Dominique Thread!

[BantyChooks]

 

[YdogsflY]

So I have been doing a lot of reading this weekend in old poultry books from the mid 1800's. Very little info on the Dominique. The bird seems to need no description since everyone was familiar with the Dominique of that time. A few mentions of its good production qualities, a few mentions of it being a native fowl, some mentions of it being a mutt or "Barndoor Fowl', and even other breeds of chicken being called Dominique in color because of the barred plumage.

Seems the later you get into the 1800's and early 1900's very little about the Dominique other than a description. The Rocks and Asian fowl seem to take most of the authored pages in the book.

Does anyone have a good source on the Dominique before the arrival of the Shanghai Fowl and the Rocks?

 

[YdogsflY]

I know the game side very well. Same line in my hands since 1970's so very confident of genetic makeup. Same game in my family for much longer. A core line used to make battle crosses so no random introductions of new blood.

It does not show in my pure American Dominiques, nor in F1 hybrids. Popping out with segregation of alleles enabled by cross.

The marans and leghorns in all likelihood very different.

My American Dominiques are derived from Voter stock.

So if we are to assume the Voter Strain is still pure, it must be a long ago hidden gene. Some descriptions I've found listed the Dominique as spangled, penciled, or variegated. Could there possibly been different varieties that would throw the brown today with the right mix of other genes?

 

[centrarchid]

I assume the same Barring allele operates in all the cuckoo patterned breeds. Many of those also have Extended Black allele. Extended Black can cover a lot of other color and pattern related characters. It is those other characters than can make things different when segregation of alleles takes place. My gut feeling is Dark Brown is hiding in my Voter Strain American Dominiques and possibly all existing American Dominiques.

The "covered" alleles could also make for some subtle differences in base coloration that exist between cuckoo breeds.

 

[YdogsflY]

I assume the same Barring allele operates in all the cuckoo patterned breeds. Many of those also have Extended Black allele. Extended Black can cover a lot of other color and pattern related characters. It is those other characters than can make things different when segregation of alleles takes place. My gut feeling is Dark Brown is hiding in my Voter Strain American Dominiques and possibly all existing American Dominiques.

The "covered" alleles could also make for some subtle differences in base coloration that exist between cuckoo breeds.

If that's the case, does it affect your plans any?

 

[The Moonshiner]

@centrarchid
Do you have a thread about your Missouri dominique?

 

[YdogsflY]

@centrarchid
Do you have a thread about your Missouri dominique?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/missouri-dominique-project.1144828/

 

[centrarchid]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/missouri-dominique-project.1144828/

Thanks for linking. New setup makes to I can find such easily. I have another that I cannot find which has a lot more and deals with start of project. I am into year 8 eight and about generation 6.

 

[YdogsflY]

Thanks for linking. New setup makes to I can find such easily. I have another that I cannot find which has a lot more and deals with start of project. I am into year 8 eight and about generation 6.

Is it this one?
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...-of-american-dominiques.791717/#post-11397864

 

[Sylvester017]

We still love our Bubbles. She's one of the smaller birds here but outgoing & near the top of pecking order. Yes, she jumps up for treats - even when not invited to - but that's all part of her outgoing attitude.

This was the winning Dom at the state fair this weekend:
View attachment 1111086

I thought her comb & color looked good but she looked heavier than most. (I don't show mine, so it's not like I know much about such things.)

So I have been doing a lot of reading this weekend in old poultry books from the mid 1800's. Very little info on the Dominique. The bird seems to need no description since everyone was familiar with the Dominique of that time. A few mentions of its good production qualities, a few mentions of it being a native fowl, some mentions of it being a mutt or "Barndoor Fowl', and even other breeds of chicken being called Dominique in color because of the barred plumage.

Seems the later you get into the 1800's and early 1900's very little about the Dominique other than a description. The Rocks and Asian fowl seem to take most of the authored pages in the book.

Does anyone have a good source on the Dominique before the arrival of the Shanghai Fowl and the Rocks?

Faraday -- I agree, that State Fair Dom looks chunky but she does have a beautiful head. Maybe there weren't enough Dom entries and she just happened to look the best out of the few entries? Just about any Dom breeder will tell you that there is no ONE perfect Dom but just a standard by which an owner shoots for when breeding/showing birds. I love the leader at the end/back of the rose combs and the U-shape stance in Doms while others strive for good type, while others look for good color, etc etc. It's subjective (the judge usually) when it comes to showing. Bubbles, indeed, is special!

Ydogsfly -- Any book you can find by author Mark A. Fields (on Dominiques) might be an interesting read. He is the gentleman Cackle Hatchery consulted with to improve their standard and bantam Dominique breeding stock.