FREE-RANGE KEEPING OF AMERICAN DOMINIQUES

[Mrs. K]

well, I had a mean roo, and my 5 year old niece, so the roo was culled. And I am rooless.....which makes free ranging more risky. I got Deleware chicks from a preservation breeder, and received 4 dominique chicks too. They are being raised by a buff orpinton. Mine often free range in a wooded part of the prairie.

We live in very rough country for predators, and yesterday, during the day, I lost 5 chicks, one of the Dominiques, so mine will be staying in lock up for a while now, dang it. But once a predator finds me, I have to lock them up. Why that darn predator could not have taken the lame old chicken, makes me mad. Ugh, especially now, as this is prime bug season.

I am curious, just where is Bowlegs?

I do think one of my Dominiques is a rooster, if so, I think I might like to keep him, and put more of this breed into my flock. I only have a flock of about 12-14 head. More than enough to keep me and mine in eggs, but not near the scope of your set ups

Mrs K

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[buffalogal]

"well, I had a mean roo, and my 5 year old niece, so the roo was culled...."

I understand and absolutely agree. I don't tolerate manfighters either.
Bowlegs is in central Oklahoma, a little over an hour east and slightly south of the state capital.

 

[centrarchid]

"Finca" as I understand it is a homestead with patches of vegetation that are useful. Vegetation types can be native and / or exotic. Mine is a mixture that will include persimmons (about 50 trees), papaws, grapes, blackberries, raspberries, blueberries gooseberries, sweet sumac, as well as orchards of apples, pears, cherries, plums, bamboo, and possibly apricots. Also patches of different cool and warm season grasses will be available. I currently have two ponds but will increase that to five or six for watering, fish (aquaculture and recreational) as well as wildlife such as amphibians and reptiles. Property also has about six acres of deciduous woodlot in addition to the 12 acres currently in pasture and developing trees. I am into wildlife as well so will be managing for it to benefit in areas beyond where juvenile chickens will be kept.

This project will never be complete.

 

[centrarchid]

Multiple species of sumac present. It is possible none are sweet sumac indicated earlier. I have a lot to learn about plants.


Following video shows incredible bee activity. Most are honey bees with a few worker bumble bees and one wood bee.

 

[centrarchid]

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[Mrs. K]

on the front page, you say something about a front porch..... but I can't find it here?

 

[centrarchid]

on the front page, you say something about a front porch..... but I can't find it here?

I accidently cross referenced another thread here and tried without success to delete post.

 

[centrarchid]

on the front page, you say something about a front porch..... but I can't find it here?

Getting back to this. Front porch flock referenced in following thread.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...icken-family-unit-for-porch/450#post_11629834


When the American Dominique flock is up and running, other flocks and subflocks will also be present in what are intended to be largely non-overlapping territories. A good three acres will be available for the American Dominiques in area layed out previously, 6 or so acres will be available for the American Game subflock to be made up of > 100 juvenile individuals at production season peak plus broody hens that will be largely in woodlot on southern half of property, a subflock of >100 American Dominique juveniles that will be a combination of hen and incubator / brooder reared that will be centered on orchards and fen, a very small harem of American Games used for behavioral observations, and a cockyard supporting 50 to 100 adults tied to barrels and / or penned be well away from any free-ranging flock. I am able to promote discrete territories with a combination of distance, separate roosting sights, sight barriers provided by plants, and activities of roosters.


Free-ranging locks do a very good job of staying separate so long as I am not apparent with a feed bucket. When feed bucket involved territories are not respected and roosters get into it big time as a result. This not a problem when all feed applied before dawn and just before dark.


Will generate a video to give feel for lay of land and current flocks which are currently well below target.

 

[centrarchid]

SIX PERSIMMON TREES PRODUCING FRUIT

This is the first year the persimmon trees are producing fruit in areas to be aside for the Dominiques. Out of a 100+ trees >6' tall, only 6 are in fruit. Fruiting trees do not have close neighbors and have a rounder growth form. I will be able to cull their nearest neighbors. This will also make so I can ID male trees based on flowers next spring since six trees are now known. I do like persimmons when they are ripe but so do raccoons, coyotes, red foxes and grey foxes. Care will need to be taken to make certain that trees do not bring even more critters in than currently experienced. If something like a coyote or grey fox is smart and goes only after the fruit, dogs may not be alerted by alarmed chickens. I may be able to harvest a couple gallons of fruit this fall, Next year harvest should be on the order of a bushels.

 

[centrarchid]

TWO HENS NESTING IN FIELD COMING OF NESTS WITH CHICKS THIS WEEK


As I set this mess up, it will come down to more than managed plant cover and predator management. It also comes down to flock management respect to reproduction. This season I have been testing six one year old hens that layed well for the first season and now into their second to see if they would go broody and successfully hatch chicks late in season. Late in season means July and August. One hen did not get down to business until middle late September and another is into second effort since July. Looks like I will have bitties on ground after first frost which is going to be a major headache. One hen had bitties chirping under her last night as Scoob and even Lucy were quick to point out (they are pointers). This year the number of birds is low relative to carrying capacity of land but hens will need to be penned up soon which will make so chicks can not be taken out to forage as well. Chicks also do not thrive when confined in my decidedly outdoor pens. Looks like these late hatch American Dominique chicks will be rehomed regardless of parentage. Once barn is in place I can be a little more accommodating to what are basically fall hatched / winter reared chickens but they will be more expensive to raise and will be a real joy (sarcasm) when deep snows hit as I try to keep them alive. Chicks need liquid water all the time which is something I can not deliver during coldest part of winter.


Breeding season will have to be defined like with games although start and end times will need to be different. Games start in March and end June 1. Dominiques will need to start later, possibly after close of games season but the dominiques must be done so all young are juvenile by first frost. I am guessing those hatched by August 15 will be juvenile by first frost in early October.


I think I will give these late hatch bitties and a couple of the hens to my brother when he drops off the beehives in next week or so. He is much better equipped for winter rearing.