Dominique Breed Page

[NateDomRIR]

American Poultry Association – Standard of Perfection

DOMINIQUES

No reliable data of the origin of the American Dominiques to be found. It is probably a selection from the many hawk-colored or gray fowls kept in the New England States long before any poultry standards existed. The type of the breed indicates composite blood lines, possibly of the Asiatic and Hamburg breeds.

ECONOMIC QUALITIES
Dual purpose, medium weight fowl, for the production of meat and eggs. Color of skin, yellow; color of egg shells, brown.

DISQUALIFICATIONS
Red or yellow in any part of plumage.

STANDARD WEIGHTS
Cock - - - - - - - - - 7 lbs. Hen - - - - - - - - - - 5 lbs.
Cockerel - - - - - - 6 lbs. Pullet - - - - - - - - - 4 lbs.


SHAPE – MALE

COMB: Rose; not so large as to overhang the eyes or beak; firm and straight on head; square infront; uniform on sides; free from hollow center; terminating in a spike at rear, the point ofwhich turns slightly upward; top covered with small points.

BEAK: Short, stout, well-curved.

FACE: Surface smooth, skin fine and soft in texture.

EYES: Large, full, prominent.

WATTLES: Broad, medium in length, well-rounded smooth, fine in texture, free from folds or wrinkles.

EAR-LOBES: Oblong, of medium size.

HEAD: Of medium size, carried well up.

NECK: Medium length, well-arched, tapering. Hackle – abundant.

BACK: Medium length, moderately broad, rising with concave sweep to tail.

TAIL: Long full, slightly expanded; carried at an angle of forty-five degrees (45) above
horizontal. Main Tail – broad and overlapping. Sickles – long, well-curved.

WINGS: Rather large, well-folded and carried without drooping. Wing Bows and Points
– well covered by breast and saddle feathers. Primaries and Secondaries – broad and
overlapping in natural order when wing is folded.

BREAST: Broad, round and carried well up.

BODY AND FLUFF: Body – broad, full, compact. Fluff – moderately full.

LEGS AND TOES: Legs set well apart, straight when viewed from front. Lower Thighs –
medium length, well-feathered, smooth. Shanks – medium in length, fine in bone.
Toes – four on each foot, of medium length, straight, well-spread.


SHAPE – FEMALE

COMB: Rose; similar to that of male, but smaller.

BEAK: Short, stout, well-curved.

FACE: Surface smooth, skin fine and soft in texture.

EYES: Large, full, prominent.

WATTLES: Rather small, well-rounded, smooth, fine in texture, free from folds and wrinkles.

EAR-LOBES: Of medium size; oblong.

HEAD: Small.

NECK: Medium in length, slightly arched, tapering.

BACK: Medium length, moderately broad, slightly concave.

TAIL: Full, rather long, slightly expanded, carried at angle of forty-five degrees (45) above
horizontal.

WINGS: Rather large, well-folded; carried without drooping. Primaries and Secondaries –
broad and overlapping in natural order when wing is folded.

BREAST: Round, full.

BODY AND FLUFF: Body – broad, full, compact. Fluff – moderately full.

LEGS AND TOES: Legs set well apart, straight when viewed from the front. Lower Thighs –
medium length, well-feathered, smooth. Shanks – medium in length, fine in bone. Toes –
four on each foot, of medium length, straight, well-spread.


COLOR – MALE AND FEMALE

COMB, FACE, WATTLES AND EAR-LOBES: Bright red.

BEAK: Yellow.

EYES: Reddish bay.

SHANKS AND TOES: Yellow.

PLUMAGE: Slate, feathers in all sections of fowl crossed throughout their entire length by
irregular dark and light bars that stop short of positive black and white; tip of each feather,
dark; free from shafting, brownish tinge of metallic sheen; excellence to be determined by
distinct contrasts. The male may be one or two shades lighter than the female.

Standard of Perfection and Photos courtesy of The American Poultry Association (APA) / All Rights Reserved