Dominique Thread!

Pics
Yes. A good laying hen at (I've been told) a year or over should be at least two finger widths between the pubic bones. This indicates both size and frequency of the eggs. The pullet that I think is #10 with the three finger width - she lays monster double yolkers several times a week and lays a nice sized single yolk egg each remaining day.

I also like Right#08, not sure what you mean on the weight? The Carter standard suggests 4.5lbs for pullets, so considering she has had a big move in the last few weeks, and she was hatched in July, she's still right on track for her weight. She is a smaller bird, but she actually felt more compact - we thought she was going to be a 5lber or even more, so I think that she may be when we weigh again in another two months or so.
 
Here is just one article talking about pubic bone width. You can also measure the capacity of the hen with your fingers between the breast bone and pubic bones. We did not do this this time around - we probably will in the next round of photos/notetaking.

I've also been told by an old timer to check the pubic bones when butchering your excess cockerels, and to know which lines these cockerels come from, even if they are destined for the stew pot. He said to look carefully at the pubic bones and capacity of the cockerels. If these measurements are small and don't increase over your generations, you're not culling your hens properly and/or are using poor roosters over your hens. Seems like an excellent way to do this check - you're butchering the bird already, what's two more seconds of slicing?
 
A.Q. Carter made recommendations to the APA about the standard for Dominiques around the turn of the 20th century, to correct the terrible standard the APA came out with that basically called for a big fat Barred Rock with a rose comb.

I haven't gotten the newest APA standard yet, so that's why I mentioned the 'Carter' standard, aka APA's 1915 standard. Even if the APA were to release a SOP calling for larger or smaller Doms, or change coloring or any other detail, I would rather stick with Carter's suggestions as to the description and form of the Dominique.

ETA: the weights haven't changed then
big_smile.png
 
Last edited:
Quote:
I love cockerel #57 for his width. He looks so tasty I am tempted every time I see his little drum sticks walk across the chicken yard.... honey barbeque sauce....

But, I don't like fluffy doms - the ones that look like a barred orpington
big_smile.png
. If you can get X pounds of meat off of both birds, why not take the lighter bird - less to feed and you're getting the same end product. The trick is... getting birds with his muscling, with Bill's pullet's type
big_smile.png
 
Quote:
The description in the newer [2001] Standard is slightly more detailed than the 1915 version but there are no significant differences in the two.
 
Got some quick pics of our October (22nd) chicks that were our test hatch for our incubator
jumpy.gif
. They are growing so fast! Let me know what you think, of course I think they're all genetically and conformationally perfect because they will hop up on my lap and I remember them "dust bathing" on the carpet as chicks (SOO CUTE), but maybe I'm biased?
hu.gif


021211_07.jpg

021211_09.jpg

021211_11.jpg

021211_15.jpg


The rest of the images:
http://www.greyclick.com/dominiques/Oct2210Chicks/021211_01.jpg
http://www.greyclick.com/dominiques/Oct2210Chicks/021211_02.jpg
http://www.greyclick.com/dominiques/Oct2210Chicks/021211_03.jpg
http://www.greyclick.com/dominiques/Oct2210Chicks/021211_04.jpg
http://www.greyclick.com/dominiques/Oct2210Chicks/021211_05.jpg
http://www.greyclick.com/dominiques/Oct2210Chicks/021211_06.jpg
http://www.greyclick.com/dominiques/Oct2210Chicks/021211_07.jpg
http://www.greyclick.com/dominiques/Oct2210Chicks/021211_08.jpg
http://www.greyclick.com/dominiques/Oct2210Chicks/021211_09.jpg
http://www.greyclick.com/dominiques/Oct2210Chicks/021211_10.jpg
http://www.greyclick.com/dominiques/Oct2210Chicks/021211_11.jpg
http://www.greyclick.com/dominiques/Oct2210Chicks/021211_12.jpg
http://www.greyclick.com/dominiques/Oct2210Chicks/021211_13.jpg
http://www.greyclick.com/dominiques/Oct2210Chicks/021211_14.jpg
http://www.greyclick.com/dominiques/Oct2210Chicks/021211_15.jpg
http://www.greyclick.com/dominiques/Oct2210Chicks/021211_16.jpg
http://www.greyclick.com/dominiques/Oct2210Chicks/021211_17.jpg
http://www.greyclick.com/dominiques/Oct2210Chicks/021211_18.jpg
http://www.greyclick.com/dominiques/Oct2210Chicks/021211_19.jpg
http://www.greyclick.com/dominiques/Oct2210Chicks/021211_20.jpg
http://www.greyclick.com/dominiques/Oct2210Chicks/021211_21.jpg
http://www.greyclick.com/dominiques/Oct2210Chicks/021211_22.jpg
http://www.greyclick.com/dominiques/Oct2210Chicks/021211_23.jpg

And sorry about the dirty coop, I wanted to get some pics of them before I kicked them all outside to clean
big_smile.png
 
Last edited:

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom