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

[jgervais]

I have a broody Dorking hen! Yeh! I put 9 eggs under her and hoping for the best. My first hatching of this whole dorking project, ohhhh what lessons will I learn this time around?

 

[flowerchild59]

Thanks for all the updates on your dorkings. I took the plunge this spring and I am getting 10 rose comb white dorkings from yellowhouse farm. I can't wait to get them.

 

[jgervais]

Thats exciting! Man their Dorkings look good, youre lucky!

 

[speedy2020]

Here is a photo of the Dorking x Dark Cornish cross I got & have permission to post from Backyardchicken member "cluckingnuts" that live in UK. All the 3 white chickens at front are Dorking cross. These are 7th generation with 4 toes.

 

[stuckinthecity]

I am so glad you posted this! He looks great!!

And here was dinner last night - after resting the bird for a few days my husband surprised me and cooked it. He used an enameled cast iron dutch oven, cut up a bunch of veggies and added a few cups of water - cooked it in the oven for an hour and a half. He didn't brine it like we usually do, because it was a surprise and my husband didn't realize to brine first.

This was a very active rooster and you could taste that in the legs; really dark and a little chewy. I think we should have cooked him a little slower in a crock pot since he was over 7 months old and very muscular, and brining for a few hours definitely would have helped tenderize the meat. But great tasting as usual - soooo different from a super market bird and my husband did such a great job making it look so beautiful. Nothing says comfort food like coming home to a roasted bird with mashed potatoes and gravy. I'm a lucky gal!

 

[jgervais]

Thanks for the cross pic! interesting looking birds. My broody is sitting on a pile of eggs, but im not exactly sure which eggs... might be some orpington crosses or some barred rock crosses in there! im excited

 

[stuckinthecity]

Sounds like some very good meat crosses to me.

Thanks for the cross pic! interesting looking birds. My broody is sitting on a pile of eggs, but im not exactly sure which eggs... might be some orpington crosses or some barred rock crosses in there! im excited

 

[jgervais]

Just checked and I have two broody hens right now. Yikes. This is going to be a lot of baby chicks!

 

[vishnu kokareko]

oh yeah

 

[vishnu kokareko]