Dominique Thread!

[Alaskan]

That is a great photo! It almost looks like a stone patio!

 

[centrarchid]

Phtograph was with phone so image itself not so good. What it depicts is another problem I am seeing with the larger flocks. In addition to depleting plant forages, they are causing mechanical damage to landscape that will promote erosion. This year I have at most 50 American Dominiques running about at any point in time but in years to follow once barn in place I hope to have a good 200. Effort will have to be invested in keeping the birds from making that pasture look like a commercial free-range turkey feedlot. I will be spreading birds out into groups, each with its own roost site, but that may not be enough. Current spread is going to be at best 1.5 acres. That may need to be upped a lot.

 

[Faraday40]

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.

I understand why you don't want chicken holes on your path, but this pic gave me a chuckle. It looks very funny to see a pile of chickens rolling around on the ground. Mine like to sunbath in my flower beds, so I had to build fences. Now they actually use the sandbox I made for them.

 

[Alaskan]

@centrarchid

How dominant is a deep hollow in a rose comb?

And

How dominant are super giant fingers on the rose comb?

If I use a male with the above faults on females with nice to good combs what percentages of the chicks will be produced with the above faults? 50%? Even more than that???

 

[centrarchid]

@centrarchid

How dominant is a deep hollow in a rose comb?

And

How dominant are super giant fingers on the rose comb?

If I use a male with the above faults on females with nice to good combs what percentages of the chicks will be produced with the above faults? 50%? Even more than that???

First, the hens could also be loaded with undesired comb genetics as they hid it better.

I assume the male is otherwise very good with respect to weight, type, and feathering. My first step would be to single mate him to several hens in parallel and rear those broods up paying particular attention to the males. If a given hen produces a lot of odd combed sons, then discard entire brood plus hen from breeding population. Also cull the father at this time. Concentrating on sons of hens that produced the best combs, breed the best of those males back to their mothers. Repeat assessment for one more generation selecting best males from the linebreeding. Then I would mix them up a bit and breed the best males to the best females that are not their sisters. Hopefully products of those matings will be better on all accounts. This would take three generations.

I am not far ahead of you with respect to knowledge of comb genetics, especially once you get into the particulars of what modifies the homozygous rose comb. Mine are pretty good on that but have feather issues instead.

 

[Alaskan]

Thank you so much for the input!

 

[JediJinx]

I had one dom hen from MMH. She laid a medium egg - when she laid. She laid only occasionally, never every day, sometimes went weeks without laying.

My best hatchery Dom layer was from Meyer hatchery, all around great bird, lays every day, now in year 2 she lays a large dark tan egg (almost, some days it's large, some days still in the medium range) I have an egg scale. She did take a short break in the winter.

 

[Alaskan]

I had one dom hen from MMH. She laid a medium egg - when she laid. She laid only occasionally, never every day, sometimes went weeks without laying.

My best hatchery Dom layer was from Meyer hatchery, all around great bird, lays every day, now in year 2 she lays a large dark tan egg (almost, some days it's large, some days still in the medium range) I have an egg scale. She did take a short break in the winter.

I love hearing comparisons... Thanks!

 

[cupofJoelene]

Is there anyone near the Fort Smith, AR area with chicks available? I ended up with a whopping 3 pullets out of my last straight run and would really like more before it starts cooling down! I'll drive a reasonable distance. Thanks!

 

[Sylvester017]

Is there anyone near the Fort Smith, AR area with chicks available? I ended up with a whopping 3 pullets out of my last straight run and would really like more before it starts cooling down! I'll drive a reasonable distance. Thanks!

Well, since Cackle Hatchery had Mark Fields consulting on improving the Dominiques you might try Cackle - I think they still have Doms available. Their City/Town Special of 3. 5. or 10 pullets would guarantee you pullets rather than a straight run from hatching your own eggs.