The Dorking Breeders thread

[NevaehFeathers]

What color are you looking for?  Where are you located?  Do you want day old chicks, fertile eggs, or a breeding trio/quad selected by an experienced breeder?  Are you ok with shipping, or do you need someone local (and how do you define local)?  Are you looking for hatchery quality, or do you want better stock? 

I'm open to any color. I'm in York, Sc. Not quite ready for chicks or eggs, I would like to start with a breeding trio/quad selected by an experienced breeder, that would be great. Id rather do local, and I'd be willing to drive up to 3hrs or so, mAybe 4hrs. Shipping is not completely out, but I'd few more comfortable shipping chicks when I'm set up for chicks. Please explain hatchery quality .... Vs better.

 

[Sydney Acres]

Quote:
Hatchery quality is typically the result of random matings without selection for any particular feature. The most aggressive roosters in the group typically breed more often, so aggression is a huge problem. Without selection of the individuals that best represent the features of the breed for breeding, the resulting chicks typically bear little resemblance to what the ideal bird should look like or act like, and meat and egg production typically spirals down to mediocre. Private breeders typically select individuals to improve the quality of their stock every generation, so a breeder-raised bird is typically a much better quality animal. Essentially, breeder quality and hatchery quality are complete opposites.

I do not know anyone in SC that breeds, but I believe there are some breeders in NC and in GA, so you might be able to find some local birds. Does anyone have any local breeder recommendations for Jesn Trent??

 

[NevaehFeathers]

Ok, that makes sense and I imagined that's what would happen regarding hatchery quality. I would prefer pure, small breeder quality for my goals in helping preserve the pure bred and for quality meat and eggs. I am 4hrs from Atlanta, and 4hrs from Raleigh. We are right outside Charlotte just across the line into SC. Starting off, I do not have a preference on color, maybe red or silver, and have one for a while, until we are set up for two colors and can keep them separate. I imagine you would keep them separate. Do some breeders breed across colors? How do I find chicken shows? Would love to go and learn. -Jes

 

[ki4got]

Ok, that makes sense and I imagined that's what would happen regarding hatchery quality. I would prefer pure, small breeder quality for my goals in helping preserve the pure bred and for quality meat and eggs. I am 4hrs from Atlanta, and 4hrs from Raleigh. We are right outside Charlotte just across the line into SC. Starting off, I do not have a preference on color, maybe red or silver, and have one for a while, until we are set up for two colors and can keep them separate. I imagine you would keep them separate. Do some breeders breed across colors? How do I find chicken shows? Would love to go and learn. -Jes

it might be too far to drive, but I'm located outside Roanoke va. I've got some youngsters growing out right now that won't be ready for a couple more months (at least - I was late hatching this year) plus I just set some more silver greys to get a few more growing out before it gets too cold to move them outside.

in my experience, my broodiest birds have been from colored and red. I've got one red girl now who's a vicious mother when it comes to protecting her chicks - a trait I love, even if it does get me flogged now and again when she's got some newly hatched ones. I won't be selling any red pullets likely this year, but I may be selling off a couple of my mature silver grey hens, depending how the pullets go (and probably a few pullets and cockerels too), as well as my current breeding rooster. I won't make that determination though until probably October or November, once the pullets get to point of lay.

 

[NevaehFeathers]

it might be too far to drive, but I'm located outside Roanoke va. I've got some youngsters growing out right now that won't be ready for a couple more months (at least - I was late hatching this year) plus I just set some more silver greys to get a few more growing out before it gets too cold to move them outside.

in my experience, my broodiest birds have been from colored and red. I've got one red girl now who's a vicious mother when it comes to protecting her chicks - a trait I love, even if it does get me flogged now and again when she's got some newly hatched ones. I won't be selling any red pullets likely this year, but I may be selling off a couple of my mature silver grey hens, depending how the pullets go (and probably a few pullets and cockerels too), as well as my current breeding rooster.  I won't make that determination though until probably October or November, once the pullets get to point of lay.

Let's keep in touch, I have family in Ohio who I will be up for a visit and coming back mid October, I could swing over, I'd have a van full with kids and a dog though, but if I were to get chickens from you they could ride in the front, obviously away from my dog. , that timing may be good too as far as our preparedness. -Jessica

 

[Sydney Acres]

Ok, that makes sense and I imagined that's what would happen regarding hatchery quality. I would prefer pure, small breeder quality for my goals in helping preserve the pure bred and for quality meat and eggs. I am 4hrs from Atlanta, and 4hrs from Raleigh. We are right outside Charlotte just across the line into SC. Starting off, I do not have a preference on color, maybe red or silver, and have one for a while, until we are set up for two colors and can keep them separate. I imagine you would keep them separate. Do some breeders breed across colors? How do I find chicken shows? Would love to go and learn. -Jes

Here's a good place to start finding shows: http://www.poultryshowcentral.com/poultry-show-dates.html

It may not have all the local shows, but it'll have all the big ones. It is unusual to find a Dorking at most shows. I've literally never seen one other than my own. If there are only 1-2 Dorkings there, the best of breed winner may not represent an excellent bird, as that title doesn't mean a lot when there's no competition. Listening to the judge's comments about a particular bird, and talking to the breeders can be very enlightening.

Many people do interbreed different colors, but it is not ideal. If you interbreed the colors to get other features improved, it can be hard to later separate those different colors out. But it is an individual decision, and somewhat depends on what stock you have available.

 

[3riverschick]

Quote: Especially if the person doing the crossing doesn't understand the problems involved in crossing alleles. For instance crossing a eb ( Brown ) based silver Columbian to a eWh ( Wheaten) based Silver Columbian can haunt the breeding program for years with black stippling in the white body feathers as the breeder tries to regain that pure white body feathering of the eWh based Silver Columbian. Crossing alleles can be a real problem in a color cross.
Best,
Karen

 

[NevaehFeathers]

That makes complete sense re: the colors. Karen, in October, do you think you will have any hens or roosters available?

 

[3riverschick]

That makes complete sense re: the colors. Karen, in October, do you think you will have any hens or roosters available?

Hi,
I don't know what I am going to do. I have my breeding pens set up. Just kinda sitting on the fence about colleting eggs.
Does your State insist on having poultry coming in, come from an NPIP flock?
Best,
Karen

 

[ki4got]

That makes complete sense re: the colors. Karen, in October, do you think you will have any hens or roosters available?

not sure which Karen you're asking... but I *MIGHT*

again it all depends on how the youngsters mature. they're all free ranging right now and having a grand time hunting bugs and eating everything in sight, just the way I like my 'kids' to grow up.

I do have far more cockerels than pullets this year. usually it's the opposite, so now I have hopes to pick the very best boy to continue with and have backups for him as well.