The Dorking Breeders thread

[DesertChic]

LOL. That's ok. I came up with that plan originally just out of humane considerations to one of my hens. I had a very active rooster in with a single hen -- the traditional pair breeding setup. That's really not a good male:female ratio, so she was getting abused and he was getting frustrated. So I added more hens of my other breed to the pen and it worked great -- combination of harem social system with the perfect male:female ratio, and effectively pair breeding all in one pen. I posted the plan 3-4 years ago on a thread that was frequented by several "my way or the highway" breeders, and they tore it to shreds. It was amazing how many things they didn't like about, and how many negative comments they had about me personally, without listing any specific problems that it caused. It got really ugly. So I didn't post it again until recently, just as part of a list of possible solutions to a problem someone was having, like I did above. A few people loved it, commented on how helpful it was, passed it on, and now I see it pop up here and there. I love that!! Thank you for passing it on. It allows us to keep better track of our breeding program, and the entire flock is happy, all at the same time.

Personally I think it's a brilliant method and solves a lot of potential problems with simple elegance. I bought Ameracauna hatching eggs so I'll have identifiable blue/green egg layers to mix in with my Dorking, Bielefelder and NN Turken breeding projects. When I first read about your method I was positively ecstatic, so thanks for sharing!

 

[capayvalleychick]

5. Gently infuse food coloring into the vent of a hen shortly before laying (I don't know how long this works, but I've heard only a few hours -- but might be longer). Use a different color for each hen. The food coloring will incorporate into the bloom when the egg is laid so the egg from each hen will be tinted a different color. I have never tried this. I don't know how much food coloring to use, whether to just hold the hen upside down and drip the coloring onto the vent or use a smooth tipped syringe to infuse inside, or what the risks or success rate are. But I'm sure someone out there knows all the details.

I tried dripping food coloring into the vent of hens. Held them upside down and used multiple drops of different colors. Didn't work at all. Only the blue left very faint swipes of color that was barely visible.
So, I separate breeder hens into separate pens for egg collection.

Just curious, anyone hatch Red Dorkings with spangling? I have a few Reds that hatched with white tips on their feathers. I noticed it when they where in the brooder, but thought I would leave them alone and see what happens. It has only gotten more pronounced with age. I should probably take some photos of them. They sure are cute, but I don't know what I'm gonna do with them.

On the Dorking breeders club, there was a lady, years ago, who bred Spangled Dorkings. I think she called herself Dorqueen. If you look on that website forum, you may find it.

 

[RhodeRunner]

I am thinking that mottled may be a better term to use then spangled? They only have white tips on their feathers, no black, and they do not have the dark mahogany color of a spangled fowl. (The photos of Spangled Dorkings are lovely, but these aren't the same at all.) They look like normal Red Dorkings, with white tips on their feathers.

 

[Sydney Acres]

Quote:
Thank you. I love the way you started the description by saying, "This may sound crazy, but..." It is somewhat crazy, but it works. Sometimes thinking outside the box helps solve problems simply.

 

[Sydney Acres]

I am thinking that mottled may be a better term to use then spangled? They only have white tips on their feathers, no black, and they do not have the dark mahogany color of a spangled fowl. (The photos of Spangled Dorkings are lovely, but these aren't the same at all.) They look like normal Red Dorkings, with white tips on their feathers.

Sounds like we need pictures

 

[kittydoc]

Has anyone on the thread purchased chicks from Sand Hill? A bunch of us around Indianapolis placed a group order, and several of us are getting Dorkings. I ordered chicks that are an experimental color for Dorkings--the Columbian/Delaware pattern. Do any of you folks have birds that color? If so, I'd love to see photos (especially of them as chicks!). We're just hoping we can tell the different Dorkings apart from each other, since I think we have three different colors ordered going to three different people.

They are scheduled to ship in early May, and I'm excited to get a pair. I hope I get one male and one female (anything but two roos will do, though!).

Is anyone else on this thread from Indiana or neighboring states?

 

[ki4got]

Just curious, anyone hatch Red Dorkings with spangling? I have a few Reds that hatched with white tips on their feathers. I noticed it when they where in the brooder, but thought I would leave them alone and see what happens. It has only gotten more pronounced with age. I should probably take some photos of them. They sure are cute, but I don't know what I'm gonna do with them.

I've seen that in a number of red breeds (red bantam cochins, rir, and my red dorkings) and they do feather out without those lighter tips. juvenile feathering changes a lot as they mature.

 

[AFChick]

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[Dirt Farmer]

Sorry I fell off of the face of the earth  for several days lol

Rooster- 10 months -  8.27 lbs
Hen 1-   10.5 months - 6.78 lbs
Hen 2-    9.75 months - 6.30 lbs

The rooster was on alert at the time of the pic above- New pics of top views, front, etc., are in my youngest sons camera to be retrieved this weekend  (Sunday at the latest 'cause it's laundry day lol)

I sat down and compared your pictures to the AO Schilling 1914 idealized photos. (I love these old works, my wife gave me 1915 SOP for Christmas.). I think your birds are fairly good overall but I'll focus on the contrasts. The male has quite a bit more saddle development than the standard photo. It appears to hang lower than his body. His tail may be slightly long and slightly high. As you mention tail angle is hard to assess from a photo. Hen no.1 has that dove like breast that I personally like but she is not as rectangular as the standard photo as a result. The tail angle is flat in your photo, but again that is something you can assess better on the live bird. I've got nothing to nit pick on hen no. 2. I'm curious what the experienced breeders think.

 

[AFChick]

thank you for the assessment- I feel much the same as per SOP. BOTH his saddle and hackles are longer and much fuller than I would personally like as they throw off his actual body lines. You'd think after 6 years I'd have that fixed by now, huh- lol

Anyway, out of 10, I've selected these 3 as my best SG that I have to work with this season.