Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Silver Gray Dorking Chickens For Sale In America

By Sharron Cantu


One of the most ancient five toed birds in history is reputed to have arrived in England with the Romans around forty AD. Many people disagree with this bit of history by pointing out that this bird is nowhere to be found in Italy. How they arrived is not as important as their history once in England. This breed was specially cultivated for its excellent table value and the flavor of its meat. Now, you can find silver gray Dorking chickens for sale in most countries around the world.

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.

These are large sturdy birds that feature thick box shaped breasts and large meaty thighs, legs and wings. The roosters can be as large as nine or ten pounds at maturity and hens weigh slightly less. The meat from this bird is tender, delicately flavored and has excellent flavoring when roasted.

The roosters are very showy and strut with head held high and chest out. This is a non-aggressive bird that forages close to home but the roosters will protect the flock of hens if they are in danger. This breed does very well in a small farm with pastures for them to forage and trees to roost in at night.

The hens are excellent layers but have a tendency to lay numerous eggs and sit to brood them. They are good mothers and tend their chicks as well as willingly adopting chicks from other breeds. Hens are not colored as flamboyantly as roosters although the colors are very similar.

There are only about five thousand breeding birds in America and so they are considered to be a rare breed. In order for them to become populous again new breeders are being sought in rural areas. People who wish to participate in a breeding program can purchase day old chicks, pullets and even fertilized eggs to get a start. Fully mature birds can also be purchased from suppliers.

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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