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Dominque Chickens- Overview
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DOMINIQUE CHICKENS

 

Dominique Chicks & Chickens

 

We sell Dominique chicks and chickens. We do not ship. Chicks and chickens have to be picked up in person. Hens cost more than roosters. Hens that are just beginning to lay eggs cost the most. Click on link above "Chicks Available Now" for availability and pricing.

America's First Chicken

 

The exact origin of the Dominique chicken is not known, but they probably came from European chicken breeds and later in its refinement, some Asian breeds. The name of "Dominique" probably came from birds imported from the French colony of Saint-Domingue (Haiti). Early names of these poultry include Blue Spotted Hen, Old Grey Hen, Dominico, Dominic, and Dominicker.

Dominique fowl was common on American farms as early as the 1820s, where they were kept as a dual-purpose chicken. In 1871 the New York Poultry Society decided that only rose combed Dominiques would be the breed standard. The single combed Dominiques were folded into the barred Plymouth Rock breed- a larger breed common in New England which were created by crossing large, single comb Dominiques with Java chickens. In 1874 the Dominique breed was officially admitted to the American Poultry Association's Standard of Perfection.

The Dominique was popular until the 1920s but then interest decreased. The breed survived during the Great Depression of the 1930s because it was hardy and easy to keep. By the end of World War II, as the industrial poultry industry began to increase, the Dominique again declined. By 1970 there were only four known flocks owned by: Henry Miller, Edward Uber, Robert Henderson, and Carl Gallaher. From 1983 with reports on the breed by American Livestock Breeds Conservancy, until 2006, Dominiques steadily increased in numbers. As of 2007, they are once again beginning to decline.

Physical Characteristics

 

The Dominique chicken is a medium-sized black and white barred "cuckoo" patterned bird. This pattern makes the Dominique less visible to predators. Dominique fowl have a rose comb with a short upward curving spike. The roosters average seven pounds and the hens five pounds. The Dominique's tightly arranged plumage keeps the birds warm in winter and provides plenty of feathers for pillows and featherbeds. Dominiques carry their heads high up on well-arched necks. Their body is broad and full with long and full tail feathers that are held the highest of the American breeds. Their legs are yellow.

Good for Meat and Eggs

 

The Dominques are a dual-purpose breed (meat and eggs), but are mostly kept for being good egg producers. Hens average 230-275 small- to medium-sized brown eggs per year. Dominiques are self sufficient and will scratch for their own food, making them less expensive to maintain than many of today's specialized breeds of chickens. Dominiques are good foragers. The hens are good mothers and easy going with humans.

A book about Dominique's is available: "The American Dominique: A Treatise for the Fancier" by Mark A. Fields. There also is a Dominque group you can join Dominique Club of America.

 

 

 

	Prices and availability of chicks and chickens.
	Older Dominique chick. It looks brownish but the real color is gray-black. They have a cute spot on top of their head.
	Young Dominique chickens (pullets and cockerels) roosting.