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Dorking
The Dorking gets its name from the town of Dorking in Surrey, England, long famous for its poultry market. In the 19th century Dorking fowl were prized for the quality of their breast meat, and they are said to have been a favourite on Queen Victoria's dinner table! Early hybridization efforts involved
crossing Dorking roosters with Cornish or Indian game hens to produce a
meat bird that matured early and at a larger size than either of its
parents. Dorkings were also used to I breed the lovely Silver Grey Dorkings, but there are also red, white, cuckoo, coloured and several other varieties, many now extinct, or very nearly so. |
The Dorking is one of the oldest breeds of
chicken known to us in the west. Their ancestors are believed to have been
introduced into Britain by Roman troops; and indeed the Roman writer Columella, in his treatise on agriculture, written in the 1st century AD,
describes a 5-toed chicken of a type very similar to the modern Dorking.
are characteristic for the Dorking.
They are a dual purpose fowl, kept for both meat and eggs. The roosters
can weigh up to 4.5 kg, the hens up to 3.5 kg. They are good, active
foragers, and fly surprisingly well despite their size - many of mine routinely roost in the trees. 
calmest breed I keep, and can become very tame. I not infrequently find
myself having to chase a nosy Dorking hen out of the house or the
car when I have left doors open in the summer... 
Dorking hens are quite good layers of white or
cream coloured eggs, and outstanding broodies and mothers. (The chicks in
the picture are not Dorkings.)
develop several other breeds, such as
the Sussex, and were amongst the earliest chickens to be introduced to North America. Prior to the American Civil War they were one of the most
common barnyard fowl there. © 2004 Quennell Lake Poultry