Dorking Cocks

[Dorkgirl]

Hi I am new to the Dorking breed.. I currently have 7 McMurray Silver Dorking hens and 3 cocks that will be a year old this month. I need to remove 2 of the cocks from the flock.. I have one that is mean but is the prettiest with wonderful markings..the other two have better temperaments..but feathers and markings not as pronounced. if I keep the aggressive one.. will his mean streak be passed on to future flocks? Should I just remove him?

 

[Sydney Acres]

I had a similar problem with my initial Dorking flock. The best male was human aggressive. However, he was clearly and undeniably the best male in every way. Luckily, my best quality hens also had the calmest temperaments. By selecting the right hens, I was able to get some sons from him that had all his good qualities, but the calm attitudes from the hens (not all the sons were sweethearts, but luckily the best quality ones were). So yes, temperament can be inherited, but selecting for temperament in later generations can breed it out of the line quickly.

That being said, Dorkings are Dorkings not because of their "wonderful markings," but because of their total physicality. They have a very specific shape, size, and bearing. Lots of chickens are the same color as the Silver Grey Dorking, but that doesn't make them a Dorking. When you are a new breeder, color is almost irrelevant in making breeder selections. It is a "finishing detail" that you consider after you have everything else right about your flock. Dorkings should be selected for health, vigor, frame (conformation and posture of the bone structure), weight, feet details, head details, feathering quality, and then color, in that order of importance. Many breeders also have other selection criteria, such as temperament, foraging ability, broodiness, etc, that they consider important to the breed, and assign those things certain high or low priorities. This doesn't mean that you completely ignore the things at the end of the list, but characteristics need to be "weighted" as to level of importance. If you concentrate on color but don't prioritize frame, soon your Dorking flock will be nothing more than a group of pretty black and white birds of unidentifiable breed.

If you can post pictures of your flock, there are numerous experienced breeders online that can help you make selections, both on BYC and on FB (Dorking Club USA page, as well as many of the Dorking International pages). Try to get pictures at the bird's level, and try to get a straight side view, front view, back view, and overhead view of each bird ideally (but since they won't cooperate for their mug shots, at least a good side view).

Welcome to BYC, and to the Dorking breed. Once you get the aggression out of your flock, they are wonderful and amazing birds.