- Jul 18, 2010
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The unfortunate thing about lack of control or something going on with one commercial source is a plethora of colors that are not and historically never were Dorking colors. Many of these colors exist on birds who would be suspect as pure Dorkings or at least Dorkings of any decent quality. They land in the hands of enthusiastic newcomers who don't realize what they are seeing in their yards isn't legitimate. Standard wise or historically. Add to the problem by calling some of these colors something that may make no sense or else may have one time been a proper name for a non Standard color. I never discount historically legitimate. Making it in to the SOP is not the only proof that a color variety exists or at least used to. Dorkings have a multitude of colors that still exist for a few breeders because they have existed in the past. I have no problem with this in theory though I do completely understand Joe's position and emphasis on focus. Half a dozen yards isn't going to go far if they are populated with three or four different color varieties. I'm going to really stick my neck out. Being or getting in to the SOP is no indication of breed type and character even though it should be, especially with the qualifying meets needed nowadays. I took a fair amount of heat for expressing some disappointment in the cuckoo Dorkings the weekend of their qualifier which they passed with flying colors. I like a good Dorking. I like the cuckoo color. And the enthusiasm and work together attitude of the Dorking breeders over a several year period was the sort of cooperative breed effort none of us may ever see again. It was wonderful. But the birds were not. They were cuckoo and they were very uniform. They were also too small, short and compact so were not Dorking size or most importantly type. Yet they were admitted to the SOP. All this just to remind those who are curious that not all the SOP varieties are well developed and there are some awfully nice birds existing in colors that will never become Standard by the looks of things.
Can you let us know who the Breeders of the cuckoo Dorkings were? Are they still working on the birds?