Chicken Breed Focus - Dorking

[zoojem]

I do. I have 9 Red Dorkings (1 rooster, 8 hens).
5 are four years old, 3 are three years old & 1 is two years.
I purchased 4 of the oldest as pullets/cockerels from a breeder in St. Louis. The other older hen I hatched from eggs from a breeder in PA, she had a hatch mate but slipped a tendon and had to be put down.
The 4 youngest were bred by my older birds, all raised by the same broody hen. We tried for chicks the past two years but all eggs have been duds. From observation, our rooster is really trying each day, but the ladies just won't let him do anything, thus no fertilized eggs.
We ended up getting some Wyandotte chicks for my broody to raise this year since she sat 2 years in a row for nothing.

Is anyone currently breeding and raising them here? It seems that some of the the older members posting's that they haven't been here for a while.

 

[BlueBaby]

I just bought 7 four-week old Silver Grey Dorking pullet's late this afternoon. They seem pretty tame, as they didn't run away when I picked them up. The sun's going down now so I'll try getting pictures tomorrow.

 

[TwoCrows]

Very pretty breed!!

But now I want a statue just like that one in MY yard!!

Hope to see other Dorking owners post pics here!

 

[Miss Lydia]

I love, love, love my Dorkings! I got my two Silver Grays last year and they have already become my absolute favorite breed!

To answer the first post questions:

I got my Dorkings because I had heard good things about them and I've always loved the silver duckwing pattern on hens, so they seemed like a good breed to try out in my mixed flock. I own them for fun right now, but I do plan to build a barn and breeding pens in the future, and at least one of those breeding pens is reserved for Dorkings.

My favorite characteristic about them is definitely their personalities! My Dorking gals are such snuggle bugs, super calm, never aggressive to the other birds, and so easygoing that even when they are broody, they never growl or peck at me. Mine are just over a year old and have also only attempted brooding, which they give up on rather quickly when moved to another pen to keep them off the nest.


Elda is the cuddlier of the two and has cuddle-seeking senses.

She's a bit on the quiet side by comparison to her sister.





Kit's a bit more reserved when it comes to cuddles, but much more sociable and likes to carry on conversations with me. She's been a bit more prone to brooding as well.




And the two of them as babies.

Kit-kit is on the left and Elly is on the right:

Their so pretty and love the baby pics.

 

[connieconnie]

Do you own Dorkings? Are you a Dorking breeder? If so, please reply to this thread with the your thoughts and experiences, including:

· What made you decide to get this breed?
· Do you own them for fun? Breeding? Some other purpose?
· What are your favorite characteristics about this breed?
· Post some pics of your birds; male/female, chicks, eggs, etc!

I've only recently discovered the joys of having chickens, started hatching my own flock about 3 months ago. I've now got chicks of different ages of barred plymouth rocks, cream legbars, silver grey dorkings, black croad langshans and blue, blue copper and black copper marans.

Out of all of them, the dorking chicks have the sweetest personality. Super sweet, curious and always wanting to be where you are. Do not mind be picked up and will fall asleep in your lap. They are short, 5 toed and beautiful. Definitely they cutest chicks I've had.

My chicks came from a breeder who says her line lay every day without fail, so although they're not thought as good layers, you can get a line that are excellent at laying! So can be a perfect duel purpose breed; best tasting meat and good layers.

They even have some very slight autosexing from hatch for the silver grey variety (not sure if autosexing is the right word, but the females have a dark clear and distinct 'V' on their head and chipmunk pattern, in males this 'v' on their head is not as clear and lighter in colouration and a bit smudged). At 4 weeks, you can also sex them easily as their breast feathers come in, males have black breast feathers and females a browny salmon red.

Silver Grey Dorking - info - including sexing at hatch

Definitely recommend them, plus you'll be helping conserve the breed and fertile eggs or chicks are highly sort after due to their rarity.

 

[BYC Project Manager]

The Dorking is a very old English breed that has primarily been raised throughout its history as a table bird. The breed has two unusual distinguishing features, having an extra hind toe and rather short legs. The exact origins of Dorkings is shrouded in time, but table birds with five toes whose description fits the Dorking, were mentioned as far back as AD47 in Roman writings, and it is believed the Romans introduced the birds to England. It was a landrace from around the town of Dorking, England which was eventually developed into the breed that we know today.

The breed has a fairly calm, gentle temperament, the birds are good foragers and are not inclined to wander. Besides being considered one of the best table birds, and primarily bred for that, Dorking hens are good winter layers. The hens do go broody fairly often and make very good mothers and are often used to foster other chicks. Dorkings also have red earlobes, which is uncommon in layers of white eggs.

They come in a number of colors, including, White, Red, Cuckoo, Colored, and Silver Gray.

They were introduced into the US early on, exactly when is unknown, but they were shown in their first poultry show in 1849. Quite popular in their time, they were gradually replaced by the commercial hybrid meat birds, and they are a rather rare breed now. It was recognized by the APA in 1874 and is on The Livestock Conservancy's Threatened list.

Details:

Breed purpose: Meat, Dual Purpose,
Comb Type: Single and Rose.
Broodiness: Frequent, good mothers.
Climate Tolerance: Cold hardy.
Weight: Roosters 9lbs, hens 7lbs.
Egg Productivity: Fair, good winter layers.
Egg Size: Large.
Egg Color: White/Tinted.



Rooster, picture @pysankigirl


Flock, picture @Yellow House Farm


Dorking Chicks @Rockashelle


Dorking Cockerel @ki4got


Dorking Hen @ki4got


Dorking Cockerel @Jwhip


Dorking Flock @Yellow House Farm


Dorking Pullet @Yellow House Farm



The Dorking Cockerel Statue in Dorking, Surrey county on the Deepdene roundabout, England. Created by sculptor Peter Parkinson, the statue was unveiled in 2007, is about 10 feet high and weighs over a thousand pounds.

BYC Breed review:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/products/dorking

General breed discussions & FAQ thread:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/118388/b-y-c-dorking-club/0_20

Exhibition, Genetics, & Breeding to the Standard of Perfection thread:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/882047/the-dorking-breeders-thread/0_20

As Meat Birds:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...s-and-weight-of-our-last-dorking-rooster/0_20


Do you own Dorkings? Are you a Dorking breeder? If so, please reply to this thread with the your thoughts and experiences, including:

· What made you decide to get this breed?
· Do you own them for fun? Breeding? Some other purpose?
· What are your favorite characteristics about this breed?
· Post some pics of your birds; male/female, chicks, eggs, etc!

We have a bunch of other awesome breed-focus threads for you to enjoy. You can see all of them here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/chicken-breed-focus-project.975504/

This week the Dorking is featured on our homepage! Do you own Dorkings? Are you a Dorking breeder? If so, please reply to this thread with your thoughts and experiences, including:

· What made you decide to get this breed?
· Do you own them for fun? Breeding? Some other purpose?
· What are your favorite characteristics about this breed?
· Post some pics of your birds; male/female, chicks, eggs, etc!

 

[Spudlo]

The Dorking is a very old English breed that has primarily been raised throughout its history as a table bird. The breed has two unusual distinguishing features, having an extra hind toe and rather short legs. The exact origins of Dorkings is shrouded in time, but table birds with five toes whose description fits the Dorking, were mentioned as far back as AD47 in Roman writings, and it is believed the Romans introduced the birds to England. It was a landrace from around the town of Dorking, England which was eventually developed into the breed that we know today.

The breed has a fairly calm, gentle temperament, the birds are good foragers and are not inclined to wander. Besides being considered one of the best table birds, and primarily bred for that, Dorking hens are good winter layers. The hens do go broody fairly often and make very good mothers and are often used to foster other chicks. Dorkings also have red earlobes, which is uncommon in layers of white eggs.

They come in a number of colors, including, White, Red, Cuckoo, Colored, and Silver Gray.

They were introduced into the US early on, exactly when is unknown, but they were shown in their first poultry show in 1849. Quite popular in their time, they were gradually replaced by the commercial hybrid meat birds, and they are a rather rare breed now. It was recognized by the APA in 1874 and is on The Livestock Conservancy's Threatened list.

Details:

Breed purpose: Meat, Dual Purpose,
Comb Type: Single and Rose.
Broodiness: Frequent, good mothers.
Climate Tolerance: Cold hardy.
Weight: Roosters 9lbs, hens 7lbs.
Egg Productivity: Fair, good winter layers.
Egg Size: Large.
Egg Color: White/Tinted.



Rooster, picture @pysankigirl


Flock, picture @Yellow House Farm


Dorking Chicks @Rockashelle


Dorking Cockerel @ki4got


Dorking Hen @ki4got


Dorking Cockerel @Jwhip


Dorking Flock @Yellow House Farm


Dorking Pullet @Yellow House Farm



The Dorking Cockerel Statue in Dorking, Surrey county on the Deepdene roundabout, England. Created by sculptor Peter Parkinson, the statue was unveiled in 2007, is about 10 feet high and weighs over a thousand pounds.

BYC Breed review:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/products/dorking

General breed discussions & FAQ thread:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/118388/b-y-c-dorking-club/0_20

Exhibition, Genetics, & Breeding to the Standard of Perfection thread:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/882047/the-dorking-breeders-thread/0_20

As Meat Birds:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...s-and-weight-of-our-last-dorking-rooster/0_20


Do you own Dorkings? Are you a Dorking breeder? If so, please reply to this thread with the your thoughts and experiences, including:

· What made you decide to get this breed?
· Do you own them for fun? Breeding? Some other purpose?
· What are your favorite characteristics about this breed?
· Post some pics of your birds; male/female, chicks, eggs, etc!

We have a bunch of other awesome breed-focus threads for you to enjoy. You can see all of them here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/chicken-breed-focus-project.975504/

DeeDee “Dork Dork” loves to be held and falls asleep in just a few min. Has become my favorite.

 

[glendor787]

I just got 3 silver dorkings chicks. I got 1 rooster and 2 girls. I owe many breeds, but one day I stumbled into a Dorking article and I fell in love with their characteristics and looks.

 

[Parront]

Hi, I have some Sand Hill Red Dorkings due to arrive end of August, or the first week of Sept. Only 5, & straight run is the only way he ships them. I will probably have some extra cockerels. I hate to count the chickens before they hatch, but I will probably not keep the males. No promises, sometimes Sandhill can not ship what you ordered. I told them any Dorking would be fine as a substitute. If anyone wants to PM me, I would be happy to send you a cockerel by mail in a very expensive box! I would only want the cost of the chick + shipping = an arm and a leg! An Arizona flock member could get delivery, I have a small car and like to drive.

 

[glendor787]

Pls let me know, I got 1 roo/2 silver dorking hens, not laying yet, they are adorable. If you want and get any pullets, I’m willing to get a pair from you.

I mean buy!!