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 Dorking
Large fowl Origin: Great Britain Classification: Heavy, soft feather. Egg colour: Tinted Weight: Large fowl; male 4.5 – 6.35kg, female 3.6 – 4.55kg. Bantam; male 1130-1360g,
One of the oldest domesticated fowls in the country, recorded as being present in Roman times.
Characteristics Male Carriage: quiet and stately, with breast well forward. Type: body massive, long and deep, rectangular in shape when viewed from the side, and tightly feathered. Back broad and moderately long with full saddle inclined downward to the tail. Breast deep and well rounded with a long straight keel bone. Wings large and well tucked up. Tail full and sweeping, carried well out (a squirrel tail being objectionable, with abundant side hangers and broad well-curved sickles. Head: large and broad. Beak stout, well proportioned and slightly curved. Eyes full. Comb single or rose. Either type is allowed in darks, single only in red and silver greys and rose only in cuckoos and whites. The single comb is upright, moderately large, broad at the base, evenly serrated, free from thumb marks or side spikes. The rose is moderately broad and square fronted, narrowing behind to a distinct and slightly upturned leader, the top covered with small, coral-like points of even height, free from hollows. Face smooth. Ear-lobes moderately well developed and hanging about one third the depth of the wattles, which are large and long. Neck: rather short, covered with abundant hackle feathers falling well over the back, making it appear extremely broad at the base, and tapering rapidly at the head. Legs and feet: legs short and strong. Thighs large and well developed but almost hidden by the body feathering. Shanks short, moderately stout and round (square or sinewy bone being very objectionable), free from feathers, the spurs set on the inner side and pointing inwards. Toes, five, large, round and hard (‘spongy’ feet to be guarded against), the front toes (three) long, straight and well spread, the hind toe double and the extra toe well formed. The normal toe as nearly as possible in the natural position, and the extra one placed above, starting close to the other, but perfectly distinct and pointing upwards.
Female Similar to the male, allowing for normal sexual differences, except that the tail is carried rather closely. The single comb, too, falls over one side of the face. It is permissible for older hens to have small spurs.
Colours Cuckoo, dark, red, silver grey, white. In both sexes and all colours, beak white or horn, dark horn is permissible in the dark. Eyes bright red. Comb, face, wattles and ear-lobes brilliant red Legs and feet, including nails, a delicate white with a pink shade.
Defects Total absence of fifth toe. Legs other than white or pink-white, or with any sign of feathers. Spurs outside the shank. Single comb in cuckoo or white. Rose comb in red or silver grey. White in breast or tail or silver grey male. Any coloured feathers in white. Very long legs. Crooked or much swollen toes. Bumble feet. Any deformity. |