Dominique Thread!

[gootziecat]

I have a question for those of you that butcher your culls. Since Doms like to forage a lot, does the meat tend to be tougher than some other breeds that don't, ie. Orps?

BTW, there are some nice looking birds on here.

 

[WallTenters]

None of our birds have been tough, but we process them all at around 16-18 weeks. I should take that back, I think we did one at like 20 weeks or so? and he was a little chewy, but we also didn't cook him very well - just threw it in a cast iron skillet for a bit with some lemon juice and pepper. I think if we had cooked him slower it would have been better.

No way can store bought chicken compare!!! That stringy flavorless crap just makes me want to gag now!


And no, I can't find any copies. I was hoping that the DCA would have some, just sent in my membership check today

Finally! I wish we were further along with all of this, but my auto accident really set us back. It's been all we can do just to keep the birds fed and dream of the day we have energy to build more pens and really focus our breeding.

I know the advice is to choose hens and cocks on a separate basis, as to not get distracted. I guess we're just the wild children

. Once we get a little bit better birds to choose from we'll be following that advice, but for now, it's kind of hit and miss, if we looked for the perfect bird in our flock we'd be eating a lot of chicken.

Can't wait until spring when all the beautiful Dominique chicks start to arrive!

 

[mprivett]

Hi! I am new to chickens, but I chose Dominiques (I have three pullets and one cockerel) for their rich history and heritage breed status. I think mine are around 22 weeks old. They have not started laying yet and I was wondering if there was a particular age when most dominique hens started to lay? Only one has red combs and wattles; she is also the biggest hen of them all.

They are generally good natured--I let them free range when I get home from work and all day on weekends. They love love LOVE to forage for bugs and run around the back yard and into the woods surrounding our house. They even catch small frogs. The only thing is they don't like to be handled and still seem very afraid of me when I try to pet or catch them.

Of course I do hold them against their will, but they will squawk and flap and fuss for a bit until they will settle down. UNLESS I have treats for them, then they are like my best friend and eat out of my hand. I really would like to be able to pet them and handle them more easily. They were raised by their momma hen, so not sure if they were handled much when young. Any suggestions?

Also, my roo is getting VERY large (would post a pic, but not sure how to). He is quite a bully to the hens, chasing and pecking them sometimes. He also will try to steal the food that they find and he likes to steal treats from them too or at least eat the most treats. He is not very gentlemanly at all. He does not try to attack me, but will peck me on occasion when I stick my hand in to pet them at night. I usually scold and pick him up and carry him for a bit-- show him who's boss if he pecks. He usually runs from me when I reach for him. Any tips?

Thanks everyone!

 

[PitterPatterPalace]

Quote:
Mine was 23.5 weeks when she laid her first egg.

 

[WallTenters]

Try holding them at night. They are much calmer and so much easier to catch, and I've found that even though they seem to be in a daze after they've roosted, they seem to remember that you didn't eat them and get friendlier.

They love bugs, don't they? That's strange that your roo is so mean to the ladies, hopefully he grows out of it. Our roos always call the hens over when they find something to eat - they eat last and usually just get the leftovers. They even let the pullets and cockerels eat first. It's so funny because they give that special "I found food" cluck (which is like ten small clucks all together) and all the hens come running!

 

[mprivett]

Thanks for the replies!! Awww that is so sweet your roo is so courteous-- I hope mine does grow out of it. Lately if the hens find something really good, they will just run as fast as their little legs can carry them AWAY from the roo because he tries to steal whatever they've found. Sometimes I will stand between the hen who found the special bug and the roo so that he won't chase after her. That way she has a chance to gobble it down.

I will try handling them more at night to see if it helps. They usually are a bit uneasy (start making little noises) about me petting them when I check in on them after they gone to bed.

Can't wait for my first egg to come! Hopefully soon

 

[mprivett]

Oh-- and one more thing: This morning at almost 23 weeks old Mr. Roo started crowing for the very first time!!!! I thought it was the coffee maker at first and then went outside and then he crowed for me nice and loud! He did it right as the sun was starting to come up and then again when he saw me getting in my car to leave for work. He is maturing into big boy now

 

[outback hatcher]

Here are some pics of mine

 

[Gallusfarm]

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[Gallusfarm]

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