Chicken Breed Focus - Dorking

[chicknmania]

I have a silver gray Dorking I got out of the surprise bin at the hatchery. Her name is Boogie, because when she was a chick, she was lightning fast, I always had an awful time catching her to move her from place to place, lol! She's grown up to be a quiet hen who generally just minds her own business, but she has lots of chicken friends. I have never seen her go broody. She does not seem to mind extremely hot temperatures. She hasn't seen a severe winter yet, but this past mild winter she did just fine.

 

[BlueBaby]

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.

 

[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.

 

[glendor787]

By the way, been looking at this collectible card:
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/372885361952

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/

 

[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 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.

Too bad that you aren't able to breed more of them.

 

[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.

 

[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.

 

[glendor787]

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.

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.

 

[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!!