Notes on the Red Dorking
Breeding the Red Dorking for exhibition is fascinating, challenging and often frustrating, requiring perseverance and patience on the part of their breeder. Achieving all that the standard requires in this variety is difficult and the two years it takes for a Dorking to fully mature, can significantly delay the full realisation of the results of one's breeding. The hens in particular can undergo changes in colour distribution when they moult. In most, this change is usually subtle or moderate, but in a few, these alterations can be significant. The colour of the cocks remains relatively constant by comparison, however some cocks can develop white in their sickle feathers as they age.
The shape or 'type' should be the same in all of the varieties of Dorking and it is only in their feather colours and patterns that they differ. The Dorking Breed Standard can be found at www.vicvet.co.uk, along with the descriptions of the five standardised varieties. The description of the red variety is both brief and succinct which doesn't do justice to it's complexity, particularly with regard to the colouring of the hen. I include my own interpretation of the standard for the female Red Dorking.
The hen;
'Hackle bright gold heavily striped with black.'
The hackle refers to the elongated feathers of the head and the cape that encircles the neck, terminating at the front on both sides. In domestic fowl, the term 'gold' usually refers to a colour range from yellow to light orange. This is the only variety in which the black patination on the hackle is described as 'heavily striped', suggesting a significant amount of black. Not even in the Dark Dorking hen, with her almost entirely black neck hackles, has this adjective been used to describe the amount of black required; suggesting that black should predominate, whilst leaving room for some gold in her hackles.
'Tail and primaries black or very dark brown'
The description of 'dark brown' tells us that this is an essentially brown bird.
'Remainder of plumage red-brown, the redder the better, each feather more or less tipped or spangled with black, and having a bright yellow or orange shaft'
This sentence is important as it tells us that the hen is a brown bird enhanced with a red hue and not a purely red bird, such as the Rhode Island Red or Red Sussex. The term 'redder the better' encourages the breeder to aim for a strong red tint or hue on the brown feathers. The 'more or less' description of the black tipping/spangling on each feather indicates a degree of flexibility and personal preference in the expression of this feature. That the feather shafts may be either yellow or orange accommodates varying amounts of red in the body feathers; a strong red intensifier will 'stain' the shafts a darker orange/red colour.
The Red Dorking is one of five standardised varieties and whilst together they offer a wealth of colour and pattern genes that would enable the creation of many new varieties, breeders have remained loyal to the five standards. This may be attributed to the fact that many Dorking breeders, including myself, are interested in conservation and it is the continued preservation of these varieties, each with their own fascinating history, that makes the Dorking breed so rewarding to keep.
Regarding the aforementioned tipping or spangling on the hen's body feathers, this is perhaps one of the most difficult features to achieve. Some hens will display little or none, whereas others will have black that extends around all of her feathers, creating a pattern that is similar to lacing. Neither of these is ideal, but such hens are often included in the breeding pen in order to achieve the sort-after balance of black that is soley confined to the feather tips. This feature in a hen can translate into unwanted black in the neck and saddle hackles of their sons, which I think illustrates just how challenging it is to create that all-important balance of genes to perfect this variety. Victorian literature informs us that breeders would double-mate in order to perfect the colouring in each sex, however this would be undesirable today, for it would not encourage new breeders to take up the variety. Therefore it is important to keep in mind that, whilst we should aim for an ideally coloured Red Dorking, we can only expect to achieve something close to it now and again and type and size must never be allowed to deteriorate, in the pursuit of this extremely tricky colouring.
The Basic Genetics of the Red Variety
Not all breeders are interested in studying the colour genetics of their breeds, however we are all using genetics in our selection of birds for the breeding pen. The study of the genetics of colour and pattern is simply putting into scientific terms, what poultry breeders have been doing for centuries and for those relatively novice to breeding, a basic understanding of the core principles will provide a level of knowledge that takes years to gain by 'trial and error'.
In simple terms, the Red variety is a black-red or wild-type (Red Jungle Fowl) variety at it's core, with the addition of a black intensifier (possibly the Melanotic gene - Ml) and a red intensifier/enhancer (possibly the Mahogany (Mh) gene and the autosomal red (Ap) gene) . However it seems most likely that other, less easily identified genes, such as 'ebonies' (identified by Dr Clive Carefoot) and red-modifier genes may also be present in some birds. The probability that several genes are responsible for their colour pattern explains why there is sometimes a noticeable difference between the females of different strains and even within the same flock.
Achieving the correct balance of black and red is not easy, but when you do, she is a truly stunning bird and worthy of the efforts involved in perfecting her.
Common Faults with Colour
White feathers have long challenged the Red Dorking breeder. Lewis Wright, in his work; The Book of Poultry (1902), describes how breeders often found that "the older reds were apt to produce white feathers" and suggested this as a reason why they were not more popular amongst exhibitors.
It's reassuring to know that the great poultry fanciers of the Victorian era shared the same challenges that we have today. Knowing this gives perspective on colour, which can so easily become a focus at the expense of size and type; two aspects which define the Dorking breed and are of equal, or perhaps greater, importance.
The 19th Century Red Dorking
Whilst early information about the red variety is extremely limited, when compared to the others, several authors do refer to Dorkings with a predominantly brown-red plumage. Descriptions of the colour and pattern of both male and female birds in the second half of the 19th Century are often lacking in detail and in more than one instance, quite different from the Red Dorking that we know today.
As previously mentioned, double-mating was once used to create red hens with plain red feathers tipped with black, much like Red Cap hens. The English Red Dorking Club, produced a standard of perfection in 1910 in which the hen's plumage was described as 'a clear chestnut red, tipped with black, free from mossiness'. The latter no doubt referring to the stippling found in all hens with a wild-type/black-red core. In order to achieve this, a pullet breeding line would need to have an 'extension of brown' (eb) core, which would, in turn spoil the solid black breast of the cockerels, which would have to be bred from a separate wild-type (e+) core. Therefore the birds we have today might be viewed a cockerel-breeding line, however and fortunately, despite their 'mossiness' the hens are still attractive.
As an essentially utilitarian fowl, I do not believe that the Red Dorking would benefit from a return to double-mating, particularly as it is not generally necessary in any of the other Dorking varieties. The standard for the red hen neither requires or penalises stippling, allowing breeders to make their own decisions regarding the use of double mating.
Authors including Elizabeth Watts (1864) and Thomas Coke Burnell (1875) refer to the Red Speckled Dorking and described as a brown-red hen with each feather tipped with white. The cocks are described as both plain black breasted or speckled with white per the hen. I have long believed in a close relationship between the Red Dorking and the Speckled Sussex. In his book 'The Sussex Fowl' S. C. Sharpe refers to the early descendants of the Speckled Sussex as Speckled Dorking
Whilst colour is important, particularly when breeding for exhibition, care should be taken not to give it precedence at the expense of size and the distinctive type which defines the Dorking breed.
Breeding the Red Dorking for exhibition is fascinating, challenging and often frustrating, requiring perseverance and patience on the part of their breeder. Achieving all that the standard requires in this variety is difficult and the two years it takes for a Dorking to fully mature, can significantly delay the full realisation of the results of one's breeding. The hens in particular can undergo changes in colour distribution when they moult. In most, this change is usually subtle or moderate, but in a few, these alterations can be significant. The colour of the cocks remains relatively constant by comparison, however some cocks can develop white in their sickle feathers as they age.
The shape or 'type' should be the same in all of the varieties of Dorking and it is only in their feather colours and patterns that they differ. The Dorking Breed Standard can be found at www.vicvet.co.uk, along with the descriptions of the five standardised varieties. The description of the red variety is both brief and succinct which doesn't do justice to it's complexity, particularly with regard to the colouring of the hen. I include my own interpretation of the standard for the female Red Dorking.
The hen;
'Hackle bright gold heavily striped with black.'
The hackle refers to the elongated feathers of the head and the cape that encircles the neck, terminating at the front on both sides. In domestic fowl, the term 'gold' usually refers to a colour range from yellow to light orange. This is the only variety in which the black patination on the hackle is described as 'heavily striped', suggesting a significant amount of black. Not even in the Dark Dorking hen, with her almost entirely black neck hackles, has this adjective been used to describe the amount of black required; suggesting that black should predominate, whilst leaving room for some gold in her hackles.
'Tail and primaries black or very dark brown'
The description of 'dark brown' tells us that this is an essentially brown bird.
'Remainder of plumage red-brown, the redder the better, each feather more or less tipped or spangled with black, and having a bright yellow or orange shaft'
This sentence is important as it tells us that the hen is a brown bird enhanced with a red hue and not a purely red bird, such as the Rhode Island Red or Red Sussex. The term 'redder the better' encourages the breeder to aim for a strong red tint or hue on the brown feathers. The 'more or less' description of the black tipping/spangling on each feather indicates a degree of flexibility and personal preference in the expression of this feature. That the feather shafts may be either yellow or orange accommodates varying amounts of red in the body feathers; a strong red intensifier will 'stain' the shafts a darker orange/red colour.
The Red Dorking is one of five standardised varieties and whilst together they offer a wealth of colour and pattern genes that would enable the creation of many new varieties, breeders have remained loyal to the five standards. This may be attributed to the fact that many Dorking breeders, including myself, are interested in conservation and it is the continued preservation of these varieties, each with their own fascinating history, that makes the Dorking breed so rewarding to keep.
Regarding the aforementioned tipping or spangling on the hen's body feathers, this is perhaps one of the most difficult features to achieve. Some hens will display little or none, whereas others will have black that extends around all of her feathers, creating a pattern that is similar to lacing. Neither of these is ideal, but such hens are often included in the breeding pen in order to achieve the sort-after balance of black that is soley confined to the feather tips. This feature in a hen can translate into unwanted black in the neck and saddle hackles of their sons, which I think illustrates just how challenging it is to create that all-important balance of genes to perfect this variety. Victorian literature informs us that breeders would double-mate in order to perfect the colouring in each sex, however this would be undesirable today, for it would not encourage new breeders to take up the variety. Therefore it is important to keep in mind that, whilst we should aim for an ideally coloured Red Dorking, we can only expect to achieve something close to it now and again and type and size must never be allowed to deteriorate, in the pursuit of this extremely tricky colouring.
The Basic Genetics of the Red Variety
Not all breeders are interested in studying the colour genetics of their breeds, however we are all using genetics in our selection of birds for the breeding pen. The study of the genetics of colour and pattern is simply putting into scientific terms, what poultry breeders have been doing for centuries and for those relatively novice to breeding, a basic understanding of the core principles will provide a level of knowledge that takes years to gain by 'trial and error'.
In simple terms, the Red variety is a black-red or wild-type (Red Jungle Fowl) variety at it's core, with the addition of a black intensifier (possibly the Melanotic gene - Ml) and a red intensifier/enhancer (possibly the Mahogany (Mh) gene and the autosomal red (Ap) gene) . However it seems most likely that other, less easily identified genes, such as 'ebonies' (identified by Dr Clive Carefoot) and red-modifier genes may also be present in some birds. The probability that several genes are responsible for their colour pattern explains why there is sometimes a noticeable difference between the females of different strains and even within the same flock.
Achieving the correct balance of black and red is not easy, but when you do, she is a truly stunning bird and worthy of the efforts involved in perfecting her.
Common Faults with Colour
White feathers have long challenged the Red Dorking breeder. Lewis Wright, in his work; The Book of Poultry (1902), describes how breeders often found that "the older reds were apt to produce white feathers" and suggested this as a reason why they were not more popular amongst exhibitors.
It's reassuring to know that the great poultry fanciers of the Victorian era shared the same challenges that we have today. Knowing this gives perspective on colour, which can so easily become a focus at the expense of size and type; two aspects which define the Dorking breed and are of equal, or perhaps greater, importance.
The 19th Century Red Dorking
Whilst early information about the red variety is extremely limited, when compared to the others, several authors do refer to Dorkings with a predominantly brown-red plumage. Descriptions of the colour and pattern of both male and female birds in the second half of the 19th Century are often lacking in detail and in more than one instance, quite different from the Red Dorking that we know today.
As previously mentioned, double-mating was once used to create red hens with plain red feathers tipped with black, much like Red Cap hens. The English Red Dorking Club, produced a standard of perfection in 1910 in which the hen's plumage was described as 'a clear chestnut red, tipped with black, free from mossiness'. The latter no doubt referring to the stippling found in all hens with a wild-type/black-red core. In order to achieve this, a pullet breeding line would need to have an 'extension of brown' (eb) core, which would, in turn spoil the solid black breast of the cockerels, which would have to be bred from a separate wild-type (e+) core. Therefore the birds we have today might be viewed a cockerel-breeding line, however and fortunately, despite their 'mossiness' the hens are still attractive.
As an essentially utilitarian fowl, I do not believe that the Red Dorking would benefit from a return to double-mating, particularly as it is not generally necessary in any of the other Dorking varieties. The standard for the red hen neither requires or penalises stippling, allowing breeders to make their own decisions regarding the use of double mating.
Authors including Elizabeth Watts (1864) and Thomas Coke Burnell (1875) refer to the Red Speckled Dorking and described as a brown-red hen with each feather tipped with white. The cocks are described as both plain black breasted or speckled with white per the hen. I have long believed in a close relationship between the Red Dorking and the Speckled Sussex. In his book 'The Sussex Fowl' S. C. Sharpe refers to the early descendants of the Speckled Sussex as Speckled Dorking
Whilst colour is important, particularly when breeding for exhibition, care should be taken not to give it precedence at the expense of size and the distinctive type which defines the Dorking breed.