Dominique Thread!

[Alaskan]

It looks like the top tail feather is starting to curve...... So rooster

 

[BusyBearMama]

I got a Dominique 'pullet' recently and I don't currently have any others. The comb reddened at about 2 months and then completely a few weeks later, she's still very small and has some issues with her feet but she's a nice bird... In just starting to wonder if she's a she, my rooster hates her and she really hates being held which I find interesting as doms are usually such sweeties. She's 3.5 months old now and if she's a he I need to get him out of that coop and hook him up with some dom pullet chicks so I should get them sooner than later. Can someone post photos of Birds male and female at these ages I have no reference here since I stupidly only got one :-/ I will post a picture later

 

[centrarchid]

Here's a couple from today

Watch for bird above to mature into something like shown below which is a known dominique cross. Color developed late but comb and wattles developed as typical for male. As chick and early juvenile was not distinguishable from pullets of same age.

 

[centrarchid]

I am having some fun with my two American Dominique cohorts already out in pasture. They have depleted quality edible green forages near roost area even though they free-range only 2 hours each day. The 20+ birds of each cohort do not range farther than 100 feet from their roost during the free-range time and only go to east and avoid vegetation depth greater than 3" unless loafing.

 

[Alaskan]

So they are scared of vegetation taller than 3 inches? Interesting.

I had that problem the year I had geese... They would only range over previously mowed areas, and refused to enter taller grass stands, even when I tried to herd them.

 

[centrarchid]

So they are scared of vegetation taller than 3 inches? Interesting.

I had that problem the year I had geese... They would only range over previously mowed areas, and refused to enter taller grass stands, even when I tried to herd them.

I do not think they are scared of deeper vegetation rather they simply do not like foraging in it. It is not as edible, harder to see through, and impedes walking.

 

[centrarchid]

I just put another group of young doms out into a pen in the pasture. They are supposed to stay inside for three whole days before being released for first time late in the evening on day four. Then each night I close up pen after they go to roost once they get in a couple hours of free-range time. I have constructed a new fleet of pens and had a small juvenile demonstrate I have a whole in the design of one pen. It took two nights to catch that little stinker. Dog helped a great deal with locating where it was roosting in the weeds. Balance will be released for first time tomorrow night. Hopefully they will lead the small one back into pen at roosting time.

 

[CrowHollowFarm]

I saw on this post that this breed lays small to medium eggs, but Murray advertisis a large egg. Any personal experience with MMH birds?

 

[centrarchid]

I saw on this post that this breed lays small to medium eggs, but Murray advertisis a large egg. Any personal experience with MMH birds?

Possibly pure American Dominiques not involved. Maybe stock producing large eggs has Barred Plymouth Rock in it's background that might also facilitate feather sexing.

 

[centrarchid]

This group is partial to dust bathing pathway I use for lawn mower. They have dug several holes that obstruct normal traffic. I will have to construct a better dust bathing site to get them from causing so much damage.