Texas

[CatKai]

My cousins are about 1 1/2 hrs away, driving in from OK! One is getting 2 rescue puppies and the other is getting his 1st chickens from me!

 

[Kilsharion]

The SOP says Dorkings (LF)
Cock - 9 lbs
Cockerel - 8 lbs
Hen - 7 lbs
Pullet - 6 lbs

Admitted to the Standard:
White - 1874
Silver Gray - 1874
Colored - 1874
Red - 1995
Cuckoo - 1998

Yes, hon. I know what the standard says, here in America. And, the bird is a disgrace to its origins. [edit to add:] That's part of what we are working on fixing. (Me and Yinepu)

That's why I said:


Quote:
Even the SoP of 9 pounds, here in the US, is proving to be difficult for breeders to attain. That is probably associated to the breeding in of some of the gamebirds at a point in history. Which is also part of the reason, some believe, that the American Red is so brassy compared to the British Red. [end edit]


The British standard has the weight of the Dorking as 10-14 pounds.

The Australian standard has the weight of the Dorking as 10-14 pounds

I also know what the documentation says that I have from the late 1800s and early 1900s - and, that is that the bird was known to reach 14 pounds and rival the size of a small turkey. The capons were largely desired and could get a bit larger than 14 pounds.

 

[Texasmja]

My cousins are about 1 1/2 hrs away, driving in from OK! One is getting 2 rescue puppies and the other is getting his 1st chickens from me!

Dang, they could of brought my Turkey eggs down! LOL I am waiting on the USPS to do it's job.

 

[Kilsharion]

My cousins are about 1 1/2 hrs away, driving in from OK! One is getting 2 rescue puppies and the other is getting his 1st chickens from me!

Sweet!!! Enjoy the visit.

 

[Texasmja]

Yes, hon. I know what the standard says, here in America. And, the bird is a disgrace to its origins. [edit to add:] That's part of what we are working on fixing. (Me and Yinepu) [end edit]

The British standard has the weight of the Dorking as 10-14 pounds.

The Australian standard has the weight of the Dorking as 10-14 pounds

I also know what the documentation says that I have from the late 1800s and early 1900s - and, that is that the bird was known to reach 14 pounds and rival the size of a small turkey. The capons were largely desired and could get a bit larger than 14 pounds.

I do not know anything about the breed, I just looked it up and shared what the APA has in the SOP 2010. I only breed one breed of chicken. That I know, lol.

 

[Kilsharion]

I do not know anything about the breed, I just looked it up and shared what the APA has in the SOP.

Yeah - if you compare the standards in American to the British and the Australian, you will see that someone's been playing fast and loose with the breed here in America.

It's one reason I'm working on getting paperwork and such in place (and talking to breeders in the UK) to try and import some of the British bloodlines. I'm hoping that I can cross them with the American lines and start getting the bulk back. I'm just curious what it's going to do with the colouration.

British Red Dorking:










American Red Dorking:

 

[Cockle-Dood]

kili

where do you get info/documents for the 1800's? i feel like ive googled the heck outta a few breeds but dont ever seem to come across that kind of info? did you get back issues of the SOP's?

 

[Kilsharion]

kili

where do you get info/documents for the 1800's? i feel like ive googled the heck outta a few breeds but dont ever seem to come across that kind of info? did you get back issues of the SOP's?

No, I have some family documents from quite a ways back. Including some of Stephen Hopkins' logs. As well, you can find information on older poultry data at archive.org and other places since they are considered public domain, now days. I found quite a bit of feed formulation from the late 1800s, early 1900s that way.

You can also find antique books and writings on poultry. They aren't easy to find; but, you will occasionally find someone referencing a particular document and then can track it down that way.

edit:
Like this: http://www.backyardpoultrymag.com/issues/1/1-1/Craig_Russell.html

I would contact Craig Russell and ask him for his resources. Then pursue from there.

I do that kind of stuff all the time.

Also, another difference between British and American Dorkings....American Dorkings lay a cream coloured egg. British Dorkings lay a white egg. Again, makes one realize they had to have been playing around here in America to get an egg colour change like that.

And, I collect random tidbits, like this from the American Poultry Journal - volume 30 - September 1899:





That really don't gain me anything so far as knowing about weight, etc. However, it does reconfirm the white flesh (as opposed to yellow so common in the super markets), hardiness, broad and projecting breast, etc. Any little bit helps to build a vision of the morphing of the bird from the first description of it (popularly believed to be the Dorking) in 47 AD to the bird we see today.

 

[Kilsharion]

BTW - Google eBooks is another good place to look for digitized older books. Many of them are free. Like this book, The Poultry-Yard: Comprising the Managed of Fowls for Use and Exhibition by Miss E Watts. It's one that I reference for information on Dorkings, as well as other information. It actually has some great information in it.

There are a lot of books from the late 1800s, early 1900s that have information that is still heavily used today.

 

[Scoutmedic]

Quick, off topic question. I have some eggs that I'm expecting in a week or two. If I place a bunch of my fake eggs in a nest box, what are my chances of bribing some hen into broodiness?

BTW, happy belated birthday and welcome to the newcomers!!!