B.Y.C. Dorking Club!

[tgrlily]

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Nice!!! I'm getting SG eggs next week!!!!

I hope they all develop for you!

 

[RareBreedFancier]

Thank you

I hope all yours develop too.

I'm oh so tempted to start up weekly hatches but it's autumn here. I will for sure be doing that in spring.

 

[tgrlily]

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Thank you!

I wish I had started hatching last fall. The girls layed a lot more over the winter than they are now. Who knew? I had incubator issues till I upgraded last month, so I didn't hatch too many anyhow.

We have a beautiful Red pair growing out that were hatched in January. Noah's planning to use one of them for 4-H showmanship, since they won't be quite full grown & will be easier to hold. He named them D'Artagnan & Elizabeth... said if we don't like the way D'artagnan grows out, we can rename him Butcher or Roast & eat him!

The last one Noah named Butch is going to be shown... he's stunning! Maybe we should change his name!

 

[Urbanfarmerkc]

She (Kathy) is going to hatch me out some silkies and so I will get to see all of her lovelies in person in about 3 weeks.

Come see me in Kansas City and get some of these SG Dorkings... LOL I had about 10 hatch last night...

BTW go look at her Barred Rocks... They shocked me how beautiful they are. I am amazed at them. Her Orps are just beautiful birds too. If I were rich, I'd create a huge garden and let those wonder about under the roses. They look like something that should be in that kind of space.

Her birds are the best I've ever seen!​

 

[Urbanfarmerkc]

Dave... I'm using Dominiques from NYREDS show winning stock. I'm a terrible chicken snob!!! Going for the rosecomb for Central NY winters. We get snow like Tori does! From what I've read, Doms are in the original recipe for cuckoo. I also read that it's what Craig Russell used for the same cross and white sport Doms for the white Dorkings.

If we are going to bring these birds back from the brink, I think it is important that we bring them back with the strongest blood lines possible. I've noticed some of the more rare breeds tend to be weak. A weak line of chicken won't survive. They need to be able to be tossed out on someones back yard and neglected like many, MANY folks do and be able to eat grass, fight off predators and so forth and so on.

Good lines need to be used but also some good old gritty lines need to be in there too.

I love my SGs for their resilence but can see some real need for strong background lines to be integrated. I only have this one flock so I can't speak for the breed as a whole. I have very seriously considered whether some of my Dels should be introduced one year and then breed out so some of the strenth that exists in that line can carry over. Also, nice egg size and stronger shells. I've read the Light Sussex is developed from that line too so a good strong flock of those might be a good introduction also.

I've begun to study genetics since that is what we are all really doing here. It is confusing as heck to me but in the end I think it'll be worth it.

Dave​

 

[Urbanfarmerkc]

BTW, speaking of genetics, I have been hatching La Fleche x Delawares all spring and have had brown and black chicks even barred chicks born but last night I had my first all yellow chick born. That was one out of 100. So interesting. I can't wait to see what it turns out to be when it is grown.

 

[BlackBart]

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If we are going to bring these birds back from the brink, I think it is important that we bring them back with the strongest blood lines possible. I've noticed some of the more rare breeds tend to be weak. A weak line of chicken won't survive. They need to be able to be tossed out on someones back yard and neglected like many, MANY folks do and be able to eat grass, fight off predators and so forth and so on.

Good lines need to be used but also some good old gritty lines need to be in there too.

I love my SGs for their resilence but can see some real need for strong background lines to be integrated. I only have this one flock so I can't speak for the breed as a whole. I have very seriously considered whether some of my Dels should be introduced one year and then breed out so some of the strenth that exists in that line can carry over. Also, nice egg size and stronger shells. I've read the Light Sussex is developed from that line too so a good strong flock of those might be a good introduction also.

I've begun to study genetics since that is what we are all really doing here. It is confusing as heck to me but in the end I think it'll be worth it.

Dave

My SGD are hardy, strong and robust, not weak at all. They forage no matter what the weather conditions are.
Big birds that lay big eggs. Affectionatley known as Chicken tanks.
Maybe it is the stock you purchased? maybe too much inbreeding? I have noticed the hatchery birds are of poor quality.
I just purchased some SGD chicks un-related to my stock. Hoping to get another robust bloodline.

It is just my opinion but I would get some better stock instead of what I have heard some SGD breeders call "polluting the breed". They are old school though and have beautiful birds and a Dorking network.

Of no help to you but they will be selling SGD hatching eggs at our local poultry swap on Sunday $18 a dozen.

 

[tazcat70]

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Come see me in Kansas City and get some of these SG Dorkings... LOL I had about 10 hatch last night...

BTW go look at her Barred Rocks... They shocked me how beautiful they are. I am amazed at them. Her Orps are just beautiful birds too. If I were rich, I'd create a huge garden and let those wonder about under the roses. They look like something that should be in that kind of space.

Her birds are the best I've ever seen!

So turn a 6 hour round trip drive into a 10-12 hrs. SG are my 2nd favorite Dorking and I want to have them at some time...but I just don't think I can swing that long of a trip. I haven't even told my husband about my planned trip to Kathy's.

Wanna meet in Emporia?

 

[RareBreedFancier]

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No help to me either but I'd sure like a few dozen. I have the hatching bug again.

I'm already itching to candle the eggs I set yesterday.

Oh how I love candling white eggs!

 

[Mrs MIA]

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