Dominique Thread!

[centrarchid]

I am targeting 100 American Dominique chicks hatched by end of July. Twelve already on the ground and another 24 in incubators. Loading a batch every Monday night.

 

[Sylvester017]

Getting ready for more population increase.
Dom eggs and 19 game eggs.
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34 Missouri Doms.
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Looking for a show winner in one of those hatchlings? Maybe yes

 

[centrarchid]

First hatches might be mature enough for show in the fall but will be underweight causing DQ. Worked out January hatch required to be competitive and that not practical for me.

 

[duluthralphie]

First hatches might be mature enough for show in the fall but will be underweight causing DQ. Worked out January hatch required to be competitive and that not practical for me.

I had hatching problems this year mainly caused by the weather. So I have not had a hatch since Jan 5th. My next hatch is Tuesday.

I only have a handful of birds to pick pullets and cockerels from. Anything hatched now will be too small to make a decent showing. I am going to hatch a June batch this year so I can have pullets and cockerels for a early June show next year.

 

[centrarchid]

Freezing of hatching eggs the challenge here. A big name in American Dominiques in southern Missouri has heated building for egg collection.

 

[duluthralphie]

Freezing of hatching eggs the challenge here. A big name in American Dominiques in southern Missouri has heated building for egg collection.

That is my challenge here too in Minnesota. I had almost 6 weeks of solid frozen cracked eggs this winter.

 

[centrarchid]

Over the next year I will be trying to setup so as capable of producing 3 lots of 100 chicks (only about half will be American Dominiques) each at roughly 56-day intervals. First bottleneck relating to incubator capacity has been licked. Brooder part now the bottleneck.

 

[duluthralphie]

I was set up to do 200+ chicks a week last year, but I soon realized I lack self control and was hatching 200-250 chicks a week.
I sold off 2 incubators so I am now down to a more reasonable capacity. But I have brooder space up the ying yang!

 

[centrarchid]

Rearing chicks from 4 weeks out to first major culling prevents me from taking on that many. Up to four weeks brooder chicks are being kept off the ground. There after juveniles will free-range part of day which is where real bottleneck lies. Dogs can protect only 6 acres and chickens not agreeing with dogs where those 6 acres are located.

 

[centrarchid]

Pure dom eggs hatching. None of games or Missouri doms yet. Consistent pattern with other batches.