Dominique Thread!

[Cooptopia]

Virginia is getting harder to tell from the others. I usually just call her out of the flock. She still has a small white mark behind the eye. Here are some pics from our morning visit.

Queen of the flock.

 

[centrarchid]

For me the American Dominique breeding effort for 2013 has officially started. The cocks will be rotated through a group of seven / pullets with the objective for each cock is 42 chicks getting to point where they start free-range development. These cohorts will differ in age by 4 weeks. At same time other two cocks will be single mated to the two remaining best hens to produce 30 chicks per hen. Chicks from those matings will be co-reared with the larger groups.

 

[buffalogal]

I hope you have a successful hatching year. What does "getting to point where they start free-range development." mean?

 

[diriel]

@centrachid,

Can't wait for you to post up you are close to satisfied with your efforts! I very much applaud what you are doing!

 

[BearSpringsFarm]

Just curious - have any of you ever heard of a "Red Dominique" - I searched on BYC and found some pics but nothing that goes into details about the breed or coloration. I ask this because I had a Dominique egg hatch about 4 weeks ago - that looked like a standard Dominique - but now that she is getting feathers the barring is "redish brown". Then I hatched some others last week and one of them is getting some reddish brown barring as well on the wing feathers that are starting - but it has a reddish brown coloration in the fluff around its eyes as well. One of my Dominique hens has this coloration around her comb and a couple of the roosters have a couple of reddish brown tail feathers - can anyone explain? Will try to get pics.

 

[centrarchid]

I hope you have a successful hatching year. What does "getting to point where they start free-range development." mean?

They go from brooder to chicken tractor at 4 weeks and remain there for a week to imprint on tractor, then I lift end of tractor so they can forage much of day but they return tom it to roost. The opening of the tractor is the start of free-range development.

 

[BearSpringsFarm]

Okay took pics of the "Red Dominique" Chicks and mom and dad -

First "mom" - this is the hen whose eggs these red babies are hatching from (you can see the red)


The dad - is one of these two guys (you can also see some "red") -






Now the chicks - this one is around 4 weeks old (ALL the barring is "red") -


This one shows better coloration:



and this chick is one week old (notice the "red" around the eyes and on the wings):


it also has some white barring.


Sorry about the fuzziness - (my chicks NEVER stand still) - but you get the idea - anyone know what causes this? IS there a RED Dominique???

 

[lazy gardener]

Okay took pics of the "Red Dominique" Chicks and mom and dad -

First "mom" - this is the hen whose eggs these red babies are hatching from (you can see the red)


The dad - is one of these two guys (you can also see some "red") -






Now the chicks - this one is around 4 weeks old (ALL the barring is "red") -


This one shows better coloration:



and this chick is one week old (notice the "red" around the eyes and on the wings):


it also has some white barring.


Sorry about the fuzziness - (my chicks NEVER stand still) - but you get the idea - anyone know what causes this? IS there a RED Dominique???

Yes there is a red Dominique. I read about it on BYC a few months back, one guy who specializes in red Doms, down south I think. Very nice looking birds, but I think I prefer the standard coloration better. Doms are at the top of my list of must have birds. I special ordered 3 day old pullets this spring, only to be given 3 cockrels. Very disappointed. But, I'll not give up hope. There's always next year. I'll probably try shipped eggs. I figure that if a hatchery can be 100% wrong providing auto-sexing pullets, my chances have to be better with SR eggs! Perhaps I'll get lucky and find a pullet in Maine later this summer after all of my roos go to freezer camp.

 

[Kennas Mom10]

Okay took pics of the "Red Dominique" Chicks and mom and dad - First "mom" - this is the hen whose eggs these red babies are hatching from (you can see the red) The dad - is one of these two guys (you can also see some "red") - Now the chicks - this one is around 4 weeks old (ALL the barring is "red") - This one shows better coloration: and this chick is one week old (notice the "red" around the eyes and on the wings): it also has some white barring. Sorry about the fuzziness - (my chicks NEVER stand still) - but you get the idea - anyone know what causes this? IS there a RED Dominique???

Are you sure they are pure Doms? I have Dom/RIR crossed birds that look similar to your roo

 

[BearSpringsFarm]

Are you sure they are pure Doms? I have Dom/RIR crossed birds that look similar to your roo

Yep - I don't have any RIR's - or any other rooster for that matter that can get to her.