Dorkings questions

[CHKNFMR]

I just received an order of dorking eggs, 15 of them. I've done some research and can't seem to find the hatching time. I may need to look a bit harder. Is it the same as regular chickens, 21 days? I got the eggs in the mail yesterday, know I have to let them settle for 24 hrs after travel, but I have 23 regular chicken eggs in the bator now and two weeks till they hatch. Wasn't expecting to find the dorkings so they came a bit unexpected time wise. Will the dorkings last if I keep them room temp until the others hatch or should I add them to the bator for a mixed hatching? We did a mixed with some quail and chicks and it turned out fine. But there were only a couple days difference in those, these will be a bit longer. Any suggestions or info would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Wolf-Kim]

They'll hatch right along with the rest of them. Sometimes my Dorkings hatch behind the other breeds in the incubator(either that or my Javas are just revving to go). If they do not hatch right on time give them a day or two. Mine "usually" hatch on time with the rest. Nothing special! Expect those cute five-toed fluffy-butts day 21!

Two weeks is a long time to wait to set shipped eggs. I would just put them in the incubator after allowing them to settle. They'll hatch a week after the other eggs, but it should be fine..

I personally wouldn't wait, hatch rate is at risk just from the shipping alone you may not want to add risk on to it by holding them for two more weeks.

-Kim

 

[CHKNFMR]

I was hoping for info along those lines. I can hardly wait for these to get here. not that I don't love my others, espically the babies just hatched by the sister hens in the same nest, but these will be more of the 'pets' than the others. Will probably add them to the bator after work today. That will have given them a little over 24 hours of resting time. I'm so excited!!!!!

 

[deeszoo]

Yay!! More Dorking fans in the making! They are such wonderful birds and I am glad to see more people keeping them.

My girls took a little longer to mature than I thought, but have laid almost an egg a day since then. We will see what summer heat does to them, but the winter didn't bother them a bit.

DeAnna

 

[Mrs MIA]

I've got 4 Red Dorkings in the hatcher... tomorrow's the big 2-1!

I'm having a difficult time with the Dorking eggs... only one of my first shipment hatched - my only pullet so far. I lost all of my first set of Reds, and now have hopes for the 4 in the hatcher. I have two more sets of SGDs in the bator now, from two different sellers, and I'm having similar problems. The eggs are really porous, and the airsacs have been trashed from shipping, so even if they develop, they die before hatching somewhere between 16 and 20 days. Not to worry you, though...The only advice I can give you is, if they are porous, and traveled a long way, bump your humidity up to about 60% during the first 18 days. The higher humidity should slow the moisture loss through the pores, and keept he airsac intact. Hopefully. I'm testing that theory now with 17 eggs. It's my last attempt at hatching any dorkings this season. I am on the waiting list with Ideal, but it looks like it's going to be June before I hear anything.

Good luck with your hatch... I'm taking notes, so I know who to call on for eggs!

 

[CHKNFMR]

Put all 15 in the bator yesterday afternoon. Thanks for the info about the humidity and air sacs. I'll be on the lookout for that. This will be the longest 21 days yet.

 

[Mrs MIA]

They're just like other chicken eggs, but I'm finding you do have to really baby them.

And if someone can benefit from my steep learning curve, I'm happy. Good luck... sending you good hatching vibes. One of my Reds is zipping as I write this...

On the selfish side, I'm keeping track of everyone that has Dorkings in case I need more eggs...