Cresswells silver grey dorking hen 1st prize at ashford, 2nd prize at birmingham 1872 from. Girl chicks have a dark triangle on their heads, where the boys are less well defined or no triangle. Hens are mostly black with lighter breasts and straw colored lines on the feather shafts. They were introduced into the us early on, exactly when is unknown, but they were shown in their first poultry show in 1849. The large comb of a dorking makes them susceptible to frostbite. According to the breed standards, the silver gray dorking should have silverwhite neck and saddle, free from straw tinge or any markings.
The weight of the dorking varies between different countrys breed standards. One neat fact about the dorking is the various plumage colors. Dick horstman, horstmans poultry silvergrey dorking. Everything you need to know about this rare chicken. Sep 30, 2016 the american poultry association admitted silver gray, colored and white dorkings to the first edition of its standard of perfection in 1874. According to storeys guide to poultry breeds, the fivetoed fowl believed to be ancestors of the silver grey dorkings have been known in england for over 2,000 years.
Silver dorkings are beautiful, and practical birds. Rare breed, silver grey dorking cockerel this advert is located in and around horsted keynes, west sussex we have a cockerel that we hatched on the 17th june, unfortunately he has curved toes, which is such a shame as he has a really lovely nature, very friendly and wonderful to handle. They do not eat voraciously, so do not grow rapidly, but the extremely high quality of meat produced is worth the wait. News clipping the illustrated australian news august 25, 1865 see state library of victoria 1894. The rules for comb type however, differ according to the respective variety. From the 1930s until the 1960s the dorking breed was only kept going by a few dedicated breeders, until a new generation of poultry breed enthusiasts took them up, and reformed the dorking. We hit 97% hatch rate as we had two infertile eggs out of 50 set.
Quite popular in their time, they were gradually replaced by the commercial hybrid meat birds, and they are a rather rare breed now. Antique 1890 poultry original print lithograph silver grey etsy. Feb 25, 20 silver grey dorkings february 25, 20 tracyjenner leave a comment as the rare poultry breed of the year the silver grey dorking is an excellent choice as while its rare status cannot be questioned nor can its genetic value and versatility. However, both are rarities now, and its the silver grey which has assumed the mantle of most popular dorking, although red numbers have recently risen. Poultry association apa recognizes the white, silver gray, colored. The dorking comes in white and silvergrey color varieties, both of which are lovely additions for those who enjoy an ornamental flock.
The american poultry association recognizes five standard plumages for dorkings. Dorking chicken breed why the silver gray variety is so. Girls also have very pronounced stripes on their backs. Check out our dorking hen selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our shops. The dorking breed entered the official poultry world in 1874 with its inclusion into the standards of perfection book.
Feb 12, 2021 according to storeys guide to poultry breeds, the fivetoed fowl believed to be ancestors of the silver grey dorkings have been known in england for over 2,000 years. One of the oldest known breeds, dorkings are reliable layers, good meat birds, and very cold hardy. Silver dorking roosters are quite protective of their hens, but the breed overall is friendly, docile. All colors of the dorking have striking red eyes, large combs and wattles, medium earlobes, and white legs. Cuckoo 1995 and red 1998 are also now in the standard, as are bantam versions of all the largefowl varieties. The fact that they tend to go broody is a bonus for us since, again, we should have plenty of eggs with 1015 hens and not having to artificial brood is awesome. A selection of dorkings from the past, sorted by chronologically and colourings silver grey 1865 australia. The dorking is a british breed of domestic chicken. Brahma, cochin and silver grey dorking were used in the makeup of the light. Antique 1890 poultry original print lithograph silver grey dorking hen chicken. Hens lay a mediumsized cream egg, and are nonsetters.
Silver gray dorking chickens baby chicks and poultry books. All dorkings have white legs, white skin, long bodies, short legs, full breasts, and 5. Three colour varieties coloured, silver grey and white were included in the first standard of perfection of the american poultry association in 1874. And i was rather chuffed while reading lewis wright to see that john douglas was instrumental in the development of the silver grey dorking variety. Grey or coloured dorking chickens belonging to captain hornby rn painted by harrison weir for the 1853 edition of the poultry book. Dorking chickens are kept for both of their meat and eggs and they also make good show birds. This original print is from the illustrated book of poultry by mr. This exceptional color poultry chromolithograph is from the illustrated book of poultry by lewis wright.
Of the five colours, there is dissension as to which came first, but the victorian poultry books mention all the colours. Three bantam varieties coloured, silver grey and rosecomb white were added in 1960. The hens are good layers, but will certainly go broody, and will hatch. However, both are rarities now, and its the silver grey which has assumed the mantle of most popular dorking. Named after the town of dorking in surrey, this is an ancient breed, described by a roman author almost 2000 years ago. The roman writer, columella, writes of a square shortlegged fivetoed chicken brought to britain by the legion s of julius caesar 54 b ce. On an average, an adult dorking rooster weights about 3. Mar 08, 2012 a short collection of things to keep in mind when choosing your silver grey dorkings for breeding. By 1970, some of the original varieties had died off, and a new standard had to be crafted. The silver grey dorking chicken descended from the colored dorking. The silver grey dorking is the only variety with a flat, single comb other varieties have rose combs.
The silver gray dorking is and old and rare breed of chicken with a long body on short legs, and a fifth toe. The silver grey hen is a delicate shade of silver grey, with darker grey pencilling. Silvergrey dorking hen cassell poultry book pageant print shop. Day old silver gray dorking baby chicks hatching march to september. Tips on selecting silver grey dorkings erinrac enterprises. The silver gray dorking chicken is the most common and the most famous variety of this breed. See more ideas about dorking, chickens, chicken breeds. The silver grey is generally believed to be a very old native variety, perhaps as old as the red, but is felt by some to be a more recent creation.
The work featured illustrations of prize winning and other wise remarkable domestic poultry. The silver grey hen is a delicate shade of clear silver grey with fine darker grey pencilling and a salmonred breast, the shaft of all the feathers showing lighter. He took three wellestablished chicken breeds the silver grey dorking, the white rock, and the white leghorn and by crossing them began the tedious multigenerational process of selecting birds that exhibited the desired checklist of. The white dorking is bred with a rose comb, the other two varieties have either rose or single combs, although most have single combs. This advert is located in and around underriver, sevenoaks kent. Males are a color similar to a silver grey only with golden straw colored neck and saddle feathers. From the 1930s until the 1960s the dorking breed was only kept going by a few dedicated breeders, until a new generation of poultry breed enthusiasts took them up, and reformed the dorking club in 1970. According to the breed standards, the silver gray dorking should have silver white neck and saddle, free from straw tinge or any markings. Dorking poultrychickensfowls training notes and resources. Grey or coloured dorking chickens the poultry pages.
In this country 3 varieties of dorking chickens are recognized by the standard. The dorking is one of the oldest breeds of domesticated poultry, originally brought to great britain by the romans with julius caesar. There are five standard colours for the dorking silver grey, dark, red, cuckoo and white. The dorking was shown at the firstever poultry show held in london in 1845. Beware of any red on the silver grey parts as this is a serious fault.
This unique, very rare breed of chickens has a long body on short legs, and a fifth toe. This rare bird is included in the rbst poultry conservation trust, and the american livestock breeds conservancy categorizes the dorking as threatened. Several articles indicate that the dorking has a better texture and breast, and i have read outstanding things about the breed for meat production. Dorkings, orpingtons, or bresse backyard chickens learn. Mar 07, 2021 the color varieties are cuckoo, dark, red, silver grey and white. Silver grey dorkings are good mothers, lay 5 to 6 round white eggs per week, and mature to about 7 lbs in around 6 months. Junius moderatus columella of husbandry, in twelve books. A chicken being great forager it means that if it gets lost to know its way back and to be observant of threats and to recognize friend from foe. Find great deals on ebay for dorking chicken and dorking eggs. Under the wings the bird has lustrous black with green or blue gloss. Jun 20, 2016 dorking chickens make great foragers in order for a hen or a rooster to be called a great forager they need to have something more than the regular worm and food finding in the run. Dorkings are good layers, but have been prized as excellent table birds from the earliest times. There are five recognized color varieties regarding the dorking chicken. Other 19th century writers, such as lewis wright in the illustrated book of poultry 1880, credit the rosecomb cuckoo dorking and the scotch grey, with the comb of a hamburg.
Top quality red and silver dorking bantam chicksgrowers from show stock, the dorking bantam is a rare breed chicken they are a excellent quiet little bantam who lay well and make brilliant mums. Males are a combination of silvery white and black. Jan 10, 2012 they come in a number of colors, including, white, red, cuckoo, colored, and silver gray. Rose comb colored dorking the rose comb version of a very old type that is very hardy and lays well. Australia good range of poultry books and poultry items, including poultry. In terms of overall purity, its either the white or the red that holds the crown, depending on which reference book you read. The dark is a darker version of the silver grey all but a black crescent on the salmon breast and back. Check out our silver gray dorkings selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our shops. The dorking fowl is a fivetoed breed, and all varieties of standard colours are required to have five toes.
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