Dominique Thread!

[Gallusfarm]

Well the show was interesting. We took 2 Dom cockerels and a pullet. There were 3 other Doms there, all pullets, I was happy to see them!

The Dom row:

Best of breed went to our Leopold. If only he didn't have white in the sickles:

Goliath, so named because he's a big boy -

Chloe, 1st for the pullets

Her comb is broad and bumpy, but at least it's even on the head.

The other 3 pullets looked like this girl:

One was DQ for no leader on the comb? They all had combs that were nearly completely smooth. Interesting in that is what appeals to most folks, myself included... It's amazing the bird to bird variation.

Also, it's so much better to see birds in 3-D.

Here's the only Bantam:

Cutie pie~

 

[flower]

Gallusfarm, Congratulations ! I know that you had fun. Chloe is very pretty and it is easy to see why she took #1. I have yet to attend a dedicated poultry show.

 

[FarmerJohn3285]

Finally! Figured out how to post pictures! This is my 9mo old Dom Roo, Flomey. My wife named him after her like, 9th great-grandfather or something like that. She traced her family history and thought that was a funny name.

 

[gootziecat]

Nice job, Gallusfarm. I'm glad the Doms are starting to show up at the shows now.

 

[Gallusfarm]

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Thanks guys!

 

[Gallusfarm]

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That makes me laugh - 9th great granfather!

Well he is nice looking and has the comb that I so long for. Trim, not too big. Do you have a close up of his head?

 

[Montana_Gal]

Hello~

I have really enjoyed reading this thread.

I have not had chicken but my mom had a few right after I left home. I may be new to chickens but am a farm kid and have raised about everything else (sheep, pigs, cow, milk cows, horses mules, etc).

I want to add a few egg layers to our little 'farm'. I have been doing my reading and I think Dominiques are the breed for me (even more so after reading this thread).

I wanted to have the coop first and add the birds. I would like about 6 hens and a rooster. This fall I converted part of a shed in to my future coop. The shed is now insultated and has power. There is also an attached 'yard'. The inside is 3'x8'x6'tall. I have 4 nest boxes (a bit much, I know but it worked for the space). A friend of my husband's recommended a roost area with a 'poop' pit underneath, which i did do. I may reconfigure the roosts (wider then the 2 1/2" that they are & teer them like bleachers instead of level). I have a vent up high across from the chicken door (cross ventilation) and in the summer the interior door will vent with the opening of the shed door (whom are not air tight anyway). There is power and lights. I dont want to have to heat but can. We may add a window next summer but I am worried more about the cold in the winter. Right now we are 7 with a wind chill -7.

I would love any recommendations, especially on where to get dominiques from. I know there have been several places mentioned but that also gets mind boggleing. I would be interested in breeding that will make the breed better. Are there good places to get dom chicks from near NW montana? Also I am very worried about the min orders of 25 with most hatcherys... what to do....?

Thanks all.

 

[centrarchid]

Montana_Gal,

Dominiques will handle your cold as adults so long as well fed and exposure to wind not direct. My opinion is that heating not needed and may pose fire hazard.

 

[Montana_Gal]

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The coop is in the most sheltered place I have. There is a 8' board fence on the north side of the shed/ yard that takes most of the cold wind. I dont want to heat (because to the danger). I have the yard (10'x13') covered with wire and the supports are rough cut 2x6 (left overs from another project). I may roof the yard to give them a more projected/drier space. Power was mainly for a heated waterer and lights (gets dark here too).

One thing I have picked up looking at coops, people seem to use vinyl on the floors, does this hold up to the poo? I have planned to use deep shavings in the coop. Would vinyl in the shavings be a good thing?

 

[gootziecat]

I put vinyl flooring down in my coop, thinking how easy it would be to clean. If you put a couple of inches of shaving on the floor, the floor itself tends to stay fairly clean, of poop anyway. I found it to be slick and will not put vinyl down in future coops. I find vinyl great for on top of poop boards tho.