Barred Rocks vs Dominiques

[HeatherFeather]

I'm trying to determine which of these breeds will be the breed that I seek out some good foundation stock of, and take on as my permanent homesteader flock-primarily for eggs, but we'll eat the cockerals too. We'll be relocating to Ontario's near north this year, so a sturdy cold climate bird is important, as well as one that will have some sense to get away from predators and one that is an excellent forager. I'd like to be able to sex the chicks at a young age, and put the cockerals to the freezer by the time they are 3-4 months old, which, if they hatch in spring would mean less work for whoever is hired to care for them while we're on annual vacation in August.

I'm *really* attracted to the dominique for these reasons:

1. breed history/breed endangerment
2. ability to sex chicks by leg colour and headspots
3. slightly flighty, so I think they'll avoid predation better
4. roos are known as aggressive and good protectors

my concern is that their eggs may not be very big. I have only one dominique right now, and she lays tiny eggs. She hasn't been laying long, and isn't a big bird...so I'm not sure if this is indicative of the breed as a whole. Good egg production is essential for me-its hard to sell small eggs for a good price.

I'm not as attracted to the Barred Rock for these reasons

1. inability to sex chicks at day old- some say yes some say no???
2.not sure if they are flighty enough to avoid predation.

Other than that-it seems like the BR would make a better choice for me than the dominiques...suggestions? I've definately noticed the two that I have to be excellent regular producers of large brown eggs.

 

[speckledhen]

You can sex both Doms and BRs at hatch with decent accuracy, I promise. The BR was bred from the Dom, among others in the mix, so the Dom is, I believe, the oldest American breed. They do well out freeranging. I have a flock of BRs and will be adding to it very soon. If I could have only one breed, it would be Rocks, mainly barred. My BR eggs are huge when they get past pullet egg stage, mostly jumbos.


http://www.dominiquechicken.com/Sexing_Dominique_chicks.html

The rules in this article (with pics) apply to Doms, BRs and Cuckoo Marans. The Dom's rose comb will be better in winter up there, though, especially the roosters'.

 

[michickenwrangler]

I had both at one time. Dom's are definitely a lot more skittish. I wanted something friendlier. They lay medium sized eggs. Until our gals began laying, we would buy eggs from the guy who bought them from us and the eggs were noticeable smaller than the BR's

 

[HeatherFeather]

Hmm, yes I was thinking that about the rose comb too.


Anybody have any weights on their dominique eggs I could compare to for size?

I've got 49.5 g for my dominique the other day and 67.4 for one of my barred rocks-same ages.

 

[Chris09]

Quote:
My Dominiques hens are around 4 lbs (U.S.) (About 1/2 the size of a good Barred Rock) and there out of decent show lines and they lay eggs 62.2 g now that it is winter.

Chris

 

[doublebow]

My dominiques lay small eggs too but I like the breed history and their look. The barred rocks were better layers and bigger eggs too. Both were good free-rangers. But don't expect any chicken to get away from predators.

 

[HeatherFeather]

Ya, I LOVE the look of the dominiques too.....but I really think that for a starting out small time egg producer....the rocks might be the wiser choice. I was hoping someone would convince me otherwise.

I dunno what I'll do about the combs...hope for the best, and have a rooster in the house when its -20?!!! I can't think of anything else! We'll hopefully have other livestock in the barn for heat, and ceramic lamps, but I'm sure there will be outages where we're going.

 

[MandyH]

We raise dominiques and their egg size is more of a medium than a large, but buddy they lay like crazy even in all this crazy weather we've been having. Our birds came from show parents and are really gorgeous birds, so I guess I'm a little partial to the Dom's. Ours aren't that skittish but it could be that they were hatched here and have been handled since hatching. Go with the Dom's, I don't think you will be dissapointed.

 

[HeatherFeather]

can you show me a pic of your eggs inside an egg carton?

 

[andalusn]

Maybe it's how they are raised but I find my two Dom hens (Lucy & Ethel) to be the friendlier of my flock. Lucy talks all the time and if there is food to be had, will always be first and tends to be my bossy hen. Along with this she always seems to check on the other hens more often too if they stay in the hen house. As for egg production they lay about a medium sized light brown egg. All of my hens are heritage breeds and the Doms have been my favorite so far. I am interested in getting more Dom chickens but there is not any show stock here that I can find.