FREE-RANGE KEEPING OF AMERICAN DOMINIQUES

[centrarchid]

MOLTING AMERICAN DOMINIQUE HENS HAVE TOO MUCH BOOTIE


Several hens are now into heavy molt. Feather replacement pattern is very different from American Games. American Games started replacing a single primary and secondary on each wing and are now finished. The American games never lost the capacity for flight. Alternatively the American Dominique hens started about a month ago with feathers coming out in groups of three. Those hens are now effectively flightless and not able to even fly up vertically five feet. I had to get out a sawhorse as an intermediate step and even then a couple hens are having problems. Once they are moved into barn I want them roosting at least head level and preferable up around 8 feet to make job more difficult for jumping predators. Another difference between American Dominiques and the American Games is the abdomen where the former are flat out fat and some are still in lay while the American Game hens are getting tight bellies. The belly issue is also important, especially from trimmed out flight in the American Games which during the winter months can produce flights almost like a pheasant although less explosive on take off. When the games come back into lay they loose flight capacity. I think the reproductive tract in games shrinks up to conserve weight while the American Dom's the seasonal change does not occur because of the extended laying season they have.

Pullet American Dominiques and the Missouri Dominiques appear not to be limited like the older Dominique hens. The Dominique pullets are lighter while the Missouri Dominiques follow the game feather replacement pattern although a little delayed. Best layers currently are the Missouri Dominiques.

 

[centrarchid]

ANOTHER PLANT OF POTENTIAL VALUE: RUSTY BLACKHAW Viburnum rufidulum


Today I found another fall fruiting plant growing in what will support the free-ranging American Dominiques. Berries actually had flavor, not just sweet which they are. I will try to start some more patches from these berries. Maybe I can raise enough to attempt a pie.

Berries and leaves appear as follows.






Also had some sumac providing a very scenic view. A native wild rose has berries in foreground.






Below is a milkweed pod with seeds being released. Trueman like letting go weeee!

 

[centrarchid]

HENS BROODING WHILE COVERED IN FROST

I just went responding to a predator calling. Dogs had already seen it off or it was not actually on us but rather trying to work neighbors ducks. Either way, I was out walking about pasture where pens are located looking for signs of disturbance. This was done while not wearing enough cloths because the declared "emergency" by the dogs. After everything calmed down with respect to dogs I then began looking for hens brooding eggs or chicks on the very heavily frost covered ground. All hens were in their typical locations and all were very heavily covered in frost. Nonetheless the hens and chicks were plenty warm, even with hen brooding 7 four-week old chicks that she had to spread her wings over to cover. I could put my hands under each hen and felt how very warm it was to be under them. Chicks were standing tall pressing their backs and heads tight against their mothers' bare breasts, Under one of the hens at least a couple chicks could be felt that hatched since yesterday. The hens must have racing metabolic rates to generate so much heat. When I go back out to feed at dawn the same hen and chicks will be out greeting me as I put out feed. They will be walking on frozen ground where the temperature in the middle 20's and not even act cold. The problem is with so many hens on ground, especially so late in year, virtually all their nutrition comes from me. To further compensate the poor forage I will start apply a more nutrient dense gamebird starter to keep their little furnaces stoked day and night. The hens must be going through a terribly conflicted balancing act where they give chicks first dibs at quality eats and the hens do not achieve crop fill at least when temperatures are warmer. I will watch closer to see if hens are eating more when colder as they should and provide more energy dense intact grains for them.

These poor American Dominique hens are not only operating at the lower brooding weights but they are also postponing their molts. Some of these hens will still be brooding chicks well in January so heavy molt will likely be delayed until then which is the worst time to be running about half-naked. A dog house will be setup for those hens because they need not suffer the same conditions the games and roosters are much more prepared for when the below zero with lots of wind conditions hit. Yes, this shall be the last year such late hatches are allowed.

 

[centrarchid]

Below shows night time roosting locations for two of the American Dominique hens that came off with extremely late broods. Spots are not more than 4' apart. Fencing material denies owls direct drop in hens after night but dogs must do the rest to protect them.




Hatch rate was pitiful. So low success may be a combination of wet ground and exposure of eggs to full sun prior to start of incubation.

Single chick (pullet) just over one week post-hatch.


Two chicks (cockerels) three days old. From nest on left.

 

[centrarchid]

AMERICAN BITTERSWEET FOUND IN WOODLOT AND WILL BE EXPANDED IN PATCHES


I found a single female American Bittersweet plant growing on a tree at eastern edge of woodlot well beyond where flock will be foraging. Lowest fruit where a good 15 feet up so I had to knock some down by throwing up a stick kind of like going after mistletoe. Without giving it a lot of thought I consumed a few berries to free up the seeds to germinate them over winter. When looking up procedure to find out how to culture them I found the where poisonous. Crap. We shall see if I get a belly ache. Seedlings will be planted to make a nice patch. Maybe some can be fed to chickens if patch bares heavily enough. Otherwise Christmas decorations.

 

[buffalogal]

AMERICAN BITTERSWEET FOUND IN WOODLOT AND WILL BE EXPANDED IN PATCHES


Without giving it a lot of thought I consumed a few berries to free up the seeds to germinate them over winter. When looking up procedure to find out how to culture them I found the where poisonous. Crap. We shall see if I get a belly ache. Seedlings will be planted to make a nice patch. Maybe some can be fed to chickens if patch bares heavily enough. Otherwise Christmas decorations.

OMGoodness, I hope you aren't as cavalier hunting mushrooms. If you eat enough bittersweet they'll make you vomit. otherwise they aren't especially medicinal. (despite the claims for treating TB) Birds do like them though.

 

[centrarchid]

As a matter of fact I did have a little fun with some raw oyster mushroom stems grown in the lab. Lips started buzzing, throat tightened up, tummy started to hurt then had a wonderful projectile puke. That happened back in August. No ill affects from bittersweet fruit likely because not enough consumed.

 

[crazyhen]

Your poor liver having to detoxify all that.

 

[centrarchid]

SUDDEN INCREASE IN NUMBER OF SHREWS ABOVE GROUND


Over last few days I have noticed an increase in the number of shrews (adults and juveniles) moving above ground. Many, but not all are found dead. Dogs like catching and playing with the venomous little buggers before killing them and letting the lay. I no think they taste good like rodents do. This may be related to the recent killing frosts which hammered the warm season insect populations. In contrast the abundance of red bats over the same areas has increased markedly although I think they are migrants. The local brown bats and those like seem to have taken a very serious hit last winter and will be some time before they get back to their more abundant numbers. All of the critters eat the same drift the chickens hawk after although the chickens seem to require higher densities of such insect prey to promote switch from foraging to hawking mode.

 

[CAjerseychick]

Nice thread Centrachid! I just posted about looking into Dominiques on a Goat thread! Your property would be great for goats (I am having fun with mine)-- having a devil of a time keeping them out of the chicken feed, though-- As to my hens, mine moulted too(done mostly cept for 2 birds not eating enough d/t goat issue) - I have been using gamebird starter as well -- but have decided these Jersey Giants alittle too heavy on the feed! Need to look at other breeds.... I dont know if you stated where you got them, are they from breeders (did notice you specified Missouri Vs American Dominiques)--
love my dogs too-- 2nd winter and still not one predator loss (they come in at night on their own).....coop is open though....