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