Dominique Chickens

It's been awhile folks but I'm back!

I'm going to kick off this month with a little article about Dominique chickens. Not many folks are familiar with these birds because they are rarely seen in most chick catalogs. They are listed as "Watch" by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy.

Dominiques are often confused with Barred Rocks because they share a very similar color pattern. However, there are two main distinctions between the two breeds. Dominiques have a rose comb, versus the Barred Rock's single comb. Also, I've noticed that while Barred Rock hens and roosters generally have the same color plumage, Dominique roosters are notably lighter then their lady counterparts.

Our family has kept a small purebred flock of Dominiques seperate from the regular laying flock for about two years now. They are my mother's project. We live in southern Michigan and get hit with some pretty hard winters, I have to tell you these birds may not lay the most or the biggest eggs but they sure lay further into the winter then the layer flock. They also put on weight well and the young cockerels make delicious frying or roasting birds. They are excellent foragers and produce well for their size and input.

There are breeders scattered sparsely across the country who are promoting this rare, historical breed. Dominiques are generally accepted as the first chicken breed in the Americas. Their origins aren't known however they enjoyed popularity in the United States well into the 1930s due to their hardiness and quality dual-purpose traits. They experienced a brief comeback from the early 1980s into the early 2000s however they are once again declining in numbers.

There are a couple of smaller hatcheries that carry Dominiques. Although I always recommend buying from a breeder first, sometimes ordering from a hatchery can't be helped. Stromberg's is a reputable seller of Dominiques as well as Meyer. I trust ordering birds from both of these places.

Photo taken by author.
Information provided from American Livestock Breeds Conservancy website - http://www.albc-usa.org/

Harlequin Rabbits

Marked rabbit breeds are known to be the most difficult to breed for the show table. Arguably, the most difficult of them all is the Harlequin.

These rabbits originated in France in the 1800's and were then imported to the United States from there. There are four varieties of Harlequins, the black, blue, chocolate and lilac, then separated into two color groups: Magpie and Japanese. The magpie is any of the varieties in combination with white, whereas the Japanese is any of the varieties in combination with a strong orange, or a diluted fawn color in the blue and lilac instances.

The goal seems simple enough - the rabbit should look like a checkerboard. There should be stripes around the body, or they can pattern in alternating bars. The face should have ears alternating in color from the face, and the legs also should all alternate. However, this is very difficult to accomplish. Most rabbits are excellent in one area and poor in another, the perfect Harlequin is extremely rare and I myself, as a seasoned Harlie breeder, have only seen one or two that came close to perfecting the ARBA Standard of Perfection for Harlequins.

Harlequins are assigned the commercial body type, although with 60% of points aimed at the markings a true meaty Harlie is hard to come by. Some experienced and established breeders are currently experimenting by breeding in New Zealand and Californian bloodlines to increase meat quality. They range from one end of the scale to the other. There are generally two "body types" in Harlequins. One is a leaner body type, big boned with large ears, while the other is a little smaller but thick with small bones. Of course with such varied type and lack of attention to meat and fur qualities, there are many size differences too. Depending on the breeder's preference, full grown Harlequins can range from 5 to 11 pounds, but more are around 8. I have heard of brood does reaching 13lbs.

No breed surpasses Harlequins in mothering and gentleness. These rabbits are my go-to for foster mothers, and are always recommended to new 4-H members. They have excellent personalities, making the poorly marked offspring perfect for the pet market.

Seeking a challenge? Look no further than the Harlequin, the Clown of the rabbit breed.

Black Japanese Harlequin, owned by Janelle Gray

Blue Magpie Harlequin, owned by Janelle Gray

Florida Cracker Horses

Sturdy, feral, Spanish-descended horses running free and supplying local Native Americans and cattle folks with small with willing work horses. This sounds like the ideal of the commonly known Mustang horse, correct?
Now imagine them in Florida.
No, Mustangs weren't the only horse that made it's stamp on early American civilization. The Florida Cracker had it's time, and it's now.
As already stated, these animals are descended from Spanish horses that escaped on expeditions to the deep south, particularily Florida, in the early 1500's. It is genetically similar to the Paso Fino, Peruvian Paso, and of course, the Spanish Mustang. These horses filled a niche in the need for strong horses as cow ponies, transportation, and for basic farm work. The general name for these horses is the Colonial Spanish horse, and branches off into various strains, of which the Florida Cracker is one. Others include the Marsh Tacky and the Choctaw, although there are eleven lines recognized by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy (ALBC) altogether. The Florida Cracker is the only one that is considered a different breed by the conservancy due to geographic location. Their name is derived from the "cracking" sound of a bull whip used by the cowboys (called "crackers" in that area).
This little horse had been nearly abandoned in the 1930's, as well as many other livestock breeds, in the advent of specialization in breeds. Most regional breeds had been replaced by the Quarter Horse. By 1950, the breed was all but extinct. Dedicated breeders carried the Florida Cracker through the years, and their hard work paid off when the horse was brought under the wing of the ALBC and the creation of the Florida Cracker Horse Association in 1989. The breed is still quite uncommon, however the population is holding at 800 and rising steadily. In 2008, the Florida Cracker was given the honor of being designated as Florida's state horse!
They aren't very big horses at 13 - 15 hands tall, but they pack a punch in strength and sturdiness. They are slim in body type, and come in virtually any color, however gray and solid colors are the most common. Florida Crackers are valued as all around horses, and they do exceptionally well in activities such as team penning, cutting, and as cow ponies.
Interested in a rare breed western horse that's not too big? Check out the Florida Cracker! It will be like riding a piece of history!

References:
The Florida Cracker Horse Association - http://www.floridacrackerhorses.com/
The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy - http://www.albc-usa.org/

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