Is she a Barred Rock or a Dominique?

[PsychoChicken]

I bought 2 hens thinking they were both Barred Rocks but someone just asked me if one was a Dominique. I can't tell. Someone else have an opinion? I think I might have 1 Barred Rock and 1 Dominique?

Hen #1 (Xena)



Hen # 2 (Gabrielle)



Xena's comb looks a little different to me not sure if it is a rose comb though.

 

[flower]

To me it looks as if Zena's comb is mixed with rose and single comb. I would not breed her as either barred rock or dominique. Because you would not be able to predict the outcome down the line.

Barred Rock's have single combs only.
Dominique's have Rose combs only. If you want to find out the differences of the breeds look up Breeders pages for both breeds. Since some people do not know the difference they are sometimes mixed together. It depends if you want to have a bird that meet the standards to qualify as a particular breed.

Some people do not know the difference or care to know.They raise barnyard mixes. But in other people's view a pretty flock would need to be close to the stand as possible.

 

[Chicks on DL]

Have you gotten any eggs from them? What color are they?

 

[nurse_turtle]

Both BR and Dom lay brown eggs. I have a BR roo and 2 BR/dominique hens. Chances are, they are mixed. One of my girls has a perfect rose comb and the other has a modified rose comb that is thicker and raised.

 

[Illia]

Looks like two Rocks to me.

In most stock, hatchery stock that is, the only difference is comb type. But as a breed following its original purpose type, Rocks are much larger, blockier in shape, and have much finer lacing. They're certainly a dual purpose breed, very large and meaty. Dominiques are more gamey looking, smaller, and with a more proud, upright type body but not so much like Gamefowl.

 

[PsychoChicken]

Interesting. Thanks everyone for the input. Xena is a marathon layer. I have started to keep an egg calendar and she has laid everyday for 3 weeks! Gabrielle is a strong layer also and usually only misses 1-2 days a week. Xena's eggs are light brown and Gabby's eggs are a lighter brown- almost pinkish.

 

[AHDCST]

They could be mixed, and my Dominiques while smaller don't carry themselves more proudly. My Bard Rocks actually do have a more alert stance with their head held high and their tail stuck straight up in the air. That is the opposite of what Illia said. My BR hens lay a slightly more pinkish egg and the Doms lay light brown ones. The moral of the story then I guess is: If you want to breed true Doms then it matters but if you are just enjoying your chickens as pets and for eggs then it doesn't really matter. All the birds in the pictures I'm seeing in this thread look happy and healthy and that is what matters most of all!

 

[PsychoChicken]

Haha very true. I probably won't breed them anyway. I was just curious.