Dominique Breeders

[WeedEater]

Dominiques: Who on the forum is serious about them? My interest stems from history, the Jamestowne Colony, and the fact that I reside in Virginia. I am always going to want some around. My stock comes from Welps Hatchery, and is a mix of rose combed and single combed. My intent is to only breed the rose combed. Since I haven't begun incubating the next generation, my intent here is to make contact with others in the east who maintain Dominiques, in order to improve my breeding stock in the near future.

Anyone?

 

[Chris09]

Quote:
Well I am willing to bet that the "Dominiques" you got from Welps are a Dominique/ Barred Rock Cross that would be why you have both Single and Rose Comb...
If you would get Dominiques from a breeder the chances of getting a Single Comb bird would be slim to none..

Chris

 

[Ryu]

I've had some good converstaions with Mike Stichler about Doms. There are traditionally single combs that will crop up in even the well bred rosecomb Dom populations. The occasional straight comb bird pops up and are bred back in because it is thought that they carry different genes important to egg quality and vitality.

While that's probably not the case with the Welp birds, don't be upset if you see single combs occasionally from the 'Exhibition' birds as well.

 

[Chris09]

Quote:
I talked to Mike last year at our county show then again at another county show about the Dominique and like he had said you could get a rare single comb but that is not all that often..
I believe that the comb would be more like a modified single comb..

The reason that you see a lot of single combs popping up in the Dominique you get from hatcheries is that they cross the slow feathering Barred Rock with the fast feathering Dominique that way they can feather sex them at birth..

Chris

 

[BarredBuff]

Why would you cross BR and Dominiques and sell them as Dominiques? Does Cackle do this?

 

[Ryu]

Even the Dom breeders cross in Barred Rocks for 'New Blood'--but they do it maybe every 6-8 generations, and carefully.

It would be a way for the hatcheries to increase their breeding pens for a rare breed quickly.

 

[Chris09]

Quote:
You can cross the slow feathering Barred Rock with the fast feathering Dominique that way they can feather sex them at birth..


Chris

 

[WeedEater]

Chris,

Thank you, that makes a lot of sense. I would imagine there is some of that with any "pure" breed to keep the genetic makeup strong. Good to know!

 

[La Mike]

I have Doms also and always will
That was the first chicken breed I ever got and am kinda partial to having them in my flock

 

[TurtleFeathers]

I have a single dominique in my laying flock - Edie is the sweetest chicken ever!!! I got her as a chick from chickygirl2 on BYC - she's in MD, so you might want to PM her.