Chicken Breed Focus - Dorking

[BlueBaby]

Oh I love them. Does one of them have a bent toe though?

I hadn't noticed any bent toes on them, but I'll check again when I go back out there later.

 

[BlueBaby]

It's the one in the top left corner that I'm looking at

I figured that was the one that you were talking about. If you look closer, you will see that that toe is propped up by 3 pieces of alfalfa hay.

 

[BlueBaby]

Looking good! Hard to see the breast feathers very well. They are less feathered out looking than a 4 week old leghorn! A slower to mature breed. But I don't see any roo combs or big feet!

So, you think that I won't be able to name one of them Big Foot, then?

 

[BlueBaby]

Yes, they all have the 5 toes on each foot like they are supposed to have.

 

[BlueBaby]

Dorkings are the best. I had a Dorking pullet (ordered a cockerel, got a pullet) recently who was the sweetest thing ever. I found her dead in her pen around a month ago. Losing a chicken is sometimes like losing a close family member.

Sorry that you lost that one. Where you get it from?

 

[BlueBaby]

I'm planning on getting some from IDEAL next spring (planning on 4 girls and 8 males, keep the girls and the best male and eat the other 7). Is there anything specific i should be prepared with them as chicks? Like extra fragility, or health problems?

No, they were like any other chick. I got them when they were old enough to be outside though (4 week's old), so I put them in my grow-out pen so that the bigger one's in my flock couldn't get to them. The one's that I have came from Murry McMurrys.

 

[BlueBaby]

The other day I was taking some wet feed with the vitamin water out to them and when I open the coop door one of the Dorking pullet's ran out into the yard. She stopped right outside of the coop door though, so I lowered the bowl to arouse her curiosity and entice her to get back into the coop. It worked!

 

[BlueBaby]

Im so excited to get mine next spring

I'm already picking out a coop for my keepers to live in

Make sure the outside of it is secure, because these love to dig right by the sides of the coop and run. Everytime I go back out there I have to fill the hole's back in so something that might dig from the outside won't be able to meet them half way.

 

[NorthwoodsChick]

Does anyone have Dorking roos living in cold climate? I am concerned about frostbite even with excellent ventilation in my coop. I do not (will not) heat the coop but it is sheltered from prevailing winter winds.