Tractor Supply Dominique’s? Nope!

[Thunderchicken12]

i purchased my chicks for a backyard flock from Tractor Supply. The sign indicated they were Dominique pullets. I bought six of those and four black Australorps because my daughter likes the black ones. Well....the Australorps are looking like Breed standard pullets, but the Dominiques look like poorly bred Barred Rock pullets, except for the...rooster. I don’t know WHATS up with him! They all have some color creep, and he has patches of brown and non-barred white on him. It’s frustrating not to get what you buy. Here’s some pics:

 

[keesmom]

He's a black sex link. What do the others look like?

 

[Thunderchicken12]

He's a black sex link. What do the others look like?

Ok...I was wondering. He was colored just like the girls he was supposed to be until two months ago. They were hatched in feb. Here’s the girls: you can barely see the one at the lower right on the top has a white chest

 

[Thunderchicken12]

We live in An extremely rural Northern California. Getting chicks by mail usually means a hatchery back East, and 4-5 days of travel time, and the survivability of chicks aren’t that great. I thought picking up some would lead to better survival rates. It did, but I sure didn’t get what I ordered, and I was wondering if that is common for tractor supply?

 

[sourland]

I thought picking up some would lead to better survival rates. It did, but I sure didn’t get what I ordered, and I was wondering if that is common for tractor supply?

Sadly it is very typical for TSC here in NJ. I believe the misidentification starts with the hatcheries that supply them.

 

[ColtHandorf]

Well for one Dominques have rose combs, not single. So when you picked them out the mis-identification should have been obvious.

 

[TwoChicksChix]

Most places that sell chicks receive them from hatcheries. They are just forced to put on whatever label the hatchery itself has, regardless of what actual bird it is. I know where I live, my Tractor Supply sells "Americanas" which are actually Easter Eggers. This is because it is truly spelled "Ameraucana" and most stores won't sell true Ameraucanas anyway.

I've also had this issue at my local store Red Barn, which spells Ameraucanas correctly, but they are most definitely Easter Eggers. I actually breed true b/b/s and wheaten/blue wheaten Ameraucanas so I can recognize the difference immediately.

What Colthandorf said is true, Dominiques have a rose comb, which is the easiest way to identify them. Though if you got them as chicks, it can be much harder to be sure that they are Dominiques because the comb won't be too noticeable by then.

Barred Rocks aren't a terrible breed either, just not Dominiques, but they can still be beautiful friendly birds. As long as you aren't going for showing or breeding (which I wouldn't from Tractor Supply stock anyway) then they'll still do fine. But no, those are not Dominiques.

Sorry for the long post

 

[Thunderchicken12]

Well for one Dominques have rose combs, not single. So when you picked them out the mis-identification should have been obvious.

I’m not experienced enough to differentiat the combs on a five day old chick.....

 

[Thunderchicken12]

Most places that sell chicks receive them from hatcheries. They are just forced to put on whatever label the hatchery itself has, regardless of what actual bird it is. I know where I live, my Tractor Supply sells "Americanas" which are actually Easter Eggers. This is because it is truly spelled "Ameraucana" and most stores won't sell true Ameraucanas anyway.

I've also had this issue at my local store Red Barn, which spells Ameraucanas correctly, but they are most definitely Easter Eggers. I actually breed true b/b/s and wheaten/blue wheaten Ameraucanas so I can recognize the difference immediately.

What Colthandorf said is true, Dominiques have a rose comb, which is the easiest way to identify them. Though if you got them as chicks, it can be much harder to be sure that they are Dominiques because the comb won't be too noticeable by then.

Barred Rocks aren't a terrible breed either, just not Dominiques, but they can still be beautiful friendly birds. As long as you aren't going for showing or breeding (which I wouldn't from Tractor Supply stock anyway) then they'll still do fine. But no, those are not Dominiques.

Sorry for the long post

The long post was excellent! The only reason buying the Dominique’s was important to me was being part of preserving an old breed. I never planned to show, breed, or sell them, just be a part of a market that supports them. The rooster was supposed to be one of the hens, and had the exact same color patterns as a chick as the full BRs did. I’ll use these as long as the egg production is ok, then retire the gals to the canner for chicken and dumplings, then try to find a closer breeder with better stock. I only have ten chickens for eggs and three ducks as novelties, baking eggs, and garden pest reduction. I like the noise, even the rooster. He’s watchful, wary, not shy, but not mean either, and he keeps himself between his girls and ANYTHING that walks in the yard, man or beast. Kinda hard to treat the gals when he’s staring me down, lol

 

[TwoChicksChix]

I always recommend having a rooster if one can. They are great for the flock in so many ways, watchers, protectors, food finders, lovers, etc.

I once saw a rooster fight off a fox, mind you it was a big rooster and a small fox, but still.

The Dominique’s my friend has are mostly hatchery and aren’t great quality. Their combs are all wonky. But otherwise they are great gals. Plus, the barred rock I had as a child was wonderful.

If you’re ever in need of sourcing chicks or eggs let me know. I know many people all over the U.S. with many different breeds. Except don’t get anything from California for now, too dangerous.