B.Y.C. Dorking Club!

[RedBugPoultry]

Hmmm on the parasites. I will check. It's about time to dose them with Ivermectin, though I haven't really seen anything, it surely won't hurt. The temps only are in the low 30's here at night, and the roo seems active enough, and since I've already hatched eggs from him and these same girls I am befuddled, unless like you said, it's either parasites or the light.

Are your bird showing active breeding? Parasites will keep their attention off breeding but if you see breeding going on I would think it is something else. Of course it could be the hens not the cockerels. I am watching my Dorkings pretty close to see if I see these issues. So far the eggs are fertile but we are in the Southern/coastal part of SC.

 

[ki4got]

The colored birds are gorgeous and if I am reading this right Janelle has a roo but no girls and Ki4got has girls but no boy... is there a fix here? Just saying...

only one problem. i'm in VA and that colored roo is in canada...

 

[ki4got]

and re: fertility, i'm noticing more lazy rooster than anything else... eggs from the hens the red goes after are fertile, everything else isn't... so the big guy's on vacation i guess. he did this to me last year until about march.

 

[janelle18]

regardless, if i found him locally, i'd snag him in a heartbeat. 8)

The colored birds are gorgeous and if I am reading this right Janelle has a roo but no girls and Ki4got has girls but no boy... is there a fix here? Just saying...

Yes, my bird is apparently camera shy. I can't even point it at him or be near him with it. That shot was a zoomed shot from across the lawn and when he saw me squatting he stopped eating to get ready to run. Irritating. This boy is about 27 weeks... I think. Some of my other birds seem to be developing faster, even as heritage (Marans, Orp, Delaware, NH Red). Did I read this right? Having several cockerels around influence development?? Do explain.

I have some hens, but they are silver dorking hens

Dominate cockerels tend to develop faster than their underlings, or those cockerels lower in the pecking order. Sometimes males develop faster if they are separated by themselves or with a hen of their own. Separating though starts a whole new problem if you do not have the pens to keep them separate because you probably will not get them back into the same pen without fighting.

My Coloured Dorking used to be a in a pen that had him, one hen and an older silver dorking roo. My coloured roo was always subordinate to the older silver dorking male, when we removed the older male the coloured dorking's attitude changed right away and he had no problem assuming the dominate role. I feel like since we removed the other male he has developed a lot more



** all this talk of chicken genetics is funny, because right now I am sitting in my genetic's class in University... I think I would be paying more attention if we were talking chicken genetics!

 

[Sydney Acres]

Dominate cockerels tend to develop faster than their underlings, or those cockerels lower in the pecking order. Sometimes males develop faster if they are separated by themselves or with a hen of their own. Separating though starts a whole new problem if you do not have the pens to keep them separate because you probably will not get them back into the same pen without fighting.

Do you find that the subordinate rooster eventually reaches his full potential, or does he tend to be permanently stunted? My subordinate rooster is both growing bone and filling out muscle very slowly compared to my dominant rooster. At 7 months old, the larger one is almost 7 pounds, and the smaller one is about 1 1/2 pounds lighter, and not filled out at all. They free range with 14 hens and 5 other roosters (the other roosters are a different breed, smaller, and don't interact much with the two Dorking roosters). The smaller Dorking rooster has plenty of food available, but spends most of his time trying to breed with the hens, which the dominant rooster forbids. There's no real fighting, since the smaller rooster backs away. I like the conformation of the smaller one, and would love to use him in the future if he will eventually develop appropriate size. I would prefer not to separate them right now, but would consider it if it's necessary for him to reach his full potential. On the other hand, if he will eventually reach full size without separation, that would be much easier at this time, since I'm not in a hurry for him to grow but don't have the extra pens right now.

 

[knappster]

I live in Northern Alabama.

I am trying to find some Dorking for a backyard flock.

Does anyone have any for sale, tips, leads, etc?

I am looking for 1-24 weeks old, shipping or meet up ok.

Thanks!

 

[RedBugPoultry]

Do you find that the subordinate rooster eventually reaches his full potential, or does he tend to be permanently stunted? My subordinate rooster is both growing bone and filling out muscle very slowly compared to my dominant rooster. At 7 months old, the larger one is almost 7 pounds, and the smaller one is about 1 1/2 pounds lighter, and not filled out at all. They free range with 14 hens and 5 other roosters (the other roosters are a different breed, smaller, and don't interact much with the two Dorking roosters). The smaller Dorking rooster has plenty of food available, but spends most of his time trying to breed with the hens, which the dominant rooster forbids. There's no real fighting, since the smaller rooster backs away. I like the conformation of the smaller one, and would love to use him in the future if he will eventually develop appropriate size. I would prefer not to separate them right now, but would consider it if it's necessary for him to reach his full potential. On the other hand, if he will eventually reach full size without separation, that would be much easier at this time, since I'm not in a hurry for him to grow but don't have the extra pens right now.

I have heard different opinions, on different threads, on this subject but from what I have observed I feel they catch up with the other roos. I would not worry about moving them for the winter but you may want to get them in their own breeding pens by hatching season--though I leave 2 roosters in with most of my flocks. I will be breaking at least one of my Red Dorking roos out with some choice hens probably in January to his own breeding pen.

 

[ki4got]

re: dominant vs sibmissive roos... in my experience, the submissive roos tend to lag a bit behind physically, because the dominant roo is going to let HIS girls have the food first, and the low man isn't going to get to eat until everyone else is full...

even when i'm free ranging everyone, i still offer some layer pellets, and see this every time. the younger roos hang out on the fringes waiting for the older roos and all the girls take what they want first. that also includes my horses, who will take what they want first over the chickens, if i don't make an effort to 'hide' the feed (ie under hubby's truck).

 

[RedBugPoultry]

Karen, You make a very good point on the food! I wasn't really thinking about that....The young cockerels have to eat and if you don't do something to insure they get some of the food they will not develop. My Dorking are in a 20 x 40 foot pen. I have developed some blind spots where I feed birds so the less dominant cockerels and the lower food chain pullets can eat without being harassed ~ or I should say everyone can eat. They would like to be free ranging but here everyone has to take a turn getting out to dig--Dorking get every 4th or 5th day out.

 

[ashandvine]

only one problem. i'm in VA and that colored roo is in canada...

Well, make a vaca... I'm in Maine. You could stop by for a break. lol

The dom/sub roo explanation makes me feel dense. Of course. This certainly explains what I see everyday and recognized for what it was but I thought there was something about the hormones or magic. You know, something less obvious and more mysterious. Oh well.