Dorkings

[BlackBart]

Quote:
I think the peach/salmon on the females breast would be showing now. What are they approx 8-10 weeks? They are a breed that is slow to mature. But they will lay well into their fourth year. Eggs mostly at the first part of the year then they drop off quite a bit. At least mine do.
The roos are just black and white, but beautiful.

 

[Raven81]

they are very good looking when they are older thats why i chose this breed, plus they aren't that common here in nz. they are approx 6-8 weeks old & 1 of them is getting the salmon color on the chest but its the biggest of the lot. i was thinking it could be a roo.

 

[BlackBart]

Roos have no salmon on them, not even as a older chick. So I would guess she will be a big hen when she grows up

They are a beautiful bird with a long history. They are a good meat bird too, they have white skin.

http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/CGD/Dorks/BRKDorks.html

 

[Raven81]

thanks for that it looks like i may have 4 girls then. but mine dont look the same as the 4wk old pics they look to be older than mine maybe they weren't 4-6 wks old when i got them

 

[Raven81]

WELL 1 died last nite & i dont know why. i got up this morn & there was 3 dorks running around. went looking for the 4th & it was still in the sleeping area but dead poor wee thing.

 

[BlackBart]

RIP

For a ancient breed, I have been told by Dorking breeders, they can be a bit delicate.
Maybe there was something wrong inside of her?

 

[Raven81]

dont know she was running around like the others yesterday she just didnt get up this morn. ive noticed 1 has watery poop is that normal? they are drinking alot of water as it quite hot here during the day now. im real paranoid im gunna lose more.

 

[Raven81]

well a update im pretty sure the big 1 with brown on chest is def a girl & 1 is def looking like a roo hes getting more white on the back compared to others. & i think im starting to see the brown color on the third one so that means 2 girls 1 boy. im happy enuf with that.

 

[BlackBart]

So can you figure out approx what age they started looking different?
It would be good for the rest of us to have some idea when to start to look for the distinction.

 

[jeslewmazer]

My experience with Silver Gray Dorkins has been that pullets will feather a salmon colored chest and roosters will feather a black chest. I did have one pullet that started to feather a dark splotchy chest be soon it turned salmon colored. The breed does seem to be delicate.