Dominique Thread!

[The Yakima Kid]

The sweet little CA Grays are not rare nor being bred for APA acceptance - only being used as production fowl. But the Breda, Iowa Blues, etc are being worked on for APA approval. Speaking of Iowa Blues they remind me of the beautiful Daisy Belle or Norfolk Grey. Beautiful feather patterns.

I love Legs and BRs but just not for my current backyard group. I've been disappointed too many times mixing assertive breeds with my gentler girls and need to go a different direction. I absolutely adore Doms but not too sure about adding them to my gentle mix in a couple years. It all depends on how well the Breda meld with the Ameraucana and Silkies. The Breda kind of tend to stick with each other or around humans so that's why I want to try them - the hens aren't known aggressors like the Med's classes. As a last resort I'll go with LF Doms since I am very familiar and in love with them. I just have so many pink egg layers that I needed some white for variety. Some of the family wants the pink, some want the white, and we like the blue eggs for ourselves.

We tried the Marans for chocolate eggs but she was a nasty personality in our small flock and her eggs were neither chocolate nor big - seems like chocolate layers are mostly assertive types so we re-homed her. Even if chocolate layers don't lay very chocolate eggs there are still interesting patterns on them with speckles or half-dark/half-light brown, or plain brown ones - however the breeds are mostly heavier, larger, assertive types like the Marans, Wellies, Barnies, Penes, or Empordanesas and we've passed on getting any of them while we have a gentle-natured flock.

Well, the Cal Gray people tend to disapprove of the emphasis on appearance over performance, one shared by some of the Scandinavian National breed registries that refuse to set definitive appearance standards because they don't want appearance to outrank performance.

Cal Grays actually are rather rare. We had a Marans and she was a very aggressive bird who laid darkish copper eggs with dark speckles. It seems that if one selects for dark egg laying, one winds up with hens that don't lay overmuch since there is a limit on the size and productivity of the pigment gland.

 

[Sylvester017]

Well, the Cal Gray people tend to disapprove of the emphasis on appearance over performance, one shared by some of the Scandinavian National breed registries that refuse to set definitive appearance standards because they don't want appearance to outrank performance.

Cal Grays actually are rather rare. We had a Marans and she was a very aggressive bird who laid darkish copper eggs with dark speckles. It seems that if one selects for dark egg laying, one winds up with hens that don't lay overmuch since there is a limit on the size and productivity of the pigment gland.

The production hatcheries seem to always have CA Grays advertised along with CA Whites, Austra Whites, etc. They fit in the production category. I know their egg laying is very good. CG's were on my research list of docile white egg layers for my DH to choose from even though they weren't my first choice. But since we will eventually have a Dom my DH didn't really care to have duplicate barred/cuckoo breeds. In fact we turned down a Cuckoo Breda because that would add too much barring in the flock. Besides having a varied egg basket he likes looking out at a glance to determine which hen he sees from a distance - he wants all the hens a different color pattern to ID quickly - even our Bredas on order will be two different colors. He checks on the flock at least a half dozen times a day not counting feeding, treats, and nestbox checks. I knew he liked dogs, cats, and indoor pet birds but I never expected him to take so fast to the chickens LOL! The Breda were his final choice for white egg layers and I let him choose because he's the one who takes care of the hens for me. He even keeps a calendar of their vet visits, health maintenance, and egg charting.

Marans are considered dual purpose so expecting more than 3 eggs/week from a hen is average. When egg production slows most people process them for meat. My DH refuses to eat our chickens even though I have a processor who will dress them - so having heavier dual purpose birds is not our goal. Pets and eggs are our goal. Our White Leg and Buff Leg were great birds eating out of our hand and sitting on our chair or lap - but they became so overly assertive toward their gentler flockmates we had to regretfully re-home them. We visit them a couple times a month at the new owner's yard.

 

[The Yakima Kid]

The production hatcheries seem to always have CA Grays advertised along with CA Whites, Austra Whites, etc. They fit in the production category. I know their egg laying is very good. CG's were on my research list of docile white egg layers for my DH to choose from even though they weren't my first choice.

Not many hatcheries carry California Grays. In any event, the comb is very different between them and the Dominiques, and you can tell them from Barred Rocks at a distance by size, and cuckoo Marans have different colored legs.

In any event, you need to select the breed that works for you. I don't mind having all birds the same color, and I especially don't mind having a flock of camouflaged birds. I know others who like a vari-colored flock; and I've met people who have every color variety of a single breed in order to keep peace in the coop by having the most similar temperament birds possible. Keeping White, Chocolate, Black, Lavender, and Buff Orpingtons in a flock is one example. Then there are people who have every color of Rock they can find.

 

[Sylvester017]

Not many hatcheries carry California Grays. In any event, the comb is very different between them and the Dominiques, and you can tell them from Barred Rocks at a distance by size, and cuckoo Marans have different colored legs.

In any event, you need to select the breed that works for you. I don't mind having all birds the same color, and I especially don't mind having a flock of camouflaged birds. I know others who like a vari-colored flock; and I've met people who have every color variety of a single breed in order to keep peace in the coop by having the most similar temperament birds possible. Keeping White, Chocolate, Black, Lavender, and Buff Orpingtons in a flock is one example. Then there are people who have every color of Rock they can find.

There actually are quite a few hatcheries that sell CG's but not too many people are aware that another name for them is Production Black. CG's roos are needed to create the popular California Whites where the CG's are bred over a White Leg to create the CW's. There are at least half a dozen hatcheries selling the CG's and it's nice to see that they are still a necessary breed.

We are zoned for 5 hens and no roos so our desire to have a variety flock is limited. We've had to make some hard choices over the last 3 years losing some to death, some re-homed, and some gifted away. There were times when we had to order more than one pullet so had to reluctantly find homes for the extras. It would be so nice to have several of the same breed but with ordinances we are just thankful to at least be allowed 5. My DH enjoys being able to look out into the yard and instantly identify a girl by her feather colors and will come running when he calls her by name. Of course they all come flocking but each one knows her name and will be the first to respond to her name call.

There are so many lovely breeds we would love to have (that old chicken math LOL) but I'm glad we've restrained ourselves from going over the ordinance limit. We're seniors and don't need more eggs than 5 hens provide.

 

[The Yakima Kid]

There actually are quite a few hatcheries that sell CG's but not too many people are aware that another name for them is Production Black. CG's roos are needed to create the popular California Whites where the CG's are bred over a White Leg to create the CW's. There are at least half a dozen hatcheries selling the CG's and it's nice to see that they are still a necessary breed.

We are zoned for 5 hens and no roos so our desire to have a variety flock is limited. We've had to make some hard choices over the last 3 years losing some to death, some re-homed, and some gifted away. There were times when we had to order more than one pullet so had to reluctantly find homes for the extras. It would be so nice to have several of the same breed but with ordinances we are just thankful to at least be allowed 5. My DH enjoys being able to look out into the yard and instantly identify a girl by her feather colors and will come running when he calls her by name. Of course they all come flocking but each one knows her name and will be the first to respond to her name call.

There are so many lovely breeds we would love to have (that old chicken math LOL) but I'm glad we've restrained ourselves from going over the ordinance limit. We're seniors and don't need more eggs than 5 hens provide.

We really don't need more eggs than two hens provide; but we use eggs as a way to meet and get to know the neighbors. We have reached the point, though, where people are starting to ask us if we could bring zucchini instead....

 

[lazy gardener]

August is the month when it becomes necessary to lock the car when we go to church. Otherwise, we come out and find it stuffed with zucchini!!!

But, seriously, every year, I panic, afraid that I won't have enough zucchini... and for the most part, I'm the only one in my family who eats it.

 

[Sylvester017]

We really don't need more eggs than two hens provide; but we use eggs as a way to meet and get to know the neighbors. We have reached the point, though, where people are starting to ask us if we could bring zucchini instead....

As seniors we've passed the stage of having dogs or cats and love the more independent chickens as pets. We loved our Dom while she was with us but after losing her and re-homing the Legs we needed more white layers and went with the Breda. The Ameraucana is a fantastic layer and not a broody so she's our only steady producer at the moment. The two Silkies are great when they're laying but there's too much down time with their moulting and excessive broodiness so it's either glut or famine with those two as far as eggs. The Breda will be welcome steady egg layers by late summer/fall next year.

The zucchini got out of hand last year in the garden bed so we just planted them in containers this year for the bees, wasps, butterflies, and hummingbirds to pollinate for fun. The chickens prefer cukes more. Very hot summer is killing off most of the garden. Lost about 1/3 of our plants to humidity and fluctuating temperature changes. We planted seedlings at the beginning of April but guess we'll try Feb/Mar next season to allow the plants longer mild weather to thrive in. It means we have to sow indoors in October for some varieties to be ready by Spring. Boy, the older I get (70) the faster I have to peddle!

 

[buffalogal]

..."That makes 2 roosters and 22 hens."

They'll be fine. 22 hens is more than enough to go around. (too many in fact to be sure that all the eggs are fertile, so if you plan on breeding, make a smaller pen with one cock and no more than 10 hens, though 8 would be ideal)

 

[oldbird1]

Hi I am from Wollongong NSW Australia and would like to breed Dominique's so I have a problem as the breed doesn't exist in Australia or so I have been told over and over again also I don't think it possible to import from America with our Quarantine So possibly an Aussie reading this just happens to have the breed and is prepared to sell a breeding trio or eggs when available I would love to hear from you I have started breeding Plymouth Rocks and am very impressed with their nature here's hoping oldbird1

 

[lazy gardener]

I wish you the best of luck. You Aussies have the best stock of a lot of breeds. Sorry you don't have Doms readily available there. check with Aussie Pete and see if he can help you to find some Doms.