Investing More In American Dominiques

[centrarchid]

Three year old daughter got flogged again. Hen was dust bathing with brood and daughter wanted to feed them. Daughter got to close so hen went into action. Daughter was ticked, crying a little, while tattling on the hen. Conversation quickly evolved to "why not cheeekins shocked (by hot-wire that daughter now understands)". Hazards are too close together around barn.


In coming weeks fence will be moved about 50 feet away from barn so kids can romp without getting zapped. Effort will also be invested in getting hen spread out away from manger and play area. If more than 3 broody hens running about there are too many conflicts even with American Dominiques. Roost poles will also be setup in loft for juvenile games.

 

[centrarchid]

Management system for pasture system and barn is causing major and potentially sustained changes in Cottontail Rabbit and House Mouse abundance.

My dogs have been hunting and catching rabbits every day, especially the young rabbits, yet the rabbit population is growing. It is nothing to see half dozen rabbits within 20 feet of each other. Juvenile rabbits now coming into yard even when dogs stalking another rabbit no more than 100 feet away. Most of the rabbits are relatively young but many will be having their own offspring very soon.


House Mice are taking advantage of feed spillage in American Dominique pens. They come out after dark and get eats then retreat to bag storage area and burrows surrounding barn. They have displaced the native mice which were never as abundant. Dogs going after mice in feed sack area have a blast catching them while hens with chicks go to same area to snatch up mice fleeing dogs.

Some kind of predator is coming into barn nightly after mice disturbing chickens enough for them to move their roosting sites although do not appear to be after chickens. The predator also licking feed bowls set out on feed mixing table. I think raccoons coming in from NW where they have to go through only about 50 feet of defended ground to get away from dogs. Live traps will be set.

Also an actual Red Fox came into house yard but was seen off by dogs quickly. I new Red Fox because even I could smell it. Man they have a scent and they leave it all the time.

 

[Mrs. K]

We are having a rabbit year, they are thick. Here in SD, rabbit populations have huge sways, some years heavy populations and some years light. As you described, they are so thick, that I often am walking much closer to them than ever before. I only have one dog, who has loved to chase them in the past, but I think that there are too many for her.

Mrs K

 

[centrarchid]

We are getting first real heat since barn constructed. Actual temperature about 100 F with heat index a few degrees higher. Birds in barn much more stressed than those penned in open field or free-range in woods. About 10 free-range birds still going to barn rather than wooded area behind it, presumably to stay close to water. The barn birds eat a lot of feed while free-range birds in woods eat most live forages so they drink only once a day. Penned birds in barn are drinking water in a big way and starting to drop feathers ahead of everyone else. Age-1 American Dominique hens finally slowing down with respect to egg production. During middle of days chickens hard to spot and crowing essentially stopped.


Time to look into a fan for barn. Long-term it will be solar powered.

 

[centrarchid]

Heat is killing nest bound house sparrows under eaves. I noticed all nestlings lost about a month ago but did not put 2 and 2 together at that time. The nestlings get into nest openings for more ventilation to cool of then fall. Most cleaned up by chickens pretty quick. Sparrows trying to finish last cohort for 2016 but looks like high heat for poorly located nest is a deal breaker.

 

[centrarchid]

Just about dark I stepped onto front porch and shined poultry area. Then I heard a strange animal sound coming from barn but could see nothing. Dogs had gone in for eats so I called them back and they promptly went to barn but did not adjust course when animal called again. When I got there sound came again from water trough. Quick scan revealed a relatively large male treefrog that looks like the gray treefrog male that has produced two brood so far. This frog is different both in size and sound. Eyes do not look right either. Call almost like a green treefrog except not a annoying.

 

[Intheswamp]

Amazing the volume that they can attain!!!

Ed

 

[centrarchid]

Very heavy rains last night with a lot of lightening. Power to house and barn interupted for 9 hours. Lost one American Dominique brood and almost lost and American Game brood where both roosted where water fell from eave of barn roof. I will have to get so not hens want to stay the nigh in those locations. Hens fully exposed in open field had no such problem keeping their chicks completely dry.

 

[Intheswamp]

I hate you lost the Dominiques.

 

[centrarchid]

MISSOURI DOMINIQUE PROJECT

As part of the greater American Dominique project, I am working to develop a Dominique strain bred to one of the old standards and can readily close its life-cycle by rearing its own offspring. Initially I started effort with intent of incorporating California Gray, American Game, Scots Gray. California Grays proved to aggressive in cross and Scots Gray I could not acquire. Focus shifted to only American Game which currently represents about 33% of background in the Missouri Dominique strain. I have already fixed the female side of color pattern but male side waffles back and forth between birds having foriegn color and those not. Those with currently in decided majority. Combs are all over the place between walnut and rosecomb. Birds have good solid build coming from American Game side and resistance to cocci coming from American Dominique. Feather quality coming from games is awesome! Will post pictures in next week or so.