Chickens for 10-20 years or more? Pull up a rockin' chair and lay some wisdom on us!

[Fred's Hens]

Fred , a question, how has your luck been in breeding forward with your "production" birds? or were your recent posts only talking about your heritage breeds?

Actually, I was discussing breeding better birds, even those from hatchery stock origins.

 

[Kansas Prairie]

Please ignore.

 

[capayvalleychick]

I am glad to see Dorking roos are gentle. I'm thinking of getting some Dorking chicks next spring, is there anything unusual about raising them that you care to share?

For the most part, you just raise them just like you would any other chickens.

If you have very cold winters, you might prefer the Whites, since they have rose combs. My Silvers have always done great in our extremely hot summers. Mine forage well, they're barely touching the feed that I provide.

The breed has been neglected and generally is not as good as it was in years past. Those of us who are raising them are trying to improve them back up to Standard. It can be difficult to find a breeder with good stock and most of the hatchery Dorkings are inferior. Fertility & hatchability is not as good as it should be.
Even with the bad shape that they are in now, I still enjoy raising them and I'm happy with them as a dual purpose bird.

 

[Pozees]

For the most part, you just raise them just like you would any other chickens.

If you have very cold winters, you might prefer the Whites, since they have rose combs. My Silvers have always done great in our extremely hot summers. Mine forage well, they're barely touching the feed that I provide.

The breed has been neglected and generally is not as good as it was in years past. Those of us who are raising them are trying to improve them back up to Standard. It can be difficult to find a breeder with good stock and most of the hatchery Dorkings are inferior. Fertility & hatchability is not as good as it should be.
Even with the bad shape that they are in now, I still enjoy raising them and I'm happy with them as a dual purpose bird.

I am lucky enough to have both hot summers and at least some cold spells during winter. I prefer rose combs, but white birds seem to wear a target at my house, so I have no white chickens (had them in my previous chicken experience, love them) - of all the pigeons that hang around our barn, whites seem to be the first to be killed by birds of prey. As soon as one shows up, we know it's not going to be around long. It's okay, I sort of wish they would all leave, but have to close in the run-in barn in order to keep them out or trap them.

Anyway, got off topic, sorry! I will most likely look for silvers. I am in CO, do you know of any breeders in this part of the country you would recommend, or if not do you sell/ship chicks?

Thanks!

 

[Fred's Hens]

Fred , a question, how has your luck been in breeding forward with your "production" birds? or were your recent posts only talking about your heritage breeds?

This is perhaps my all time favorite hen. I know, I know, given the thousands of birds I've had, that is saying alot, but I mean it. She has laid an egg, every day, every day for going on 2 years. She's friendly as beagle pup, thrifty, smart as a whip. She trains all my young pullets to lay in the nest. 100% of them. She's quiet, not the least bit bossy and a great flock mate.

You almost cannot buy a bird like this. You'd have to buy a few HUNDRED hatchery chicks and maybe, maybe, like hitting Red 17 on a Vegas Roulette Wheel, you might get one. We bred her, 4th generation bird. She's Number One for this spring's hatching season. I intend to hatch every egg she lays in March and April. That's how strongly I feel about this. That's why she is in my avatar.

 

[capayvalleychick]

Anyway, got off topic, sorry! I will most likely look for silvers. I am in CO, do you know of any breeders in this part of the country you would recommend, or if not do you sell/ship chicks?

Thanks!

I don't know of any in CO or close to you, and I'm not selling at this point. You might look to see if Duane Urch has any this coming year. The Dorking Breeders Club has a breeder directory for members.

Some people recommend McMurrays.

 

[Beekissed]

She's gorgeous! And, what breed, you may ask??? My very favorite!!!!! I've had more good birds of that breed from hatchery stock than any other breed, bar none.

 

[bruceh]

I guess I would refer back to a recent discussion about rooster selection and plug in your own needs. Do you need a roo that keeps close watch over the girls? If yes, which have you observed doing so? Is there one that feathered faster, eats less, is simply more robustly healthy? Are you keeping one so you can have eggs to hatch? Do you know for sure there are no fertility issues? Are they both gentlemanly with the ladies? Do the ladies like one more than another?

The style of a game cock is about as opposite a cochin as I can imagine, so if they both seem equal in all aspects, you will have to pick based on the direction you want to go. I am no judge of chicken flesh, so I can't look at your pictures and tell you what the best roo is from a SOP perspective. Any moment now, Fred, Bee, Bruce, Al, or one of the many others with loads more eye than me will have recommendations.

I guess the worst that can happen is you aren't happy with the one you keep, and start with a new roo in the spring. I still see people offering free roosters near me.

what are the goals for your flock?. do you want chicks? there is nothing wrong with keeping 2 roosters if there is no fighting. if not breeding for show or any type standard. no worries. the one rooster who claims his favorite hen, will the others breed with him?
fred would most likely be a better judge then me. i listed on the thread of what i like. i would also look a combs and body build. also look at fred's advice on the tail. tails mean a lot when breeding for the reason fred stated a nice fan tail equals better egg layers and easier copulation. if the rooster has a small tight tail those genetics are passed to the offspring. the body build i look for is a wide body . i like wide and deep. feathering is also a thing i look for nice tight feathering.
okay the other question is and is just as important is the hens. how do they look ? you could have a great rooster and crapy hens
just an example i have 1 rooster and 16 hens out of those hens the final count i may breed is 2-4. however this is me. even though. i may breed these i still won't know til i see the offspring.

that is my take.i have known to be wrong before.

 

[bruceh]

This is perhaps my all time favorite hen. I know, I know, given the thousands of birds I've had, that is saying alot, but I mean it. She has laid an egg, every day, every day for going on 2 years. She's friendly as beagle pup, thrifty, smart as a whip. She trains all my young pullets to lay in the nest. 100% of them. She's quiet, not the least bit bossy and a great flock mate.

You almost cannot buy a bird like this. You'd have to buy a few HUNDRED hatchery chicks and maybe, maybe, like hitting Red 17 on a Vegas Roulette Wheel, you might get one. We bred her, 4th generation bird. She's Number One for this spring's hatching season. I intend to hatch every egg she lays in March and April. That's how strongly I feel about this. That's why she is in my avatar.

BEAUTIFUL JUST BEAUTIFUL. i am jealous.

 

[Mountain Momma]

BEAUTIFUL JUST BEAUTIFUL. i am jealous.

She is lovely and she deserves to have a legacy like that. How do you, Bruce, know that she is the one laying all those eggs?