The Dorking Breeders thread

[KittieChick]

I'm researching the higher protein for the Dorkings. What should I be thinking about regarding my regular fowl who are this year running with the Dorkings? The regular girls are layers. I also have 7 week old mixes coming up.

 

[Talithahorse]

So this whole thread has made me ponder a few things.

1. Do they have a higher protein requirement due to their history of being independent foragers (ie eating more bugs, and protein high forage) or....
2. Has the reduced numbers and lack of thoughtful breeding for many years (Before BYC of course) make them a less vigorous breed?
3. Or something else altogether.

I personally sought out heritage breeds in general and the Dorking specifically due to the greater possibility that they were more than likely a hardy breed, well suited to minimal care (not that mine receive minimal care, but saying that they could take care of themselves for the most part) since that was a necessity in Roman times through the industrial revolution when specialized breeding for a specific purpose necessitated additional care.

So my question is: Do we have a less vigorous bird today or do we have a bird better suited to free range than to protective coops with less variety of forage/ food stuff? Thoughts?

 

[kittydoc]

I agree, I don't think that the standard chick starters have enough nutrients for Dorkings. I also have been using mixes of Gamebird starter and Flockraiser, starting with a goal of ~25-26% protein until 8 weeks, then decreasing as they grow but never lower than 20% until a year old. Gamebird Layena (20%) is a good option for layers, but it only comes in crumbles (but they are large crumbles, not fine like the starter) unless you live in the SE U.S, where it is available in pellets. Additionally, they get fruit/veggies/flax seed/leftover meats/etc almost daily, plus oyster shell free choice and free range all day, so lots of extra nutrients there. So far I have not had any fertility problems with that diet.

I had no idea they had higher protein requirements. I will share this info with the others who ordered Dorking chicks along with me. I'll probably do some combination of things as long as it raises their net protein--such as running dry cat food through a food processor and mixing it 50/50 with regular chick starter if I can't find gamebird starter (I have not seen it at our local TSC) I'll probably have to feed them separately for as long as I can, then afterward sneak them high protein treats. My breeders and layers are crazy about dry cat food (30-34% protein). They would eat it all day if they could.

Thanks to all of you who weighed in. I really appreciate it.

 

[Talithahorse]

I am not completely convinced that they "Need" a higher protein but it is intriguing to have anecdotal evidence that they might. It stands to reason that there might be something in their background but I again, with no long term study it just makes me go hmmmmm.

Just food for thought....

 

[RhodeRunner]

I had no idea they had higher protein requirements.  I will share this info with the others who ordered Dorking chicks along with me.  I'll probably do some combination of things as long as it raises their net protein--such as running dry cat food through a food processor and mixing it 50/50 with regular chick starter if I can't find gamebird starter (I have not seen it at our local TSC)  I'll probably have to feed them separately for as long as I can, then afterward sneak them high protein treats.  My breeders and layers are crazy about dry cat food (30-34% protein).  They would eat it all day if they could.

Thanks to all of you who weighed in.  I really appreciate it.

A lot depends on individual strain, housing techinique, diet, flock temperament and more. I do not feed my dorkings a high protien diet. They get the basic chick starter, laying pellets. amd scratch from Agway. I used to buy turkey feed for my birds, and even dog food when I bred Buckeyes, but the result was simply a higher feed bill. My Dorkings gain weight, are healthy and fertile on the regular feed.

What I have noticed with my Dorkings

Weight: My Dorking Cockerels are little devils, that chase each other and the pullets around the coop. My pullets do not attain proper weight, if I leave them in a pen with cockerels. (This takes places as the birds age, in the brooder both sexes are fine together.) The males also chase each other around enough, that some of them have a hard time putting on weight as well. Altimately, the bigger the area for the males, the better. They are never human aggressive, but do enjoy ruffling each other's feathers.

Scraps are also very important, if birds do not free range... or snow has covered the ground.

I have also noticed that fall hatches tend to weigh less, then birds I hatch in the spring

Fertility: My first year, my rooster wasn't very fertile. Turned out, he hated his hen. They had no interest in mating with one another. I have noticed some of these birds are very selective towards their mates, others don't care. Fertility also is also rather poor in the colder months. I don't start having good hatches until April.

 

[neopolitancrazy]

... So far I have not had any fertility problems with that diet.

I did not have any fertility problems. (106 eggs fertile out of 108 incubated, and those 2 were accidentally left outdoors overnight when the temp dropped below freezing.) Even during the "polar vortex" when the cock's comb sustained significant frostbite, fertility was excellent.

I had hatchability and vigor problems. When I improved my egg handling practices, I got better hatch percentages, but lost the extra chicks in the brooder. Overall, 20% of the eggs incubated produced chicks that remained alive and healthy at 4 weeks of age. It was very discouraging.

Angela

eta: divinity is in the details.

 

[neopolitancrazy]

...

1. Do they have a higher protein requirement due to ...

I'm researching the higher protein for the Dorkings. What should I be thinking about regarding my regular fowl who are this year running with the Dorkings? ...

I had no idea they had higher protein requirements. ..

I am not completely convinced that they "Need" a higher protein ..

... I do not feed my dorkings a high protien diet. ...

Duuuudes! (or dudettes as the case may be,) I never posted that Dorkings have a higher protein requirement,

,although I did report that mine did better when switched to a ration with higher total crude protein. I DID post that research indicated that meat-type breeding hens (almost certainly CornishX's, but probably applicable to Dorkings,) have a much higher METHIONINE requirement,and my new ration was chosen for the methionine, with incidentally higher total protein.

In my region, Purina's Gamechick Startena and recently reformulated Flockraiser are the only commercial rations that contain the higher methionine amount. I am using both.

eta: Again, divinity is in the details.

Angela

 

[Talithahorse]

All is good. I understood completely and it caused me to ponder deeply. Thank you for deepening the friendly conversation. What you noticed in your flock was something that stood up to my individual logic and put me in science inquiry mode. Sometimes I think too much....

 

[DesertChic]

Tonight was my Day 14 candling and I was thrilled to discover that all 9 of the initial 10 SGD eggs are still viable. I'm a little concerned about one of those eggs as something just doesn't look quite right with it, but there was detectable movement in every single egg. So happy!!!!

 

[KingRanch]

I am looking to start raising our own meat birds and I would love for Dorkings to be that breed. Any recommendations on breeders to contact? I am aware there will most likely be a wait, but I would like to get quality birds to start rather than hatchery birds if possible.