Dominique Thread!

[TheBeardie]

Knowledge is power, but you could get your point across being less confrontational. This is just a hobby from those here on BYC that hug their chickens to those that show. We are fortunate to have some experienced breeders that are here to offer advice to those that have questions and continue to move the breed forward. My take on white Dominiques, they do not have a place in my yards and if they popped up they would be culled out of the hatcher. Never seen them, never will raise them.. Simple majority rules. I am more concerned about improving what I have in front of me.

So you would kill a poor little chick that can't defend it's self just because it a different color? Just because you have it doesn't mean you have to breed it. What about the chicks parents? Are you going to cull them because they produced a different color offspring ? doing what comes naturally. It's called evolvision . That is kind of cruel, you might not want that breed in your backyard but if evolvision didn't happen you wouldn't have most of the breeds today. But in the end it your thoughts and your own choice

 

[centrarchid]

So you would kill a poor little chick that can't defend it's self just because it a different color? Just because you have it doesn't mean you have to breed it. What about the chicks parents? Are you going to cull them because they produced a different color offspring ? doing what comes naturally. It's called evolvision . That is kind of cruel, you might not want that breed in your backyard but if evolvision didn't happen you wouldn't have most of the breeds today. But in the end it your thoughts and your own choice

The process is routine with virtually all domesticated animals. Such also occurs accidently for other reasons which can result in selection as well.

 

[lazy gardener]

Nice day we're having, isn't it?

 

[mhschafer]

Hi, I've been researching about Dominiques and am impressed what I hear of their economical eating, foraging, ability to raise young, etc. I was wondering if you could clarify a couple of quesitons for me that I haven't been able to find a clear answer to. (1) Regarding using Dominiques for meat--they are labeled as "dual purpose," and I am wondering how many of you have used them for meat? How much meat would a Dominique yield, and what would be the age to butcher? How would the amount of meat compare to other Dual Purpose breeds? (2) Regarding eggs--I have read that Dominiques are good layers, but I've read descriptions of the size of the egg ranging from small to large. In general, what size of egg do your Dominiques lay? Thank you for your time!

 

[centrarchid]

Hi, I've been researching about Dominiques and am impressed what I hear of their economical eating, foraging, ability to raise young, etc. I was wondering if you could clarify a couple of quesitons for me that I haven't been able to find a clear answer to. (1) Regarding using Dominiques for meat--they are labeled as "dual purpose," and I am wondering how many of you have used them for meat? How much meat would a Dominique yield, and what would be the age to butcher? How would the amount of meat compare to other Dual Purpose breeds? (2) Regarding eggs--I have read that Dominiques are good layers, but I've read descriptions of the size of the egg ranging from small to large. In general, what size of egg do your Dominiques lay? Thank you for your time!

Birds I harvest are about 4 pushing 5 lbs around 20 weeks post-hatch. Just over half that initial carcass weight makes it to the stove. Latter can vary with what you consider worthy of culinary use. I can only compare with games and Cornish cross and they are intermediate. Forage has stronger impact on meat flavor than genetics. Eggs medium and you do good to get 200 per year per female in lay.

The broodiness is over stated at least in terms of ability to hatch and wean.

 

[Alaskan]

Hi, I've been researching about Dominiques and am impressed what I hear of their economical eating, foraging, ability to raise young, etc. I was wondering if you could clarify a couple of quesitons for me that I haven't been able to find a clear answer to. (1) Regarding using Dominiques for meat--they are labeled as "dual purpose," and I am wondering how many of you have used them for meat? How much meat would a Dominique yield, and what would be the age to butcher? How would the amount of meat compare to other Dual Purpose breeds? (2) Regarding eggs--I have read that Dominiques are good layers, but I've read descriptions of the size of the egg ranging from small to large. In general, what size of egg do your Dominiques lay? Thank you for your time!

I agree completel with centrarchid.

They are a bit on the egg side of the dual purpose breeds.

I find that nice, since that means that the females don't cost that much to feed. They males are still large enough that I don't feel like I wasted my time in butchering them.

Point being, I wouldn't raise them purely for meat. They are however, meaty enough that all of the extra cockerels are good eating.

I raise Muscovy for meat.

 

[Regin]

My Dominique males get bigger and grow faster than the females.

 

[Sylvester017]

My Dominique males get bigger and grow faster than the females.

I agree completel with centrarchid.

They are a bit on the egg side of the dual purpose breeds.

I find that nice, since that means that the females don't cost that much to feed. They males are still large enough that I don't feel like I wasted my time in butchering them.

Point being, I wouldn't raise them purely for meat. They are however, meaty enough that all of the extra cockerels are good eating.

I raise Muscovy for meat.

Birds I harvest are about 4 pushing 5 lbs around 20 weeks post-hatch. Just over half that initial carcass weight makes it to the stove. Latter can vary with what you consider worthy of culinary use. I can only compare with games and Cornish cross and they are intermediate. Forage has stronger impact on meat flavor than genetics. Eggs medium and you do good to get 200 per year per female in lay.

The broodiness is over stated at least in terms of ability to hatch and wean.

The males of any breed are usually big to much larger than the females and are usually what are processed for meat leaving the hens for eggs or brooding young. You only need one or two males for breeding and process all other cockerels. It's sad that in the chicken world the pullets are more valuable than the over-abundant cockerels but on a self-sufficient farm that's a good way to use the surplus boys. It's not worth finding free homes for surplus cockerels because they'll probably be used for someone's dinner table - better to keep them for your own table. Many cull their mean or very ungentlemanly cockerels to leave only the good-tempered well-bodied cockerels with good gene type for breeding.

My folks had Babcock Leghorns as egg-layers on the farm and we had many meals from big cockerels or little hens that only weighed 4.5 lbs soaking wet. If we had company we used 2 hens. On the farm there is always an abundance of poultry and the little Leghorns were good tasting - tastier than the flavorless Cornish X sold in the supermarket industry today. Our friends got a 5-lb EE cockerel carcass at 6 months so even lightweight breeds have hardy males. Any chicken breed dispatched over 6 months old should be roasted or made into soup at a slow low oven/stove temperature to get a tender meat. If cooked too quickly or high heat, the meat won't be tender but rubbery. I cook all my poultry slow and low until the meat is falling off the bones. For roasting I put some carrots, potatoes, and celery to slow cook with the meat in a covered pan. A slow cooker pot set on low is good for this.

The Dom is the perfect chicken IMO for using the cockerels for meat and the pullets for eggs. They are easier on the feed bill where larger dual-purpose like RIRs, Marans, Sussex, etc are not as economical. Our Marans was a pig and a lazy forager - you don't get that with the busy Doms who are a fairly pleasant less-combative flockmate as well.

 

[lazy gardener]

My gals from MMc are giving me small eggs right now. You can't beat them for wonderful personality, and non aggressive nature. I love their small combs, and their looks, and their... what's not to love about the Dominique???

 

[Delight in Dominiques]

Here are some of this year's birds. As usual tails are still not grown out fully for show. My males still need a lot of work in type and color.