Dominique Thread!

[Jungleexplorer]

two questions. I am going to start incubating tomorrow. This year I added a computer fan in my incubator and also checking the temp with a digital thermometer. It seems impossible to keep it at 99.5. What is the acceptable range for temp?
I would also like some of mine to hatch there own eggs this year. How many eggs can a dominique successfully hatch at once? Is there any tricks to make them go broody or I just have to wait and see if they will on there own?

98F to 101F is an acceptable range. Eggs incubated at 98 will hatch one day later and chicks incubated at 101 will hatch a one day early. If I had to choose one I would go with 98F because a prolonged temp spike up to 102 could kill the eggs. I would wait for 24 hours between temp adjustments to see where it settles down at.

The best way I have found to make a hen go broody is to leave eggs in the nest for several days. Depending on the size of the hen, I woulds say from 10 to 12. I have seen large hens cover 14.

 

[Outrun Acres]

At this age, the best way would be that Doms have yellow legs, Marans are white or pink. (and some marans have feathers on their shanks, but not always). Hopefully, the hatchery sent you three Marans, as a single comb Dominique is disqualified from showing and not desirable to use in a breeding pen. (though the eggs make swell omlettes)

Thanks for the information! I went out and looked at them and one has yellow legs and a rose comb, so I know that one is a Dominique. Two have pink legs and straight combs so those must be Marans. The fourth one, has a straight comb and black legs? I wonder if it is some sort of barred packing peaut? Or could it be a very poorly bred Dominique? We aren't going to breed them. My husband wanted to add some barred chickens to our backyard flock.

 

[Poinsettia]

two questions. I am going to start incubating tomorrow. This year I added a computer fan in my incubator and also checking the temp with a digital thermometer. It seems impossible to keep it at 99.5. What is the acceptable range for temp?
I would also like some of mine to hatch there own eggs this year. How many eggs can a dominique successfully hatch at once? Is there any tricks to make them go broody or I just have to wait and see if they will on there own?

I like your avatar.

 

[buffalogal]

Outrun, did you order straight run? With Dominiques, the pullets have darker legs than the male. Black is a little much, usually it's just a dark shadow on the front of the shanks. If that's the case, your yellow legged Dom would be a male, and the black legged, single comb would be a female. *But* the black legged chick could also be a crossbreed like a production black. I'd call the hatchery and let them know you have an "odd" one, they might know what it's supposed to be.

 

[Outrun Acres]

Outrun, did you order straight run? With Dominiques, the pullets have darker legs than the male. Black is a little much, usually it's just a dark shadow on the front of the shanks. If that's the case, your yellow legged Dom would be a male, and the black legged, single comb would be a female. *But* the black legged chick could also be a crossbreed like a production black. I'd call the hatchery and let them know you have an "odd" one, they might know what it's supposed to be.

No they were sexed pullets. We bought them from our local feed store. They were separated in different bins by breed. I do know that they get all their chicks from Cackle Hatchery, so I guess I could contact them and they might be able to tell me something about the oddball. Thanks again for all the information, it is definitely helping . If it is a production black it would have to be a male to be barred, wouldn't it?

 

[Cooptopia]

Took Virginia out for some time in the sun.

Queen of the castle.

 

[Poinsettia]

Took Virginia out for some time in the sun.

Queen of the castle.

She is so Cute.

 

[centrarchid]

Took Virginia out for some time in the sun.

Queen of the castle.

Avoid taking chicks in and out of house. That sets for bad bouts of cocciodosis.

 

[Lacy Blues]

Avoid taking chicks in and out of house. That sets for bad bouts of cocciodosis.

I would just make sure to feed them some plain, unsweetened yogurt. It works great at killing coccidiosis but you need to have it in their system first.

 

[ben is a terror]

Avoid taking chicks in and out of house. That sets for bad bouts of cocciodosis.

I've been trying to get my chicks used to outside It's wrong to put them out during the day and bring them back at night?