Dorking
Gallus gallus domesticus
✨ Fun Fact
Julius Caesar's account of his British invasion in 54 BC mentions five-toed fowl of extraordinary quality kept by the Britons — many historians believe these were ancestors of today's Dorking, making it potentially the oldest chicken breed in the British Isles.
Possibly England's oldest breed, with a Roman-era origin story supported by Julius Caesar's description of five-toed British fowl in 54 BC. The Dorking is named for the Surrey market town that was once famous for its outstanding table chickens. A rectangular, low-set bird with the characteristic five toes shared with Faverolles and Silkies, it produces white-fleshed meat of exceptional quality and tenderness. Once the premier British table bird, it is now a conservation breed of great historical importance.
🏷️ Breed
Dorking
💭 Temperament
Calm, docile, gentle, good with children, hardy
📏 Size
Large (3.6-4.5 kg)
⏳ Lifespan
5-7 years
🎨 Colors
Silver-grey, dark (pencilled), red, white, cuckoo
🌍 Origin
England — Dorking, Surrey; possibly Roman origin; documented 1845
🏠 Habitat
Free-range preferred; tolerates cold well
🍽️ Diet
Layer pellets; good forager on farmland
🎯 Purpose
Meat
🥚 Egg Colour
White
👑 Comb Type
Single
🏅 EE Class
Large Fowl