Dominique Thread!

[Sylvester017]

Well.... That sounds not to SOP....

They are supposed to have a cute little spike on the end.

Like this girl. She has a good comb, but her tail isn't the best..

It is so hard to get all the SOP into one Dom but I love the comb and leader on your girl. Do you ever catch her in a tall alert stance that gives her back a bit of U-shape? I'd be happy with the the look of this hen as I have seen overly fluffy cushions on Doms that make them look more like BRs. I'm wondering if a colder climate makes the Dom hens feather out more cushion at the tail base? or if it's all just genetics period?

Remember this little chick who hatched July 5th?






Here she is today:



She's very calm & wants to be held all the time.

We found our Dom quite a pesty girl - imprinted on us immediately when we picked her up at one week old. She screamed if we left the room and we had to keep talking to her so she could find us to follow us. Some chick breeds cower in a corner, or come running for treats, get bored and run off again - but a Dom will linger to explore your fingers, hair, eyeglasses, and ultimately curl on your arm or in your palm to go to sleep. Amazing birds.

Picture of Two months old Dominique named Eleanor Roosevelt. A first lady for our White House (coop) She's quiet and resists being picked up the she settles down fine for a couple minutes. Haven't had dedicated time to work with her.

Most chickens don't like being held, especially if our hand completely surrounds and holds their body. We found with our Dom chick - to allow her to jump on us where she felt most secure and let her explore without reaching out with our hand to pick her up. She had a ball exploring our clothes, eyeglasses, hair, hopped on our arm and shoulder, and if we had a tasty treat all the better! They are personality plus birds and imprint young on their humans. Spend the time with the youngsters - they grow so-o-o fast before you know it!

 

[centrarchid]

Yes, She was the only one that hatched (shipped eggs  )  She imprinted on us.

My DD wanted a Dominque for 2 years, but they're not common here.  My broody had her own chicks & didn't allow us to add another, so we had to take a wild broody-hatched chick to raise as a companion.  Her buddy is a Sebright pullet.  The sebright always flies up to my arm, so the Dominque soon follows.  It's our 1st time with flying chickens. (Mostly orps here.  They don't leave the ground.)

As an adult she will be quite a chunk when she flies up on you. That is why I no longer have dom roosters do it.

 

[centrarchid]

 

[cupofJoelene]

I have 5 ten week old cockerels that I'd love to find great homes for! Too sweet for the stew pot Great looking guys and SO friendly. Hand raised since hatching!

Fort Smith, AR area. I'll find the buy/sell/giveaway threads when I get home but wanted to post here first.

 

[centrarchid]

Link below may prove to be an interesting diversion from the primary focus of this thread. I am getting setup to upgrade my American Dominique keeping. Past efforts have been bushy to the extreme with many birds under stars year round. I also have been into the free-range angle where a lot of tweaking was explored to get better production from a given amount of feed. All that was very labor intensive because of all the pens and feeding stations involved, even for birds used as brood stock. A more practical approach is being adopted where birds will be contained in larger social groups except for actual breeders. This will involve an actual barn which has been a dream since moving here.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1019004/investing-more-in-american-dominiques#post_15802005

 

[MeeMa Brown]

Nice pics

 

[Alaskan]

X2 great fun to see them all together, I like the play of colors with the Doms in a tight group like that.

 

[centrarchid]

Notice how light colored some are. Not all that is due to botched photography. Couple also have poor quality combs and wattles. Pullets also seem camera shy.

None have settled into type yet. Some also have short tails. Best still will not be perfect.

 

[Alaskan]

Wonderful though that you have a good sized group to pick from.

 

[N2nicole]

Here are some pics of puddles!