The Dorking is a breed of chicken that is believed to have originated in Italy during the period of the Roman Empire. One of the earliest known mentions of this breed was by the Roman writer Columella during the reign of Julius Caesar. In his text, Rei rusticae libri, he described the breed as, "square-framed, large and broad-breasted, with big heads and small upright combs...the purest breed being five-clawed". From there it was introduced to Great Britain by the Romans at an early date where much of its development continued to take place. They appeared in the first British poultry show in 1845. They were later used to produce the Sussex and Faverolles breeds. CharacteristicsThe Dorking has a rectangular body with very short, five-toed legs. Due to its relatively large comb it generally requires protection in cold weather. Dorkings are also well known for their versatility as a breed for both egg and meat production. It is one of the few breeds with red earlobes that produces a white-shelled egg. The skin colour beneath the feathers is white. The standard weight is 9 pounds for a cock, 8 pounds for a cockerel, 7 pounds for a hen, and 6 pounds for a pullet. Furthermore, the breed is very docile. The bird has three recognized varieties: White, Silver-gray, and Coloured.

The selective breeding of chickens in the last 50 years has led to the entire breed showing health issues that could make them useless as chickens.

Last spring I bought two female pot belly piglets. I put them in my animal pen with my goats & chickens and other assorted animals (6 gay roosters, a duck that has sex with a chicken, and two goats that like to hump the pigs). I also have a little Jack Russell Terrier I call the "Little Pig F#%*er". Full story and pictures of the cross breed.

Doom mongering has suddenly crept back into fashion. A new breed of Chicken Littles has emerged. But these aren't your run-of-the-mill street corner nut jobs warning that the end is nigh. Rather, these are serious thinkers with excellent credentials.

Artist Koen Vanmechelen's Cosmopolitan Chicken Project, aims for a hybridized breed of chicken that is not focused on notions of specific purity or nationality.

Pam educates Rostik regarding KFC's abuse of chickens: “KFC's suppliers breed chickens to grow so top-heavy that they suffer heart attacks, lung failures, broken legs, and other crippling diseases and injuries. At slaughter, their throats are cut open and they are scalded to death — often while they are still conscious.”