinks. I am two breeding pens short as it is, and I don't need another project right now (hubby's not buying the "what's one more breed?" argument anymore)

So if I can at least sex the chicks at birth, I'm one step ahead of the game. But later... it is ON! I love crele too, and the idea of making my own is tempting, so tempting!!

Thank you for all the ideas. I think I'm going to put her in with the RC RIR roo... more room, and with our winters, the more RC chicks I have the better.

to you all!

Thanks! I'm glad you liked them!

I know I make my poor husband crazy! He's ok with my theories until I actually hatch them! I have to decide which breed to get rid of in order to add more Dorking colors. It's worth it. I have 3 varieties of Ameraucana. I think I'm going to give up 2.

My test hatch using a Dominique hen produced black sex links - which I knew would happen. But I didn't have access to a Dom Roo, so used what I could get. I have some nice Dom chicks growing out for the real project.​

 

[tgrlily]

Thanks!! He's so good to his girls, too!
I owe you an email! LOL

Quote:

 

[tgrlily]

Hey! We fell all the way to page 4! Where is everybody?

I just spent half an hour on the phone with a Dorking breeder in Texas.

Very nice guy named Mike. He's not on here or any of the Dorking clubs! He has a flock of SGs -- 4 cock-birds over 20 hens -- and his stock is from more than1 source. He's cool with me sharing his info & putting him in my breeders list.

Here's his website:
Honey Suckle Farms

 

[Raven81]

here is a video of boobs, his crowing has improved somewhat but still sounds funny.

 

[tgrlily]

How old is he? His crowing sounds nice compared to my silkies & ameraucanas!!!

They are pitiful!!!
He's a very handsome boy!