Chicken Breed Focus - Dominique

[sumi]

The Dominique also known as Dominicker or Pilgrim Fowl, originated in the USA during the colonial period. It is considered America's oldest breed of chicken, likely descending from chickens brought to New England from southern England during colonial times. By the 19th century, they were very popular and were raised in many parts of the country. Dominiques are a dual purpose breed, being valued for their table bird qualities as well as for their brown eggs. In earlier times, their feathers were much sought after as stuffing for pillows and mattresses.

After the Plymouth Rock breed was developed from the Dominiques in the 1870s, the Dominiques' popularity declined, and by the 1950 they were so rare, they were considered nearly extinct. During the 1970s, Dominiques were listed in "Critical" status with fewer than 500 breeding birds in North America. However, due to a revival of interest in them and other rare breeds, the Dominiques have made a comeback and are now listed on the "Watch" list, indicating lesser danger of extinction.

Details:

Breed Purpose Dual Purpose
Comb Rose
Broodiness Average
Climate Tolerance All Climates
Egg Productivity Medium
Egg Size Medium
Egg Color Brown
Breed Temperament Friendly, Easily handled, Calm, Bears confinement well, Quiet, Docile
Breed Colors/Varieties Correct Dominique barring is not quite black on not quite white, and the bars are staggered, rather than the parallel and sharply contrasting black and white barring of the Barred Rock.
Breed Size Large Fowl


Pic by @LaurenM23


Pic by @Osprey


Pic by @Chris09


Pic by @WallTenters


Pic by @WallTenters

BYC Breed Reviews:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/products/dominique

BYC Breed Discussions:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/301766/dominique-thread/0_30
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/568590/dominiques/0_30
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1019004/investing-more-in-american-dominiques/0_30

Do you own Dominiques? Are you a Dominique breeder? If so, please reply to this thread with the your thoughts and experiences, including:

· What made you decide to get this breed?
· Do you own them for fun? Breeding? Some other purpose?
· What are your favorite characteristics about this breed?
· Post some pics of your birds; male/female, chicks, eggs, etc!

We have a bunch of other awesome breed-focus threads for you to enjoy. You can see all of them here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/chicken-breed-focus-project.975504/

 

[gfvirga]

We love ours!!!
I am not sure if mine is pure bred, but the one they sold me as Dominique has a very unique character.

· What made you decide to get this breed?
We wanted a barred rock first, but I saw how this was in the danger list, so we decided to try both!
· Do you own them for fun? Breeding? Some other purpose?
We have it for eggs!
· What are your favorite characteristics about this breed?
Our chick is very happy, she is so perky and an escape artist, I can't believe how fast 7 weeks chicken runs. She was also the first of our flock to learn to use the coop stars up and down.
· Post some pics of your birds; male/female, chicks, eggs, etc!

7 weeks (Yesterday)

6 weeks

5 weeks

4 weeks

3 weeks

2 weeks

1 week

1 day

 

[clutsycora]

I got my girls for the eggs. They are a year old. Their medium sized eggs are the same as extra large in the grocery store. The are really sweet friendly ladies.

 

[sbroxon]

 

[Nardo]

So true about popularity. My mother-in-law, who is 82, says that when she was growing up everyone had Dominique chickens. When I had a barred rock, she thought that it was a Dominique. Great pics!

 

[gaylittleswan]

My doms are very sweet and docile. The hens are quiet, and they're hardy layers, laying throughout the winter (at least here in Florida). I keep them for eggs, but they are all nicely shaped and heavy bodied, and I've sold breeding stock to people who will be raising their chicks for meat purposes. Overall, they're good foragers and a pleasure to watch overall.

I mostly have exhibition breeds, but something feels good about owning a heritage breed too, you know?

 

[centrarchid]

I have about 30 American Dominiques. They are the second oldest breed developed in the US and current representatives differ markedly from what they where during their heyday. As the breed was challenged by new breeds, Black Java was introduced to create changes that exist to this day. As a result I am trying to revers the process and calling the product the Missouri Dominique which will be closer to the heyday birds.

 

[sbroxon]

Eating my pumpkin

 

[CrazyCochin]

The Dominique also known as Dominicker or Pilgrim Fowl, originated in the USA during the colonial period. It is considered America's oldest breed of chicken, likely descending from chickens brought to New England from southern England during colonial times. By the 19th century, they were very popular and were raised in many parts of the country. Dominiques are a dual purpose breed, being valued for their table bird qualities as well as for their brown eggs. In earlier times, their feathers were much sought after as stuffing for pillows and mattresses.

After the Plymouth Rock breed was developed from the Dominiques in the 1870s, the Dominiques' popularity declined, and by the 1950 they were so rare, they were considered nearly extinct. During the 1970s, Dominiques were listed in "Critical" status with fewer than 500 breeding birds in North America. However, due to a revival of interest in them and other rare breeds, the Dominiques have made a comeback and are now listed on the "Watch" list, indicating lesser danger of extinction.

Details:

Breed Purpose Dual Purpose
Comb Rose
Broodiness Average
Climate Tolerance All Climates
Egg Productivity Medium
Egg Size Medium
Egg Color Brown
Breed Temperament Friendly, Easily handled, Calm, Bears confinement well, Quiet, Docile
Breed Colors/Varieties Correct Dominique barring is not quite black on not quite white, and the bars are staggered, rather than the parallel and sharply contrasting black and white barring of the Barred Rock.
Breed Size Large Fowl


Pic by @LaurenM23


Pic by @Osprey


Pic by @Chris09


Pic by @WallTenters


Pic by @WallTenters

BYC Breed Reviews:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/products/dominique

BYC Breed Discussions:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/301766/dominique-thread/0_30
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/568590/dominiques/0_30
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1019004/investing-more-in-american-dominiques/0_30

Do you own Dominiques? Are you a Dominique breeder? If so, please reply to this thread with the your thoughts and experiences, including:

· What made you decide to get this breed?
· Do you own them for fun? Breeding? Some other purpose?
· What are your favorite characteristics about this breed?
· Post some pics of your birds; male/female, chicks, eggs, etc!

We have a bunch of other awesome breed-focus threads for you to enjoy. You can see all of them here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/chicken-breed-focus-project.975504/

Here is a picture of one of our dominiques!

 

[ThatFarmerChick]

When I first mentioned to my extended family that we were going to start a flock my Uncle James blurted out, "Make sure you get some of them Dominikers! You won't be disappointed or find a better bird." Later I found out that my grandfather had a very large stock that gave them plenty of meat, and most of his hens laid 5+ days out of a week. This was great for a family with 9 children. And none of their children were ever skinny.
In my beginning flock we tried a variety of. In this group was a trio (a cockerel and two pullets) of Dominiques. After having the trio we have learned a few things about the breed. They are awesome foragers, are smart, are friendly (our first roo liked to be carried around), they love attention, are very hardy, and are great for eggs and meat. I did not expect that much meat on such a small cockerel, but they usually dress out around 5lbs after 5 months.