Review of Dorkings as a table bird *update: pics and weight of our last Dorking rooster*

[Illia]

Did you ever by chance get photos of the whole carcass, uncut, before eating/cutting/cooking it?

I've always considered getting Dorkings either from show lines or lines that meet or exceed the SOP weight. How were yours, weight wise?

 

[jgervais]

I did not. And I am mad at myself for not. I did weigh one of the carcasses at about 4.5 pounds - but he was not one of the big roosters and he was only about 4 months old. We had sort of a strange way of deciding who was dinner: I knew I wanted to keep the 2 largest, usually the largest would be dinner... Also the first few to go were the trouble makers, they werent really of a large size, but terrorizing the hens... Ideally the 2 roos I have would be perfect butcher right now - they are 6 months old, and very large. But I need them for makin' babies in spring. I will have a more accurate answer to the weight and dress with this next batch of hatchlings in spring. I do wish I kept a better record though for reference.

 

[jgervais]

We had two roosters remaining and they started fighting like crazy. I had plans of keeping them both but it would be too hard to keep them separate and still live a decent life. We processed our silver grey rooster two nights ago. He was 7 months old. Quite large, the second largest out of my entire group of 18 I received. The dressed carcass weighed 71 ounces - so about 4 and 1/2 pounds. Here are some pics - I really thought he would have more breast meat... Ill have to report after the weekend about taste since he was much older than the others we processed before.

 

[jgervais]

also thought he would have weighed at least 5 pounds... he did have a lot of feathers

 

[speedy2020]

Your dorking is not full growth. I heard folks from England cross DC x dorking to produce faster growth rate and better taste.

 

[LilyD]

I am very interested in Dorkings now that is one amazing looking bird. I wonder if crossing the Dorkings over other hens would create a good table bird as well. My mind is just swimming with the possibilities.

 

[DanIndiana]

This guy was a 20 week old Barred Plymouth Rock. He was a great hen protector, but he wouldn't stop attacking the kids. He dressed at around 4 1/2 lbs. It was the pictures from the Dorking that made me post this. His dark meat was ridiculously good; looked just like that picture of the Dorking. It reminded me of rich turkey dark meat without all the tendons. Still a skinny breast, but amazing.

 

[LilyD]

• jgervais Will you be selling hatching eggs this year? I love the colorings of your rooster and I would like to get some Dorkings this year but boy you are right it's hard to find them

 

[speedy2020]

What is IG?

IG is Indian Game (Dark cornish)

 

[jgervais]

• jgervais Will you be selling hatching eggs this year? I love the colorings of your rooster and I would like to get some Dorkings this year but boy you are right it's hard to find them

We're thinking about it - this is my first chicken adventure, so I'm not sure how things will go. The plan was to have a sustainable flock for table birds, but if all goes well I was going to sell some chicks as well.