Dominique Thread!

[THeelChickinKY]

I hatched out some Barnevelders a few weeks ago and those eggs have the same issue - very difficult to tell the ends apart. The hatch went really well, though (18 of 23 shipped eggs)! Someone needs to invent and market an egg turner that positions the eggs horizontally. You would lose a little incubator space that way but I don't see any reason it wouldn't work.

 

[Alaskan]

I hatched out some Barnevelders a few weeks ago and those eggs have the same issue - very difficult to tell the ends apart. The hatch went really well, though (18 of 23 shipped eggs)! Someone needs to invent and market an egg turner that positions the eggs horizontally. You would lose a little incubator space that way but I don't see any reason it wouldn't work.

there are a few incubators that do them horizontally... I say that, and the only one I can think of right off is the tiny mini Brinsea one. hummmmm

But, I guess any incubator that rotates the trays back and forth, could be loaded up with the eggs oriented any way you want.

However, with shipped eggs, you do really need to incubate them upright, since that is do much better with the air cell.

When I am in doubt, after 5 days to a week of incubation I check all questionable eggs, by that point, even with my inadiquate flashlight I can see the aircell, and then can put them back into the incubator aircell up.

I wait a few days, especially if the eggs are super fresh, because I can't find the aircell on a super fresh egg. When the air cell gets a bit bigger, it is much easier to see.

 

[Greywolf1962]

Anyone in the Houston,Tx. area with Doms?

 

[ThatFarmerChick]

I am looking for 1 more Dom pullet on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. I would even take eggs.

 

[EastNashChick]

...

there are a few incubators that do them horizontally...  I say that, and the only one I can think of right off is the tiny mini Brinsea one.   hummmmm

But, I guess any incubator that rotates the trays back and forth, could be loaded up with the eggs oriented any way you want.

However, with shipped eggs, you do really need to incubate them upright, since that is do much better with the air cell.

When I am in doubt, after 5 days to a week of incubation I check all questionable eggs, by that point, even with my inadiquate flashlight I can see the aircell, and then can put them back into the incubator aircell up.

I wait a few days, especially if the eggs are super fresh, because I can't find the aircell on a super fresh egg.  When the air cell gets a bit bigger, it is much easier to see.
[/quote

I've never incubated but planned to in late April. What does the air cell look like?

 

[Alaskan]

a good aircell? or a wonky shipped egg air cell?

 

[ranchmomma2]

Hi all. Looking to add some Doms to my homestead flock. Just wondering how Dom roos are? Are they gentle on their girls? I dont want any bald backs...Thanks for the info

 

[THeelChickinKY]

@ranchmomma2

I can't rave enough about Dominiques. The roosters, in our experience, are perfect. They are alert and protect the girls but are sweet and gentle with people. Our 3 year old son hops around with them and they've never flinched - one actually raced up to protect him, once, when a a different breed cockerel who hadn't gotten to the stew pot yet took a run at him. One of our other roosters flies up into our arms any time we go outside because he wants to be held. And the girls are sweet, too, and lay well during winter. Wonderful foragers, will save you money on feed. Excellent breed for a homesteading situition - the roosters will get along well with the hens and with you. Find breeder stock, if you can, rather than hatchery stock that may not be true to expected breed traits. Good choice and good luck!

 

[vpatt]

@ranchmomma2

I can't rave enough about Dominiques. The roosters, in our experience, are perfect. They are alert and protect the girls but are sweet and gentle with people. Our 3 year old son hops around with them and they've never flinched - one actually raced up to protect him, once, when a a different breed cockerel who hadn't gotten to the stew pot yet took a run at him. One of our other roosters flies up into our arms any time we go outside because he wants to be held. And the girls are sweet, too, and lay well during winter. Wonderful foragers, will save you money on feed. Excellent breed for a homesteading situition - the roosters will get along well with the hens and with you. Find breeder stock, if you can, rather than hatchery stock that may not be true to expected breed traits. Good choice and good luck!

I don't have much experience, but I love my Dom roo. He is right about 1 year old. He is nice to us and to his girls. He watches out for them....calls them to food...I see him escorting hens to the nest and i have seen him give a predator call and they all run to hide. Before he was old enough to do that one of the Dom hens would alert the flock. I have other breeds too...but five the doms were my original flock and are still the core.

 

[Alaskan]

my Dominique rooster is also nice, no problems with my little kids.

He is pretty heavy, but he hasn't messed up their backs.