Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Orpington
Sussex
can be found in several colors in this country. The most common varieties
are Speckled, Red, and Light. Newly reintroduced to North America are the Coronation
Sussex and birds boasting the Buff color pattern. Sussex are a bit taller than Orpingtons,
although they share the features typical of the English class — white legs with a pink
streak on each. Sussex are perhaps more active than Orpingtons. They adapt well to a
free-range system and the hens make very friendly pets. The roosters, however, are a bit
on the aggressive side and can cause some problems for folks who spook easily. Sussex
lay a lightly tinted egg, not really dark brown or white, but sort of an off-color. Sussex
are not known to lay a very large egg but are consistent layers and are not easily thrown
off their laying cycle by weather changes.
Dorkings
are also recognized as dual-purpose breeds, as they are wonderful layers in
fall and winter during the darker times of the year. They tend to lay in spurts during the
summer season and late spring, as the hens have a propensity for going broody. These
birds come in an assortment of colors from Red (really Black, breasted red like a Brown
Leghorn), Silver Gray, Colored, Cuckoo, Light Grey, White, Black, and several others.
They lay a nice size, lightly tinted egg.
Dorkings lay a large clutch of between 12 and 15 eggs in the spring, and then go set.
They raise that bunch of chicks, go back to laying, and if allowed start another family.
They can raise up to three batches a year in warm climates. In nearly all cases Dorkings
will raise the chicks themselves, which can cut down your workload considerably and
provide an environmentally friendly way of increasing your flock without the use of an
incubator, extra facilities, or electricity.
Other dual-purpose breeds do not have quite the mothering tendencies of Dorkings.
Commercial sex-links rarely become broody, and when they do they are not very good
mothers.
