Dorkings. 
165 
in the rearing of White Dorkings, or for the matter of that, any white variety of poultry for exhibition is 
the natural tendency towards developing a dirty straw or yellow colour in the back, neck, and hackles, so 
that it is in all cases advisable to breed from those birds alone which are of the purest and clearest white in 
plumage. Much can be done in the way of providing ample shade from the sun during the extremely hot 
summer days, which will have the effect of minimising the tendency to yellow in the plumage. 
Cuckoo Dorkings. — In this variety, which is the least known of all, the ground colour of the 
plumage in both sexes is of various shades of grey, the feathers being marked or pencilled throughout with 
dark blue-grey, in some cases approaching black ; there are various shades of marking allowable. They, as 
a rule, rarely attain the size of the other varieties, but are of a very hardy disposition, and the hens are con- 
sidered quite the best of the Dorking family as layers. This variety is specially adapted for the Practical 
Poultry Farmer, as the plumage will wear well, and the young stock give an excellent return as table poultry of 
early maturing proclivities, combined with fairly good laying powers. When Cuckoo Dorkings are bred for 
exhibition purposes, great care must be taken in avoiding breeding from a cock which exhibits golden or 
reddish feathers in hackle, back, and saddle, as these grave faults are certain to be transmitted to the pro- 
geny. White in tail or flight is still another fault to be guarded against. 
As a cross for producing ideal table poultry the Dorking takes a long lead, the hens crossed with 
either the Indian Game, Houdan, or Langshan cock give the very highest results ; another valuable cross is 
with the old-fashioned English Game cock; and crossed with either the Brahma or Cochin also gives a fine 
early maturing bird for the table. 
To the kindness of Mr. S. C Kesteven, of Christchurch, New Zealand, we are indebted for the following 
remarks on the breeding and management of this grand variety of Poultry. Mr. Kesteven writes: — 
" I have often seen the Dorking referred to as the Farmer's Fowl of England, a title which has been con- 
ceded to the variety by most writers upon Poultry subjects. I think the worth of the Dorking is fully proved 
by the premier position it holds to-day in England, after the great number of years it has been bred in the 
United Kingdom. It annually exceeds in point of numbers any individual variety at the great national show 
(Crystal Palace), England, and this in spite of the appearance from time to time of numerous foreign and 
English manufactured breeds. The recently increased attention that has been devoted to the production 
of Table Poultry in Great Britain and the Australasian colonies, must most assuredly have the effect of 
still further increasing the reputation of the good old British Dorking. Fortunately the breed has never been 
rumed by the ' feather craze.' In-breeding in the pursuit of feather has destroyed the stamina of many 
varieties, but as long as the ' five toes ' are the practical poulterer's trade mark of a good bird, Dorking 
breeders and fanciers need not fear the future. A good many of our judges are inclined to look too much 
for colour in the show-pen, what we require is really typical Dorking form, short legs, sound white feet, full 
breast, long and wide back, and well carried tail. There are four distinct varieties of the Dorking family, 
divided from each other by the colour of their respective plumage. There are dark or coloured Dorkings, 
silver-grey, white, and cuckoo, the two former being the largest and much the most popular, the last named 
is the least frequently met with. I sometimes read of Dorkings being a delicate fowl, and bad layers. When 
Poultry authorities write in this strain, I know at once that they have no knowledge of the breed whatsoever. 
I have kept Dorkings and Dorkings only (no other fowl finds a place in my yard) for a number of years. 
The great secret of success in handling this breed is not to confine them too closely or in-breed them too 
much. They require a certain amount of liberty, although a very quiet, tame, domesticated fowl, which will 
not stray far from their usual quarters. A good grass run with plenty of trees about for shade, with a dry 
house, well ventilated, and free from draughts, is what they require ; and if kept under these conditions and 
fed properly will be found good layers, and otherwise do well. It is a breed that gets fat very quickly, 
and when kept for laying purposes require a moderate supply of food night and morning, not nearly as mtcch 
as they will consume if left to their own sweet will. They are a long lived variety of Poultry. I have often 
had hens six and seven years old laying through the winter, and for table purposes, well, my advice to those 
who have never tried a pure bred Dorking on their table, is to do so at the very first possible opportunity. 
