Dominique Thread!

[debid]

This is my (only) Dominique, Delilah. She was the top of the order until my EE cockerel finally started pushing his way up (and even now, she doesn't take any crap from anyone). She's ~16 weeks and is having a dramatic growth spurt in the comb/wattle/earlobe area.

I'm wondering if her coloring/size/shape is correct? I'm not sure if you can see it but she does have a bit of iridescence in her barring.

I'm not planning to breed her, just trying to get an idea of the quality of her breeder's stock.

ETA: she's standing on a 1x6

 

[centrarchid]

My chicken related activities involve only three breeds. Two of which are entirely or in part dominique. Second project involves developing a dominique based cross with influences from California grey, American game and possibly Icelandic and fayoumas chickens.

Here are two of the more advanced crosses with their problems.

Dom x California grey with assymetrical tail coming from grey.

Dom x grey with retarded tail feather development and whitish earlobes.

Best dom x grey but comb very beefy.

Dom x grey pullet showing only quick barring allele from grey father and single comb from dom mother. Pullets have tight spot on head at hatch but quick having only quick barring allele makes them lighter in color than brothers with standard and quick barring alleles. Brothers will be lighter / smokier barred than pure dominques.

Dom x American game with only one barring allele, lots of color leaking through, and black spots on legs. They muscle up very well with sexual maturation much slower than dom x grey.

 

[KenK]

I like that Dominique game cross. If you breed the 1/2 breed back to a game will the barring be retained?

 

[Chris09]

Quote:
If the Male is Barred then some of he's offspring will be barred.

Example -
Black Breasted Red Male + Dominique Female = Barred male and Black female F1 offpring,
F1 Barred Male + Black Breasted Red Female = Barred, Black, Yellow Gold Duckwing, Gold Duckwing, Yellow Gold Crele and Gold Crele patterned offspring

Chris

 

[Gallusfarm]

Quote:
Interesting project. I love the look of these birds.

 

[Stevenson]

I'd like to get some advice from people who know! I have 4 dominique (2 hens and 2 roos). I never planned on breeding them, but before they make it into the frying pan....I wanted to ask your opinions! They aren't supposed to be hatchery chickens. I got them from a breeder on BYC who said she got them from a farmer who has kept them for years. I would love to hear your comments...both good and bad (seriously...I can take the bad as well!).

Thanks!

Edited to say that I am planning on keeping the hens as layers and that they are 14.5 weeks old (which I know is young to make a determination).

 

[KenK]

Stevenson,
It's like deja vu all over again looking at the video. I suspect I have the same Dominique and Speckled Sussex that you do. I think they are nice birds, don't have the expertise to opine on how they stack up to the SOP.

 

[centrarchid]

Stevenson, I do not mean to insult but your accent is very similar to mine. I grew up in Spencer county.

Wry tail big negative as is anything dealing with assymetry. Combs of cockerols lacking well defined point to rear. Otherwise they are at stage where they tend to be plumb ugly. I do not trust appearance until they are in full adult feathering. So culling for me until then based on obvious violations of SOP, assymetry and deformities. Get another high quality male with a female and start breeding. Can you be more specific about history of line?

Jim

 

[Stevenson]

Quote:
No offense at all on the accent

I am originally from Henderson County, KY.

I bought the hatched eggs from a BYC'er from Georgia who said the following:

I got my original flock from an elderly gentleman in a town close to where I live, he has been raising Dominiques on his farm for 35+ years. We went and visited him and pursuaded him to sell us a few birds. He had no idea what he had he called them "Dominickers: and said they are his layers. These birds have never been crossed with any other breed and are absolutely beautiful. They have the true rose comb and yellow legs which are a breed standard (no gray legs). All chicks I have hatched have always hatched out the same. My original Roo was very docile and all boys hatched since are the same. I have been VERY pleased with the breed. They are not the friendliest breed I have but are very smart. They are excellent consitant layers.

I didn't plan on breeding them. I just wanted to have a couple of hens in my mixed flock. My primary focus is on Delawares and plan on working hard to improve them. I just don't want to eat a dom roo that I should be breeding! Of course it will be a few weeks before I'll be butchering them anyway.​

 

[centrarchid]

Stevenson,
Roosters you have not best in their own right. If they are in fact repressentatives of an old line, they be valuable overall preservation efforts for doms, unless better repressentatives of their line can be had.

Do you know any Puckets that have or used to have games back in the 1970's and 80's?

Jim