Dominique Chickens

Dominique chickens have survived to become the very symbol of durability, productivity and self-reliance. Dominique chickens are a wonderfully cold-hardy dual-purpose bird, and hens make very caring, nurturing mothers. Some can't tell the difference between a Dominique and a Barred Plymouth Rock, but the trained eye will notice that Dominiques have a rose comb and an irregular cuckoo barring pattern versus the Barred Rock's single comb and straight barring pattern.

American Poultry Association Class: American Chicken Class
American Livestock Breeds Conservancy Conservation Status: Watch
Production: Dominique chickens skin color is yellow and dress out at about 3 pounds. Dominique eggs are medium sized brown eggs. Hens show less tendency toward broodiness than many other exhibition breeds.

Standard Weights of Dominique chickens Old Male 7 lbs. Old Female 6 lbs. Young Male 5 lbs. Young Female 4 lbs.
Dominique chickens have a Rose Comb.

The differentiation between Plymouth Rock and Dominique was not made until 1870 when the management of the New York state poultry show ruled that only rose combed fowl of intermediate size could compete as Dominiques, and that all medium and large single combed fowl of this color would be known as Plymouth Rocks. A small single combed bird of this color was called a Dominique Leghorn. A great increase in popular interest began in 1875 with the "improved" type finding an enthusiastic response among exhibitors and farmers. The breed was never used commercially, and was eventually eclipsed on the farm by the gradual shift to "Plymouth Rocks" when the preferred type of "Dominique" had been transformed into the "Plymouth Rock."
Dominique chickens were developed from an early settlement in New England. The data about the American Dominiques origins is unreliable. It is likely a selection from one of many grey fowls located in New England. The type indicates composite blood lines, possibly of the Asiatic and Hamburg breeds. Added to Standard of Perfection: 1874 Place of Origin: New England