Okay I wanted to get some thoughts on my trio. I had a dozen eggs and these were the three that hatched. I know that the roosters coloring isn't the greatest as far as the standards go but I think they have the blocky look to them. They are 12 weeks right now.
Any critiquing is appreciated. These are what I have to start with but I would like to know where I should go from here and what traits I should be trying to breed into the next generation.
Wow, how lucky are you?! You hatch exactly 3 eggs and get this gorgeous trio. Where did you get the eggs?
It's a bit soon to know how they'll mature, but as 12 week olds they're beautiful. They'll probably change quite a bit in the next 3-6 months, but will hopefully retain that blocky shape and short, thick leg (especially on the one pullet). I wouldn't worry about the color on your rooster at this point. He's got a lot of molting and wardrobe changes to go through in the next year. Many of the details will change. Send more pictures when they're 20-24 weeks old.
If these are the only Dorkings that you have, then you're probably not looking at who to cull in order to breed for a specific trait this year. You only have one male, so unless you plan to get more birds before you start breeding, he will have be your first flock sire, regardless of his eventual traits. Of the two hens, you'll need to decide if you want to breed both, or just the best one. Unless one of the hens has an obvious severe fault, or unless you want to start with a very small number of chicks, you will likely want to breed both. Once you have a number of chicks to chose from, then you want to concentrate on one primary trait at a time. (If you eliminate every chick with any imperfection, then you'll end up with no one left. Every bird will have some imperfections -- it's just a matter of what you're breeding for NOW. Once you get that trait to consistently breed true, then you maintain that trait and start to work on the next.)
The order that most breeders are working is to first eliminate all chicks that have genetically dominant disqualifications, since you will never be able to get dominant traits out of your flock. Side sprigs on combs is an example I've seen mentioned frequently. (Experienced breeders -- any other disqualifications that are genetically dominant, or difficult to eliminate?) Then breed the chicks with the best body conformation -- rectangular when viewed from the side (a deep, long keel), straight legs positioned far apart when viewed from the front (knees and hocks at the proper angle to support their weight and a wide chest and pelvis), good width to the back in front of the tail (wide pelvis) and across the chest, shoulders carried slightly higher than hips (strong back muscles, less stress on back and hips, important for elongated birds), and shortish, thick legs. Someone on this site described this breed as wide, low, beautiful barges. Proper body conformation is the basis of this breed; all else is fashion details, and much quicker to change with directed breeding. (That's not to say everything else should be ignored, but just not the primary reason for selection.) Once body conformation is where you want it, most breeders then list comb and foot shape, and color comes last. I would add one more thing that I think is very important -- temperament. This breed should be relatively calm and friendly. A huge, high-strung, anxious, or aggressive bird makes everyone miserable, regardless of its beauty. The Dorking Breeders Club website has some great information, and nice pictures.
Sometimes camera angles can be deceptive, and similar looking chickens can get mixed up. As impossible as it is to get the perfect shot of a moving chicken..., those details can make a difference in how people evaluate them, especially since we can't see them in 3D. I find it easier to evaluate conformation by having one picture aimed down vertically from directly over the back, one each horizontally (at the chicken's level, not our level) from the right side, left side, front, and back. Also, a close up of the head from right, left, front, and back. And a close up of each foot, taken when someone is holding them off the ground or when they're standing on a flat (not grassy) surface, at an angle that shows all five toes best (usually aiming at the inside of the leg, lined up with the third toe, at ~30 degree angle from above, but every foot is slightly different) . If there are similar looking birds, then labeling them with names or numbers will keep us from getting them mixed up.
I know, I know. It's impossible, and it makes you feel like you're taking mug shots of criminals. But the more specific the information you give out, the more valuable the critique you'll get in return, without all those qualifiers about camera angles and body parts not included.
--April
