Dorking chicken facts for kids
A silver-grey Dorking cock
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| Conservation status | FAO (2007): endangered-maintained |
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| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Traits | |
| Weight |
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| Skin colour | white |
| Egg colour | white or tinted |
| Comb type | single or rose-comb |
| Classification | |
| APA | Large fowl: English Bantam: Single comb clean legged |
| EE | recognised |
| PCGB | Soft feather: heavy |
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The Dorking is a special type of chicken from Britain. It's named after the town of Dorking in Surrey, England. This chicken is one of the oldest and most interesting breeds around!
Contents
A Look at Dorking History
The Dorking chicken is one of the oldest chicken breeds in Britain. Some people think it might have come from chickens with five toes. These chickens might have been brought to Britain by the Romans nearly 2,000 years ago. However, we don't know for sure if the Romans brought chickens or found them there.
A Roman writer named Columella wrote about five-toed hens. He said they were the best kind for breeding. This shows that chickens with five toes were known a long time ago.
Where Did Dorkings Come From?
The Dorking chicken first appeared in the south-east of England. It got its name from the market town of Dorking in Surrey. From this town, chickens were sent to the big markets in London.
For a long time, the Dorking was the main chicken breed raised for meat in London. Later, another breed called the Sussex became more popular. Dorkings also became popular for showing at special poultry events. They were even shown at the very first poultry show in London Zoo in 1845.
Keeping the Breed Alive
In 1865, the Dorking was included in the first official book of chicken standards. This book was called The Standard of Excellence in Exhibition Poultry. Over time, different groups formed to focus on different colors of Dorking chickens.
Around the time of the Second World War, interest in the Dorking breed dropped a lot. The breed almost disappeared completely! Luckily, a group called the Dorking Club was started again in 1970. This helped to bring the breed back from the edge of extinction.
In the United States, the Dorking was also recognized. Three colors – colored, silver-grey, and white – were added to the American Poultry Association's standards in 1874. The red color was added much later, in 1995. Smaller versions, called bantams, were recognized in 1960.
What Makes Dorkings Special?
Dorking chickens have a unique look. They have a rectangular body and short legs. One of their most famous features is having five toes on each foot. Most chickens only have four!
Appearance and Features
- Body Shape: They have a strong, rectangular body.
- Legs: Their legs are short and sturdy.
- Toes: They are famous for having five toes on each foot.
- Comb: They can have either a single comb (like a jagged crown) or a rose-comb (a flatter, bumpy comb). In very cold weather, their comb might need protection.
- Skin and Eggs: Dorkings have white skin under their feathers. They are one of the few chicken breeds with red earlobes that lay white or light-colored eggs.
Size and Colors
Dorking chickens are quite large.
- Male chickens (cocks): Can weigh between 3.60 and 6.35 kilograms (about 8 to 14 pounds).
- Female chickens (hens): Can weigh between 3.60 and 4.55 kilograms (about 8 to 10 pounds).
There are also smaller versions called bantams.
Dorkings come in five main colors:
- White
- Silver-grey
- Red
- Dark
- Cuckoo
How Dorkings Are Used
Dorking chickens are known for being very useful. They are good for both laying eggs and providing meat. Historically, they were mainly raised for their meat. Their large size and good meat quality made them a popular choice for farmers.
Images for kids
- Illustrations by Harrison Weir
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Coloured Dorking
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White Dorking
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Red Dorkings
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Prize Dark Dorkings
