If you ’d care to keep an ancient chicken breed but also need productive hoot , think Dorkings : They have it all ! They ’re lusciousmeat birdsand good layers of white ball , their friendly disposition are second to none , and they ’re unique in the fact that they have five toes : Almost all other chickens only have four .
Ancient Roman writer Lucius Junius Moderatus Columella describe the ancestors of today ’s Dorkings inRes Rustica , a series of agrarian books write during the first century A.D. : “ [ They are ] square - framed , orotund and broad - breasted , with big heads and lowly upright combing , the pure being five - clawed . ” Pliny the senior , another R.C. scholarly person of the era , also depict chickens with redundant toe .
Some of these birds came to Britain with Julius Caesar ’s scout group beginning in A.D. 43 . They were further developed in an field along the old romish road between London and Chichester , where the market village of Dorking was eventually founded . Once found , Dorking and a few other villages recruit prime poultry for the nearby London meat markets , among them the Dorking volaille famed for its attendant , spicy breast meat .
By Queen Victoria ’s reign ( 1837 - 1901 ) , Dorkings were one of the most essay - after breeds in England . Victoria , an professed chicken fancier , was fond of Dorkings for their epicure meat and tasty white eggs . fancier present wildly popular Dorkings at Britain ’s first poultry show in 1845 , and Dorkings were also used in the creation of novel breeds , such as theSpeckled SussexandBuff Orpington .
Capt . Morgan brought the first Dorkings , a rooster and five pullets , to America in 1847 aboard the mail shipVictoria , and the strain took America by violent storm . The American Poultry Association admit Silver - Gray , Colored and White Dorkings to the first edition of itsStandard of Perfectionin 1874 . Cuckoo ( 1995 ) and Red ( 1998 ) are also now in the monetary standard , as are bantam versions of all the large - bird varieties .
By the mid-1800s , the breed was widely distributed throughout the easterly U.S. , and by the early 1900s , Dorkings had become America ’s favorite breed . Nowadays , Dorkings are considered a inheritance breed listed in the Watch category byThe Livestock Conservancy , with fewer than 2,500 one-year registrations in the U.S. and estimated worldwide population less than 10,000 , though they ’re readily useable from breeders and most turgid hatcheries .
What’s A Dorking Chicken Look Like?
Dorkings are one of only a few five - toed breed ( others let in the Silkie , Houdan , Sultan and Faverolle ) . The Dorking ’s extra toe is place on the back of its foot between its usual rearward toe and its shank . This extra toe inclines slightly upwardly and normally does n’t touch the priming .
Dorkings also have light legs and portly , rectangular torso with broad breasts ; long , horizontal backs ; heavy heads ; and evenhandedly gamey - set dress suit . Full - size cock weigh about 9 pounds , and hens weigh about 7 pound ; bantams weigh 36 and 32 ounce , severally .
Dorkings have red combs , wattle and earlobe , and are one of the few red - earlobed breeds that lay white eggs . ( Most lay brown or tinted eggs . ) They have white peel and tight feathering with a lot of neck plumage .
Dorking stick out confinement lodging , but they ’re much well-chosen when they can be out and about , free - stray . They ’re outstanding forager that easily lift up much of their own grub in time of year .
Well-Behaved Birds
Dorking are a enceinte backyard breed , read Jill Marie Lane of Qualicum Beach in British Columbia , Canada .
“ Dorkings are additional - nice chickens , ” she says . “ The hen are a lovely easygoing people of color , and the males are quite flashy . The hens go contemplative quite often and make excellent mother . I incur them to be a hardy breed . ”
Elizabeth Hosmanek of Wilton , Iowa , has four Silver - Gray Dorking hens and one cock .
“ The hen are calm , friendly and sociable with each other and with people , ” she says . “ My flockfree - rangesduring the Clarence Day , and the Dorkings are always the first to do run if they see me outdoors . Although they have the bodies of full - sized chicken on brusque legs , do n’t permit the unretentive legs deceive you . They can run just as fast as longer - legged great deal penis . One hen in exceptional likes to succeed me around the garden , specially if she sees me digging . I wish to throw her chuck as I find them . ”
That easy nature and wizardly personality have made the Dorking famous as a fowl that can be easily rendered tame .
“ This is a quality oftentimes overlooked in making the choice of a breed , but one which number for much in the satisfaction of maintain bird , ” wrote English author H. H. Stoddard inThe Book of the Dorking , almost 150 years ago , when Dorkings were Britain ’s favorite meat breed . “ Dorkings receive the presence of their attendant and crowd around him when he appears . ”
Hosmanek says it still have got on-key today . When her 4 - year - old rooster , Little John , tolerate scathe to his comb , she brought him into the house for recovery and he became quite tame .
“ He ’s a gentleman with his lady friend , ” she aver , “ and he ’s always ready to protect them . Whenever I toss out scrap for the chickens , Little John check that that the girls have their filling before he try out anything . ”
However , due to their easygoing nature , Dorkings are often boss around by moreaggressive chicken , a fact deserving noting before adding them to an exist flock .
Tasters’ Choice
Although Dorkings are have intercourse for meat yield , they ’re a dual - purpose breed . Hens do n’t start put until they ’re 5 or 6 months one-time , but once they do , they ’re reliable layers of orotund , creamy white or lightly tint eggs , average out between 150 to 180 bollock per twelvemonth . They also lay right through the deep winter month .
“ My Dorkings lay as well as my Easter Egger and Wyandotte hen , though their eggs are not quite as large , ” Hosmanek say .
Centuries of selection as a board bird make Dorkings a first - class choice for anyone seek old - fashioned chicken flavor .
“ At mesa , they outmatch all others in symmetry of shape and innocence and delicacy of flesh , ” Stoddard wrote . “ [ Dorking meat ] is juicy , supply ship and of delicious savour . For the table , the Dorking stand without a rival . ” ostensibly , that is still the case today .
In 2009 , The Livestock Conservancy , Humane Farm Animal Care , Slow Food USA , Chefs Collaborative and Ayrshire Farm in Upperville , Va. , apply a Chicken Choosin ’ inheritance wimp taste event , a blind taste trial run that include nine inheritance breeds and the commercial Cornish Rock , all raise at Ayrshire Farm under the same conditions . Tasters judged each sample ’s feel , texture and coming into court on a scale of 1 to 10 . Dorkings were the overall dearie .
Dorking are an all - around delicious breed with a proud past and a hopeful future . Try them in your sight . If you like tasty Gallus gallus , you ’ll be proud of .
This article originally ran in the September / October 2016 takings ofChickens .
