The Dorking and I

Part Two

The original Dorking was of course the Red. In Dorkings however, that term casts a wide net. Red Speckles and Spangleds, the multiple versions of Black Breasted Red such as Clays & Tawnys, and even Brown Reds were included. The Dorking was first and foremost a farmer's fowl. And this stems from a time in our agricultural history when chickens were a large part of the farm's income and identity. Fanciers eventually selected the Silver Grey from the old Dark (called Colored now) pattern by selecting for clean silvery white hackles and saddles. Farmers would often have a variety of Dorking that was different from their neighbor. This helped to identify a farmer's birds based solely on their color and pattern. This led to many varieties and colors often based on a farmer's preference. Because of their relationship to the Old English Game, Dorkings traditionally have came in nearly all of the same colors and patterns as the Game. Craig often tells of a man he met in the 1970's at The Royal Highland Show in Scotland who proudly said, “It must be something in the air or water of Britain that allows all of these colors to be present in the Dorkings and Games both”. Obviously it is more in the genetics than in the elements, but the fact remains that Games and Dorkings were often crossed to achieve market birds and this opened the door to many variants, colors, and patterns. 

            Since my journey with Dorkings began, I now have all 6 of the large fowl standard colors; Reds, Coloreds, Whites, Silver Greys, and both combs of Cuckoos. I have bantams in Red and Silver Grey (SCCL), and also Whites and Cuckoos (RCCL). I also have LF Coloreds, Reds, and Silver Greys in rose comb as well as Whites in single comb, though they are not in the Standard. Speaking of non-standard varieties, Craig really helped fan my Dorking flame and has helped me find and educate me on many of the old, historic and non-standard varieties including Old Fashioned Greys, Slate Reds, Blacks, Dark Birchen Greys, Japans, Clays, Tawnys, Golden Greys, Golden Cuckoos, Spangleds, Light Greys, and Red Pyles, and a few others in lesser numbers. In non-standard bantams, I have RC Dark Birchen Grey, RC Black and SC Golden Grey.  Many of these historic colors came in both rose and single comb depending on the farmer's likes or wants. With these old varieties, just like the 6 Standard ones, I always select for the best Dorking characteristics first then for the proper colors and combs.

            The Dorking is a foundation breed, having been used in the creation of many popular breeds today. Some of these include Sussex, Orpingtons, Reds, Houdans, Faverolles, and even some strains of Plymouth Rock and Wyandotte. We must preserve and promote the Dorking in all her forms, however, we must specifically preserve and promote the 5 Standard varieties. From these, we can create many of the old patterns but without these, we lose her uniqueness and quality. The Dorking is such an old breed we could never truly recreate her if lost. Despite its waxing and waning over the years, I believe the Dorking has survived because, for many of us who love the old things and old poultry most of all, they are the proudest and most iconic of our standard breeds. God save the Dorking!