Dominique Thread!

[centrarchid]

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Will you be setting up a long term breeding effort for doms?

No Im building up a homestead flock. I culled that bird because her traits were not desirable as a SS bird. Ive got 13 Doms now, 1 HUGMONGOUS RIR X Roo, 3 Australorp Hens. Im adding 2 or 3 Aussie hens and 12 Buff Orps. Im trying to integrate them together for a hardy, broody, meaty, and egg layers. Im creating my Homestead Hybrid.

That was how original doms were developed. Pour them in and stir, and select for animals with traits suiting your needs. Natural selection will play some role. Some of the more extremely fluffy butted breeds may hamper selection towards your desired SS flock unless you need to fill a lot of pillows.

 

[BarredBuff]

I originally bought 30 pullets and 5 cockerels. In hopes to have a bunch of REALLY SS birds but they have proved they are good egglayers (winter and warmth), hardy, and good foragers. But Im not impressed with their size (hence the Orps) and the Australorps are wonderful birds anyway. I do need good broodies in the flock to. I dont believe in artificial incubation becuase I dont wanna have to maintenance it. BUT I may have a broody Dom she has been down on the nest for two hours, she is spread out like dinner on the ground, and she has growled at me lots even when I looked at her.

 

[centrarchid]

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Appears she is settling in to brooding mode. I will be doing same soon with a game hen. Hope to have her do it in house so I can train her and bitties to go to scale for weighing each day. No flogging allowed so hand raised hen from most gentle stock I have.

 

[BarredBuff]

Quote:
Appears she is settling in to brooding mode. I will be doing same soon with a game hen. Hope to have her do it in house so I can train her and bitties to go to scale for weighing each day. No flogging allowed so hand raised hen from most gentle stock I have.

I HOPE I really want a broody to hatch some Buffs under. I have Muscovies so I will get one eventually.......

 

[centrarchid]

I am going to use silkies to hatch dom eggs since power supply to brooder room not reliable nor do I have control over air temperature.

 

[BarredBuff]

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No broody she wasnt on the nest but I did have 12 eggs out of 16 hens in bitter cold and snow thats been the third time this week.......

 

[centrarchid]

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No broody she wasnt on the nest but I did have 12 eggs out of 16 hens in bitter cold and snow thats been the third time this week.......

Are you using a dog(s) as protection from dogs. I am doing such. Trying develop standard method for socializing non-livestock guarding breed to do job. Bred of chicken appears relavent and doms seem well suited for task.

 

[BarredBuff]

Yeah he is kenneled though he killed a dom that flew into his kennel.

 

[centrarchid]

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My best dogs killed a few chickens on front end before settling down to be active flock / yard defenders. Once broken of habit, that same predator drive will promote their checking of disturbances and patrolling boundaries. To be proactive this go around, pup (German Short-haired Pointer) reared with juvenile doms. Indoors all went well. Outdoors he wanted to chase others. I let a game rooster out, pup tried the same and got wooped. Has not chased chickens since. Next fun stage will be when hens come of nests with chicks. He is going to have to learn how not to ensight flogging there as well.

 

[BarredBuff]

I see. I have my Doms and ducks in the old run scratching it up so I can plant their sunflowers in there this summer