Dominique Thread!

[centrarchid]

Do you anywhere else I could get decent dominiques online? Also do dominiques go broody?

I strongly suggest you take the time to meet with people breeding American Dominiques, even if it has to be at a poultry show. Then you could get birds that have been hopefully scrutenized to meet most of the ideals for American Dominiques. Also look into Dominique Club of America.

http://www.dominiqueclub.org/


Most will go broody but are not inclined to do so when young and in good nutrition. Mine most prone when more than a year old and stressed by protracted bouts of laying, especially when weather is hot.

 

[Alaskan]

@redrooster99I agree with everything that centrarchid told you.

The bigger lot of chicks that you get, the faster that you will reach the look that you want.

Cackle's stock is good enough, that if you got 50 straight run chicks, you could end up with a pretty decent set of chickens (about 1 or 2 roosters and 4 or so females).

The smaller the lot of chicks, the more of a risk that you will not get birds that you are happy with. Of course, if you only want to, or only can handle a smaller number of chicks... Then that might be the way to go.

If you go through the trouble of getting chicks from Duane Urch, you will have better odds of getting good birds.

 

[Sylvester017]

@redrooster99 I agree with everything that centrarchid told you.

The bigger lot of chicks that you get, the faster that you will reach the look that you want.

Cackle's stock is good enough, that if you got 50 straight run chicks, you could end up with a pretty decent set of chickens (about 1 or 2 roosters and 4 or so females).

The smaller the lot of chicks, the more of a risk that you will not get birds that you are happy with. Of course, if you only want to, or only can handle a smaller number of chicks... Then that might be the way to go.

If you go through the trouble of getting chicks from Duane Urch, you will have better odds of getting good birds.

I know Cackle is getting a good start with Mark advising with the Dom breeding and probably a lot quicker to get an order than from Urch. Maybe order from Cackle to get started right away and then add new bloodlines later from Urch when Urch can eventually fill an order some time down the line. I had iffy luck dealing with breeders on the Dominique Club because there was no Dominique show remotely close to us and I had to do all my communication online with a couple breeders finally taking time to talk with me. Breeders have lives too so not all of them will respond to emails during their busy schedules. Talked with one breeder on this thread who is working on not only a good SOP for Doms but also on increased egg production as well. IMO 180 eggs from a first time Dom layer is great for a lighterweight bird that can also brood their own young. I personally love it when a good egg layer takes time off to brood to give her body a rest from laying so many eggs. Just seems the humane and natural way but that's just me. Leghorns are not known to be broodies so we were thrilled when one of ours decided to go broody to give her prolific egg-laying body a rest.

 

[Olde South Coop]

Please tell me that my 8 week old "Dixie" is a girl....

 

[centrarchid]

She is a girl. But maybe she is not. Seriously, look are barring. Female bars are about 1/2 light and 1/2 dark. Male bars are about 2/3 light and 1/3 light making for an overall lighter appearance.

 

[masked malitia]

I just received 7 Dom pullets with some others from Cackle Hatchery on 5-12-15 and all are doing great. Very pleased so far with how they are progressing and overall health and appearance.

 

[redrooster99]

Would cackle birds go broody?

 

[centrarchid]

Would cackle birds go broody?

Yes and they are typical of breed in being slow to become. Pretty reliable parents after that. Problem I have with doms in general id that they put too many eggs in nest before commencing to brood. Too many eggs many of the older eggs rot during incubation causing increased potential for blowups killing otherwise viable embryos.

 

[redrooster99]

Yes and they are typical of breed in being slow to become. Pretty reliable parents after that. Problem I have with doms in general id that they put too many eggs in nest before commencing to brood. Too many eggs many of the older eggs rot during incubation causing increased potential for blowups killing otherwise viable embryos.

Oh, there isn't a way you can breed against faster brooding?

 

[centrarchid]

You can breed for faster or slower tendency for broodiness as some variation already present. I have been selected for capacity to be broody in the second year but only after better than average egg production in the first year. Not all hens go broody when I test in the second year and some that do seem to have very poor hatch for some reason.