Re: Silver Grey Dorkings

Ginny wrote:
Hello again all,

Has anyone experience with the S/G Dorkings? I have been able to source
a trio of young birds in another state and was wondering if I should go
ahead with their purchase. Are their requirements the same as most fowl?
I have a secure pen but the yard is not roofed in yet and so far our
foxes haven't learnt to climb over 6' netting. I intend to put electric
around the bottom and top when the energiser comes. Can they fly? Do
they eat lots? Will they fight with my Australorps and Silkies? In due
course I am down sizing my flock to just a half dozen birds as I intend
to get some ducks.

We have a cockerel and two hens, at least for the moment. I hatched
them in the incubator last July and they've been living with our Buff
Orpies, Marans and Indian Games quite happily since. The person I had
the eggs from said that they like to perch high up, but I've not noticed
them being any different from the others, although his did perch in a
barn about eight feet off the floor. I wouldn't describe them as
particularly large, certainly not compared with the Maran cockerel.

And now for the bad news :(

I went into the pen this afternoon and found the cockerel lying on his
back with his legs in the air. Fortunately he was still breathing, so
I returned him to the chicken house and gave him some food and water
which he was quite happy to eat (and he drank a good deal, even though
there's plenty of water in the drinker in their run). Looking him over,
there's no obvious sign of injury, but his legs were shaky and he can't
stand properly. He's still bright-eyed, his (huge) comb is red, and the
two other cockerels he shares a run with are fine.

I'm assuming he must be suffering because of the heat over the last week
or so. There are several apple trees in the run, so there is shade, but
yesterday he seemed to be out in the sun a lot. Tomorrow I intend to
confine him in a shady, well-ventilated part of the house, make sure he
has plenty of water and see how it goes. Is there anything else worth
doing? Could I perhaps be assuming the wrong cause?

I might try to set up some more shade in their run tomorrow if I can
find something suitable. The hens use the shade of the trees, burrow
under their house or just stay in its shade when it's very hot, but
the cockerels seem to think that prancing about and showing off is
far more important than using such good sense. All those extra
feathers must reduce the blood supply to their brain or something.

James
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