Dorking meat birds

[HappyRoo]

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Very cool thanks for info and pics.

 

[hunterlj]

The project is still living. Sorry about the lack of updates. One of my roosters got very violent with the other. Not just normal fighting but more like fight to the death type fighting. I wanted to keep both roosters but I couldn’t. I ended up processing the aggressor at about 6 months old. He was 5lbs after processed. I didn’t weigh him before. Pictures to come. The body looks great. Huge dark legs and the breast is pretty good too. In all honesty the rooster I kept felt like he had more meat on him. I’m excited to hatch some chicks this spring. Thinking about caponizing some too. I’ll post some pictures when he’s done resting in the fridge.

 

[Compost King]

Thought I would share a picture of my first hatched Dorking chick although its only half Dorking because my Females had not laid any eggs when I started this hatch. Silver Grey Dorking x Red Ranger . My Dorking Females just started laying so pure bred Dorkings will be in he incubator in Jan or Feb when I resume hatching.

 

[Compost King]

I have a question about Dorkings.
I was told that this was a breed that went broody like clockwork. All of them will go broody at a certain time of the year. If this is true what month should I stop collecting eggs and let them do their thing?

 

[hunterlj]

I have a question about Dorkings.
I was told that this was a breed that went broody like clockwork. All of them will go broody at a certain time of the year. If this is true what month should I stop collecting eggs and let them do their thing?

I’ve heard this from a number of others as well however my birds haven’t gone through their first spring yet. I would believe it though. The weather is getting cold and the days are shorter up here in New Hampshire. The hens are 25 weeks (ish) and haven’t started to lay yet. I fear they won’t start until spring. I wouldn’t leave eggs out to encourage them to go broody but once some of mine decide they want to I’ll give them back some eggs. I’ll just either give them eggs from the other hens or make sure not to refrigerate the eggs. I’m not sure on the exact month but whenever mine are ready I’ll encourage them to brood.

 

[Compost King]

Cool we will be learning this at the same time. I also read "they lay about 30 eggs and go broody" from one site. I suppose that means after they molt and start laying again they will likely go broody in 2 months (?) time will tell.

 

[hunterlj]

I guess one of my girls doesn’t mind the short days and low temps. Got my first egg yesterday. I figured my birds were just hatched at the wrong time of year and I’d be waiting until spring for my first egg!

 

[Compost King]

I have been getting eggs for about a month now, they will lay every day... almost! The eggs do not get much bigger than what you are holding though. I have Production reds and Dorkings laying (2 each) and since I am collecting both of these eggs for hatching I have been able to keep count. In one week the 2 Dorkings laid 13 eggs, the 2 Production Reds (great winter layers also) laid 12. The Production reds took a few weeks to go from POL to everyday laying. My Dorkings went straight into daily laying. the Production reds did start laying slightly sooner however, they also eat less feed.
Now I wait until spring to see if they go broody as advertised.

Keep us posted if your Dorking Hens also go straight into daily laying.

 

[hunterlj]

I’ll let you know. I didn’t get any eggs yesterday but hopefully I’ll get one today. I’ve got 6 dorking hens and an Isabel Orpington hen. Really hoping to get some eggs soon! The one feels like a tease

 

[hunterlj]

Got another egg this morning. Just slightly larger than the first!