Dorbar

The Dorbar is a rare British autosexing chicken developed from Dorking and barred stock, most commonly described as involving Barred Plymouth Rock ancestry. Its name reflects that crossing: Dorking type combined with the sex-linked barring needed to identify chicks by down color. Mature birds are generally associated with cuckoo or barred patterning and may retain Dorking influence in body shape and, in some lines, the five-toed foot. Because few flocks are maintained, exact type can vary.

Practical interest in Dorbars is mostly among preservation breeders and people who study autosexing poultry rather than among commercial egg producers. A useful breeding pen should produce healthy chicks whose sex can be read reliably at hatch, while also keeping acceptable fertility, size, and structure. Records are especially valuable because small populations can lose the traits that define the breed within a few generations. Buyers should ask what standard or strain a breeder is working to, since the name is uncommon and may be used inconsistently.

Colors: Barred, Birchen, Black, Blue, Brown, Buff, Columbian, Crele, Cuckoo, Duckwing, Gold, Gold Laced, Laced, Lavender, Mille Fleur, Mottled, Partridge, Penciled, Porcelain, Red, Silver, Silver Laced, Spangled, Splash, Wheaten, White