FREE-RANGE KEEPING OF AMERICAN DOMINIQUES

[centrarchid]

Game blood infused is not wild. The pure games are easily as tamable as any breed. Eggs are laid in standard places.

 

[Bullitt]

Game blood infused is not wild. The pure games are easily as tamable as any breed. Eggs are laid in standard places.

I just meant that game chickens are closer to being wild. They can roost in trees, reproduce on their own, etc.

 

[centrarchid]

I just meant that game chickens are closer to being wild. They can roost in trees, reproduce on their own, etc.

I see. Yes, they do have more flexibility with respect to roost sites and are much better at reproducing under free-range conditions. They are still as different from jungle fowl as the American Dominiques are. Both are a lot larger and exhibit behaviors that appear even better Red Jungle Fowl when it comes to avoiding predators in close proximity to human habitation and other livestock.

 

[crazyhen]

Hi,
I need to ask a question. I received eggs from a gentleman that has been rearing Doms for 30 yrs. Due to an error on the hatcher, my fault probably, I only had one that made it to hatch. She is smaller than the hatchery type with the squashed looking comb. She is laying really great. Is the size normally smaller on this type than the hatchery kinds?

 

[Bullitt]

Hi,
I need to ask a question. I received eggs from a gentleman that has been rearing Doms for 30 yrs. Due to an error on the hatcher, my fault probably, I only had one that made it to hatch. She is smaller than the hatchery type with the squashed looking comb. She is laying really great. Is the size normally smaller on this type than the hatchery kinds?

How much does the hen weigh?

And Dominiques have a rose comb.

 

[centrarchid]

Who provided the eggs? In most instances I have seen, the hatchery doms are selected more for egg production and run a little smaller than show lines. You do have a gentlemen out your way that does have dual purpose strain. All will be smaller than a line I had a few years back that had barred rock crossed into them.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Posting here so it shows up on my queue. Great thread!

 

[centrarchid]

FREEZING MY GOODS 22 F AND FALLING

I went out just a little bit ago with flashlight. Three American Dominiques are of particular interest since they are roosting on ground with chicks. Two hens were actually in contact with each other under a carpet that will be used to project caged birds from blizzard conditions this winter. The third with the five week old chicks is basically roosting out in open about 6 feet away from a row of pens. Dogs made it a point to check each location. The broods can handle the weather with respect to cold but the smaller chicks in particular have a conflict between eating and staying warm under momma. This is being resolved by me keeping feeders full of starter and whole corn plus BOSS at all times. Even the 3-week old chicks are eating whole corn kernels which would the like me swallowing a large apple whole without chewing. They also run about like pigeon squabs with hugely distended crops which differs greatly from what they would do when it is warmer. The little guys are processing food at a phenomenal rate but I will not be able to process enough to stay warm if temperature drop below about 10 F unless mother broods nonstop. I have some black tubes setup that would collect solar heat and block the wind but so far they have not used such as cover. Tomorrow I will get them to at least check the tubes out by placing feeders near entrance.

 

[Mrs. K]

I have a Dominique rooster that I got out of Sandhills Preservation, they and the Delaware chicks that I got hatched at the first part of June. That puts them at 5+ months. Neither the Delaware roo or the Dominique rosters crow yet, and the Delaware pullets have not started to lay. They may not until January, and the day length gets a bit longer.

I originally thought I would like to go with the Delaware as a dual purpose breed, and the birds I do have are thick and meaty. Don't know how they will lay. But I have had such a predator problem since I went with no rooster this summer, both aerial and land predators, even though I have a great deal of cover. I am thinking that the Doms' will blend in more. However, the Dom rooster is much smaller than the del.

I am thinking of keeping the Dom rooster, and crossing him over the Delaware girls...... hoping to get a more camouflage bird, maybe with a bit more meat. Any thoughts? I am posting here, as to elicit response from other Delaware interested parties

 

[centrarchid]

Somewhere I saw a Delaware x American Dominique cross. F1 looked very much like an Delaware except for barring on areas that otherwise are black on the Delaware. I am not all that happy with putting on mass by the American Dominiques either but they are still able to put on size with not so high powered feed.