Dominique Thread!

[Lucky KY Chicks]

I depend more on leg color than the head spots.  Females have a tighter white dot where the males will have a wider white dot plus more splashing at the back of the neck.  But I've seen females with splashing at the back of the neck too but it's rare.  Usually the dark leg/toes on the females is the almost 99% accurate sexing. 

I am so jealous!  I want one - they are so curious and outgoing as chicks moreso than any other breed (except maybe BRs that have their breed history based on Doms).  Other chick breeds cower from humans or seem disinterested - but Dom chicks will explore your hair, your glasses, your fingers, your clothes, and then settle on your arm or shoulder to go to sleep.  And the conversations they carry on with you when you talk to them!  Just adorable!

I completely agree! I ordered EEs, White New Jersey Giants and Appenzeller Spitzhaubens with these Dominiques and the Doms are always first to come to me. They peck my fingers and climb on my hand. I had one who was very determined to get my hair tie off my wrist. I handle the other chicks more than the Doms because I want them to start acting like Doms lol. I have 10, 12 week old Doms from a breeder and they follow me every where I go when I go to the barn.

 

[tridentk9]

It's revenge. I know it is.

Ricky the Dom chick started trying to crow on Saturday. Even without seeing it I knew it could only be Ricky Tikki Tumbo No Sa Sumbo making that horrid noise IN THE MORNING (I don't do mornings) Anyone want a hatchery Dom? I confirmed it was him yesterday when he squeaked at dinner time.

Interesting moments among the 8 week old chicks. Ricky and Flic Un were having a spat. Two of the Cochins decided to get off their perches and settle it. One went each combatant, faced off with them and told them off. When it was over, Flic Un went to lay down among cochins, Ricky grumped for a bit but left everyone alone. It figures. My bitches keep all the dogs in line, now my pullets keep the chickens in line. So far.

Not sure if a Dom is the best fit among cochins and crevecoeurs. He's pushy and it sounds like that's Dom behavior added to young cockerel behavior. The others are more laid back. And he crows. Yep, anyone in Oregon want Ricky Tikki Tumbo No Sa Sumbo?

 

[The Yakima Kid]

Interesting moments among the 8 week old chicks. Ricky and Flic Un were having a spat. Two of the Cochins decided to get off their perches and settle it. One went each combatant, faced off with them and told them off. When it was over, Flic Un went to lay down among cochins, Ricky grumped for a bit but left everyone alone. It figures. My bitches keep all the dogs in line, now my pullets keep the chickens in line. So far.

Not sure if a Dom is the best fit among cochins and crevecoeurs. He's pushy and it sounds like that's Dom behavior added to young cockerel behavior. The others are more laid back. And he crows. Yep, anyone in Oregon want Ricky Tikki Tumbo No Sa Sumbo?

So, the Cochins are also eight weeks old? And the Doms are crowing at 8 weeks old? Is Flic Un also a cockerel?

I'd wait before making a decision on rehoming the other Dom; they often are too busy with biddy business to bother trying to bully others. They themselves can be bullied by larger or more assertive breeds.

But do prepared to have a pants chicken. Some of ours will actually grab our pants legs to try and get attention.

 

[tridentk9]

Yes, all 8 weeks old. The Flics are crevecoeurs. Flic Un looks like a cockerel this week. Flic Deux and Flic Trois still look like pullets. Cochins are still hard to tell sex though some act like pullets.

ROFL- I think Ricky is just getting revenge (not serious, just joking). He started acting flighty suddenly so I started picking him up and giving treats more. Loves the treats, hates the holding. And he tells all the rest how awful I am. You guys are right, he talks and talks. A few days after that he tried crowing. It startles the dogs Now I think hormonal level changes may have to do with sudden flightiness.

Though, I don't need him. He's the only Dom. OK he does add a spot of color among the rest of the monochromatic pets.

 

[The Yakima Kid]

Yes, all 8 weeks old. The Flics are crevecoeurs. Flic Un looks like a cockerel this week. Flic Deux and Flic Trois still look like pullets. Cochins are still hard to tell sex though some act like pullets.

ROFL- I think Ricky is just getting revenge (not serious, just joking). He started acting flighty suddenly so I started picking him up and giving treats more. Loves the treats, hates the holding. And he tells all the rest how awful I am. You guys are right, he talks and talks. A few days after that he tried crowing. It startles the dogs

Now I think hormonal level changes may have to do with sudden flightiness.

Though, I don't need him. He's the only Dom. OK he does add a spot of color among the rest of the monochromatic pets.

Flic, as in "Le flic?" Isn't that the French slang word for cop?

Do you really need a cockerel to breed mongrel chicks? I'd try to trade him for a pullet. B^)

 

[Sylvester017]

Thanks for the opinion....

But I view chickens differently. I greatly enjoy them, and they are my pets, I definitely spend more money on them than I should... But to me they are still livestock. For an infectious disease, to pinpoint the disease, I would take one to a vet, but other than that, I am not spending money on a vet.

Someone else, on a different thread mentioned that it was either genetic, or, if it was caused by an injury in a controlled environment (not caused by a predator), that she must not have as strong connective tissue, or joints, or something.

Either way, I should not keep her for breeding. So, I will probably wait another month, then eat her.

I was just disappointed, since I had wanted a large group of Dominiques to choose good breeders from, and so every loss is disappointing.

Yes, I understand in your neck of the woods/state that is an option for you to use anywhere from pet, to utility, to food. In my area that is not an option. If we were to process one of our chickens it would cost us $5 per bird to be dressed elsewhere as our yard is too small to divide into a processing area - plus my DH won't eat one of our chickens anyway after naming them, playing with them, and caring for them LOL.

It is sad you have to lose a Dom. I lost my one and only Dom last Fall and we're still mourning her - she was an amazing little personality but suffered a sudden seizure and gone in a few seconds right in our hands! It happens once in a while even to hardy breeds - flukes of Mother Nature so She takes them home.

 

[Sylvester017]

I completely agree! I ordered EEs, White New Jersey Giants and Appenzeller Spitzhaubens with these Dominiques and the Doms are always first to come to me. They peck my fingers and climb on my hand. I had one who was very determined to get my hair tie off my wrist. I handle the other chicks more than the Doms because I want them to start acting like Doms lol. I have 10, 12 week old Doms from a breeder and they follow me every where I go when I go to the barn.

From day-olds Dom chicks will follow you around - one of THE most curious chicks I've ever had. You have to be careful not to let them loose or they'll fly into things or get under foot the whole time just to be around you.

 

[Sylvester017]

I completely agree! I ordered EEs, White New Jersey Giants and Appenzeller Spitzhaubens with these Dominiques and the Doms are always first to come to me. They peck my fingers and climb on my hand. I had one who was very determined to get my hair tie off my wrist. I handle the other chicks more than the Doms because I want them to start acting like Doms lol. I have 10, 12 week old Doms from a breeder and they follow me every where I go when I go to the barn.

The personality is inherent in Doms. It's hit-and-miss to handle other breeds to get them "friendly" but with the Doms it's no effort at all to tame them - in fact, we become THEIR pets!

 

[Sylvester017]

It's revenge. I know it is.

Ricky the Dom chick started trying to crow on Saturday. Even without seeing it I knew it could only be Ricky Tikki Tumbo No Sa Sumbo making that horrid noise IN THE MORNING (I don't do mornings)

Anyone want a hatchery Dom? I confirmed it was him yesterday when he squeaked at dinner time.

Interesting moments among the 8 week old chicks. Ricky and Flic Un were having a spat. Two of the Cochins decided to get off their perches and settle it. One went each combatant, faced off with them and told them off. When it was over, Flic Un went to lay down among cochins, Ricky grumped for a bit but left everyone alone. It figures. My bitches keep all the dogs in line, now my pullets keep the chickens in line. So far.

Not sure if a Dom is the best fit among cochins and crevecoeurs. He's pushy and it sounds like that's Dom behavior added to young cockerel behavior. The others are more laid back. And he crows. Yep, anyone in Oregon want Ricky Tikki Tumbo No Sa Sumbo?

There's always the dinner table. Why give away a cockerel that you know will be someone else's dinner? Sad but true. Might as well keep him for your own freezer.

 

[Sylvester017]

So, the Cochins are also eight weeks old? And the Doms are crowing at 8 weeks old? Is Flic Un also a cockerel?

I'd wait before making a decision on rehoming the other Dom; they often are too busy with biddy business to bother trying to bully others. They themselves can be bullied by larger or more assertive breeds.

But do prepared to have a pants chicken. Some of ours will actually grab our pants legs to try and get attention.

All our breeds are pants pullers when it's treat time. If we didn't have pants on they'd be pulling our toes and leg hairs so definitely wear pants at all times LOL.