These birds are an ancient breed that came to England from travelers either trading with locals or when the Romans conquered the country. They are one of the oldest breeds of five toed birds in the world and the English population cultivated this bird for their own use and worked to improve on the breed to suit their needs. Currently silver gray Dorking chickens for sale can be found all over America.
The Dorking breed is one of the oldest breeds of chicken in the world. At one point in their history it is said that England was the only production center for them and owners were prohibited from selling live birds outside the area as a means of controlling their lines and distribution of the breed.
One main selling points of these birds is their large bodies. They are thick chested and a rooster can attain weight of over eight pounds while the hens grow to seven or more pounds. They have short legs that connect to large meaty thighs. Their breasts and wings are thick and meaty and the overall flavor of the bird is delicate and exceptionally tender.
These birds are not aggressive by nature but a rooster will protect his flock from danger. They are good foragers and generally stay close to home. They do very well in small farms with pasture settings for their foraging and prefer to sleep in the trees at night rather than the coop. Many owners use them as a way to make their livestock more attractive or exhibit them in competitions at shows or fairs.
As egg producers the hens are very consistent. The farmer may want to keep an eye on the hens because they will hide their nests and hatch chicks rather than allow the eggs to be collected. As good mothers these hens raise large broods sitting on up to fifty eggs and chicks and have been known to adopt another breed of chick if they are alone. The pullets, or young hens, have a tendency to not be consistent layers in the cold winter months.
This breed is considered rare and threatened because there are fewer than five thousand breeding birds in America. Persons are needed to become breeders so that this bird can be returned to healthy numbers in America. Interested parties can purchase day old chicks to raise until they are grown, pullets are available and grown birds can be purchased as well. They are often kept as show birds by collectors.
You are also able to purchase these birds for your table. They can be found fresh if there is a rancher in your area and some ranchers distribute them to local butcher shops for sale. Searching online will tell you how near you are to a producer and will also direct you to producers who are set up to ship the frozen birds to you. Freezing the birds can preserve the freshness and flavor of them for weeks at a time.
Whether you want these birds for show, egg production or for the table you will find a wide variety of farms and ranches that can satisfy your needs. They are beautiful to observe and show as well as very cost effective when used for egg production or dressed for the table at dinner time.
The Dorking breed is one of the oldest breeds of chicken in the world. At one point in their history it is said that England was the only production center for them and owners were prohibited from selling live birds outside the area as a means of controlling their lines and distribution of the breed.
One main selling points of these birds is their large bodies. They are thick chested and a rooster can attain weight of over eight pounds while the hens grow to seven or more pounds. They have short legs that connect to large meaty thighs. Their breasts and wings are thick and meaty and the overall flavor of the bird is delicate and exceptionally tender.
These birds are not aggressive by nature but a rooster will protect his flock from danger. They are good foragers and generally stay close to home. They do very well in small farms with pasture settings for their foraging and prefer to sleep in the trees at night rather than the coop. Many owners use them as a way to make their livestock more attractive or exhibit them in competitions at shows or fairs.
As egg producers the hens are very consistent. The farmer may want to keep an eye on the hens because they will hide their nests and hatch chicks rather than allow the eggs to be collected. As good mothers these hens raise large broods sitting on up to fifty eggs and chicks and have been known to adopt another breed of chick if they are alone. The pullets, or young hens, have a tendency to not be consistent layers in the cold winter months.
This breed is considered rare and threatened because there are fewer than five thousand breeding birds in America. Persons are needed to become breeders so that this bird can be returned to healthy numbers in America. Interested parties can purchase day old chicks to raise until they are grown, pullets are available and grown birds can be purchased as well. They are often kept as show birds by collectors.
You are also able to purchase these birds for your table. They can be found fresh if there is a rancher in your area and some ranchers distribute them to local butcher shops for sale. Searching online will tell you how near you are to a producer and will also direct you to producers who are set up to ship the frozen birds to you. Freezing the birds can preserve the freshness and flavor of them for weeks at a time.
Whether you want these birds for show, egg production or for the table you will find a wide variety of farms and ranches that can satisfy your needs. They are beautiful to observe and show as well as very cost effective when used for egg production or dressed for the table at dinner time.
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