Chicken Breed Focus - Dorking

[sjturner79]

Hi - some of my eggs were meant to be pure Dorking, but I'm not sure which ones.
I think this one might be . I am in Australia if the SOP are different.
I just realized you cant actually see his double rear toe in these pictures.
Can anyone tell me if this looks like a dorking ?

 

[bettymae83]

Quote:
I love the fact that this breed has such a strong, rich history!! I feel very drawn to this breed, and I would like to get into breeding them eventually. I really want the color phase in the above photo. Can anyone tell me what color that is? Can anyone tell me where I can get a Roo and at least 3 hens that are "show quality", in this color?

 

[Talithahorse]

Looks like a Silver Grey Dorking Rooster to me. Can't help you much in finding show quality myself, I have Red Dorkings, not Silver Grey (SG)

 

[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.

 

[connieconnie]

Quote:

I love the fact that this breed has such a strong, rich history!! I feel very drawn to this breed, and I would like to get into breeding them eventually. I really want the color phase in the above photo. Can anyone tell me what color that is? Can anyone tell me where I can get a Roo and at least 3 hens that are "show quality", in this color?

They are silver grey dorking hens (dark grey patterning with a salmon red breast and light grey head), the cockerels of this breed are black with silver grey neck and back. Sorry I'm in the uk, so don't know any US breeders. I hope you manage to fine what you're looking for!

 

[connieconnie]

Hi - some of my eggs were meant to be pure Dorking, but I'm not sure which ones.
I think this one might be . I am in Australia if the SOP are different.
I just realized you cant actually see his double rear toe in these pictures.
Can anyone tell me if this looks like a dorking ?

Super cute! Yes looks like a Silver grey dorking to me, but very light in color to my female dorking chicks. Might be a cockerel (depending on your line), is there a clear dark and distinct 'V' on her/his head?

 

[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.

 

[Lori J]

Interesting breed! Do you happen to know if they are heat tolerant I live in Central Mississippi?

 

[janiedoe]

I was looking for a good dual purpose breed that would be self sustainable, and would do well on the farm. I also was looking for a breed with a good history which also demonstrated a historical relevance. I was looking for a breed that was mostly present in the middle ages through the revolutionary war period. It had to still have most of the qualities that got it through history. I mostly raise them for my own enjoyment (eggs, meat, and thriftiness) but also wish to make some small contribution to keeping the breed alive and true to its foundation.

Favorite characteristics:

They are generally calm and gentle. (the ones I have anyway)
They lay a decent amount of eggs (for my family)
Seem to be willing and good parents (self sustainability)
The Roosters are good protectors and do not seem to be overly aggressive.
*Surprisingly to me, they are good about keeping themselves out of danger by climbing high into the rafters of the barn at night, staying near enough to cover to dash and hide and be alert to dangers. I could see how these helped them survive the ages.

Oh and the meat is absolutely the best chicken I have ever tasted. (They do take a long time to reach prime processing weight but oh so worth the wait (unless your overhead is the most important part).

Beautiful pic. You should enter it in the POW.