B.Y.C. Dorking Club!

[capayvalleychick]

I asked that in addition to the please do not substitute ANYTHING for Dorkings note on my order, that they please note that I would prefer a refund of my Dorking Dollars if they cannot fill the order so that I may spend my DD's on Dorkings elsewhere. I do NOT need any more non Dorking Chickens!

I see...the early bird gets the worm.

So, did they let you order 25 Dorkings? When I looked, you could only order 10 and had to order 15 more of another breed from their SQ chicks. That was my hesitation, I didn't want any more breeds besides what I have already.

If you end up with too many cockerels, let me know. I'm still looking for something better than what I've got.

Are you going to the show at Stockton?

Kim

 

[007medic]

Shame on y'all!

All this talk of ordering chicks and getting geared up for springtime is about put me into a hatching fever...AND I'M JUST NOW IDENTIFYING POSSIBLE (not necessarily probable) SOURCES FOR HATCHING EGGS!

...anywho... I'm laying out the footprint of the coop that's going to be dedicated to Dorkings to be finished by the end of February, scrubbin' out the cabinet hatcher with bleach and virex, and reading all my back issues from the SPPA on breeding for type and Dorkings in general. I've begun to formulate a 5 year plan with specific type goals and general color goals.

As I begin to begin, I'm not overly concerned with color (I know! shocking, right?). I'll be making very general selection for shafting, dark females (with a preference for black lacing) and roughly the right color in the right place. Type is what I'll be trying to establish in these first generations and if I can get some color in the process...well, that'd be a bonus.

I'd really appreciate any feedback from everyone what goals for type they have in their breeding program as I believe concerted efforts from varied sources help to better the breed. Tell me, what to your eye marks a bird to cull? Size? Leg? Comb? Shape? Tail? Fifth toe? Leg color? Please share with me what problems you've experienced in establishing type in your lines. What did you have to select for? What did you have to select against? What were the most common problems with type that you encountered?

I really would appreciate and value the voices of first-hand experience.

J

 

[tracyjenner]

sign me up /I have one rooster and 5 girls but love them !!

 

[ki4got]

Quote:

Shame on y'all!

All this talk of ordering chicks and getting geared up for springtime is about put me into a hatching fever...AND I'M JUST NOW IDENTIFYING POSSIBLE (not necessarily probable) SOURCES FOR HATCHING EGGS!

...anywho... I'm laying out the footprint of the coop that's going to be dedicated to Dorkings to be finished by the end of February, scrubbin' out the cabinet hatcher with bleach and virex, and reading all my back issues from the SPPA on breeding for type and Dorkings in general. I've begun to formulate a 5 year plan with specific type goals and general color goals.

As I begin to begin, I'm not overly concerned with color (I know! shocking, right?). I'll be making very general selection for shafting, dark females (with a preference for black lacing) and roughly the right color in the right place. Type is what I'll be trying to establish in these first generations and if I can get some color in the process...well, that'd be a bonus.

I'd really appreciate any feedback from everyone what goals for type they have in their breeding program as I believe concerted efforts from varied sources help to better the breed. Tell me, what to your eye marks a bird to cull? Size? Leg? Comb? Shape? Tail? Fifth toe? Leg color? Please share with me what problems you've experienced in establishing type in your lines. What did you have to select for? What did you have to select against? What were the most common problems with type that you encountered?

I really would appreciate and value the voices of first-hand experience.

J

ditto on the request for info on selection. 8) I think I've asked this before but don't really think i got many real specific recommendations.
Thanks!

oh and as I get any extras, once my breeding pens have the #s I want, I'll be offering my extras for sale, before I put them in the freezer.

 

[SoCal Dorkings]

I see...the early bird gets the worm.

So, did they let you order 25 Dorkings? When I looked, you could only order 10 and had to order 15 more of another breed from their SQ chicks. That was my hesitation, I didn't want any more breeds besides what I have already.

If you end up with too many cockerels, let me know. I'm still looking for something better than what I've got.

Are you going to the show at Stockton?

Kim

Yes, I had a note complete with reminder message/alarm on my iCal... I have a rather advanced state of "CRS".

They only let me order 10 SGD's, and they are apparently Hatch to Order Strait Run only... I had to fill my order with something else, so I went with Silver Campines since I have never seen or heard of any on this coast. If I fall in love with them, super. Another worthwhile Heritage Breed that has a pretty good sized egg compared to body size, and a smaller bird that hopefully won't eat me out of house & home like my chunky short legged buddies (lol). If I am not overjoyed and overwhelmed with interest, I will send them along to a worthwhile person who has thoughts of preservation and get them off my feed bill, hopefully recouping my cost.

No Sacramento show for me. I am stuck squarely in the midst of Fixer House Syndrome. I will be replacing the drafty sliding door, and getting the actuator fixed on my little Garden Tractor's 3PT Hitch... And buying more D eggs/chicks before I start "galavanting around the countryside"

As far as a "spare" Roo goes... I will definitely let you know if I get/have one. I am trying to get blood from so many sources, I am bound to sooner or later, and it would be good genetic insurance to have you have a "back up" off site that I could get eggs or chick(s) from if I run into calamity (hawk, feed, etc.).

 

[SoCal Dorkings]

Shame on y'all!

All this talk of ordering chicks and getting geared up for springtime is about put me into a hatching fever...AND I'M JUST NOW IDENTIFYING POSSIBLE (not necessarily probable) SOURCES FOR HATCHING EGGS!

...anywho... I'm laying out the footprint of the coop that's going to be dedicated to Dorkings to be finished by the end of February, scrubbin' out the cabinet hatcher with bleach and virex, and reading all my back issues from the SPPA on breeding for type and Dorkings in general. I've begun to formulate a 5 year plan with specific type goals and general color goals.

As I begin to begin, I'm not overly concerned with color (I know! shocking, right?). I'll be making very general selection for shafting, dark females (with a preference for black lacing) and roughly the right color in the right place. Type is what I'll be trying to establish in these first generations and if I can get some color in the process...well, that'd be a bonus.

I'd really appreciate any feedback from everyone what goals for type they have in their breeding program as I believe concerted efforts from varied sources help to better the breed. Tell me, what to your eye marks a bird to cull? Size? Leg? Comb? Shape? Tail? Fifth toe? Leg color? Please share with me what problems you've experienced in establishing type in your lines. What did you have to select for? What did you have to select against? What were the most common problems with type that you encountered?

I really would appreciate and value the voices of first-hand experience.

J

Hi J,

If you look back through the posts on this thread, you will find an excellent and informative post (or reply?) from Joseph at Yellow House Farms that I found extremely helpful. Some other knowledgeable folks added to that discussion, and it is well worth reading. Unfortunately, I have no clue how to find it. When I first found this thread, I started reading at page one until I "caught up".

 

[ki4got]

I started letting the assorted dorklings and cochin bantam chicks free range a few days ago, tonight was the first time i've seen them socialize with my oldest chick and managed to snap some pics. they were moving around pretty good so a lot of fuzzy pics, but this one stood out to me.

the girl top left hatched october 21, the rest were spread out between november 24 and december 17, in roughly weekly increments.

8 pullets, 5 cockerels, all healthy happy and very much piglets LOL. oldest girl's nickname is ms piggy. she follows me EVERYWHERE hoping i'll drop something for her.

 

[capayvalleychick]

Please share with me what problems you've experienced in establishing type in your lines. What did you have to select for? What did you have to select against? What were the most common problems with type that you encountered?

I have Silvers. At this point I'm only concentrating on getting bigger size and more correct type. An issue with type that I'm dealing with is the placement of the legs being too far back, which makes the front of the birds elevated. I need a more balanced rectangle.

As for size, I know that the breeders on this forum cull early for size. But, I've found that many of my Dorkings do much of their maturing in their second year. I really don't think that you see the true size of a Dorking until they are 3 years of age. So, I don't cull for size when they are still chicks.
Here is what APA judge & Dorking breeder Phil Bartz told me: "if you select faster maturing birds you will lose size and usually cull birds that are actually better in many ways but, they just hadn't come into their season yet. DOrkings around my place take at least a year to reach adulthood and continue to grow well into the second year and pushing three sometimes. Body wise that is. Just weight and finish always will need the time to complete what nature intended in them. Fast gets you growthy and weaker skeletal structure "

I know it's not feasible to keep hundreds of birds around for so long, but I, personally, don't think it's best to cull chicks for size alone.

JMO

Kim

 

[ki4got]

I have Silvers. At this point I'm only concentrating on getting bigger size and more correct type. An issue with type that I'm dealing with is the placement of the legs being too far back, which makes the front of the birds elevated. I need a more balanced rectangle.

As for size, I know that the breeders on this forum cull early for size. But, I've found that many of my Dorkings do much of their maturing in their second year. I really don't think that you see the true size of a Dorking until they are 3 years of age. So, I don't cull for size when they are still chicks.
Here is what APA judge & Dorking breeder Phil Bartz told me: "if you select faster maturing birds you will lose size and usually cull birds that are actually better in many ways but, they just hadn't come into their season yet. DOrkings around my place take at least a year to reach adulthood and continue to grow well into the second year and pushing three sometimes. Body wise that is. Just weight and finish always will need the time to complete what nature intended in them. Fast gets you growthy and weaker skeletal structure "

I know it's not feasible to keep hundreds of birds around for so long, but I, personally, don't think it's best to cull chicks for size alone.

JMO

Kim

Do you have any pics to show what you're talking about? I have a general idea of what you mean but without having a reference to one or the other I'm not sure where mine stand...

 

[capayvalleychick]

Do you have any pics to show what you're talking about? I have a general idea of what you mean but without having a reference to one or the other I'm not sure where mine stand...

The first photo is Lucky. He is the one with legs too far back. I don't have a pic of a perfect Dorking, but the second photo is Big Jim. His legs are better placed, still not perfect but he's more balanced than Lucky.

Kim