Dominique Thread!

[centrarchid]

Great! with those numbers are you seeing lots of "improvement"? My numbers run smaller 30-40 at hatch and 10-12 for over winter . Only 3-4 are bred and the rest are laying hens. Small time operation.

Large numbers to compensate for lots of crap! Improvement will require I am consistent in the selection process. Presently my stock is out bred and will require some refining more than you have to do if all your birds sourced from same breeder.

 

[flitter]

Mine are 2nd and 3rd generation mixed hatchery... now a closed flock. It's kind of fun. I did get eggs from NYred... presently in the incubator. If I get a successful hatch, I'll establish another small breeding flock... I have had bad luck with shipped eggs in the past.

 

[wsmith]

Photo of the start of our Dominique Flock



Any guesses on genders? I think at least 3 pullets....

 

[extraordinaryfowl]

Photo of the start of our Dominique Flock



Any guesses on genders? I think at least 3 pullets....

 

[flitter]

The head spots are indicators in some strains... works for mine but I can't tell from these pictures.
The male head spot is usually larger and more scattered than the one on the female. The female's tends to be small and more compact.

 

[wsmith]

Going by spots, overall shading and leg color, I think we have 4 pullets and 6 cockerels. Of course, I could be way off.....

 

[flitter]

Sounds about right. Someone else must get better than 50-50 because I usually end up with lots of cocks and less pullets.

 

[wsmith]

Here's a shot from the top. I have a red light in the brooder, so I tookout most of the color to get better markings visibility. Still not a great shot though.

 

[kristen2678]

Hatched 5 Dominiques over the weekend. I'm starting to panic. Looks like all boys.

 

[wsmith]

The oldest of our Dom chicks is WAY bigger than the rest. Weird. The girls have started calling him Shrek..... We have (I think) 3 cockerals and 3 pullets. Hatchery chicks have shipped this morning.
I tell them not to get too attached, as he may not make the cut.