Dominique chickens: The all-American backyard birds
Have you ever heard of Dominique chickens? Missing from most barnyards and backyards, and frequently mistaken for Barred Plymouth Rocks when they are present, Dominiques have become a rare breed.
But they weren’t always this way. As the original American chicken breed, Dominiques were once found in most backyard flocks. In fact, they were the most popular chickens in America for almost 100 years. (They were replaced in popularity by the Barred Rock in the mid-1800s, and their numbers declined drastically in the years following).
Dominiques became so rare in the 20th century, that they were actually believed to be extinct by the 1950s. Thankfully, they were not, and a valiant breeding effort in the 1970s helped to increase their numbers some. However, the breed is still so rare that The Livestock Conservancy has it on their “Watch” list.
Dominique chickens are fantastic birds. Truly, their rarity is baffling. These chickens are sweet, smart, and beautiful. They produce a high volume of eggs, great meat (if you have the heart for that), and are loads of fun to watch in the yard with their spirited and quirky personalities.
Dominique chickens are a hardy breed too. Originally bred for the backyard at a time when America was still a wild place with hardships galore, Dominiques were developed to be great at foraging, evading predators, and withstanding very cold climates.
It’s about time we make Dominiques a popular backyard and barnyard bird once again!
As a hardy, docile, and productive breed, Dominique chickens make the perfect addition to most backyard and homestead flocks. In this article, you’ll learn everything you need to know to make sure Dominiques are a good fit for you, including:
Everything you ever wanted to know about Dominique egg laying
Dominique broodiness (do they want to sit on their eggs and raise chicks?)
Climate considerations for Dominique chickens (are they a good fit for your region?)
Space requirements for Dominique chickens (predators, foraging, and confinement considerations)
Dominique temperament (are they right for you and your family?)
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Have Dominique chickens?
Dominique chicken facts
Other names: Dominickers, Dominics
Category: Pet, eggs & meat
Origin: United States
Egg-laying ability: Good-exceptional
Broodiness: High
Meat production: Good
Cold tolerance: Exceptional
Heat tolerance: Good
Predator evasion: Good to exceptional
Foraging ability: Exceptional
Toleration for confinement: Good
Temperament: Docile
Aggression toward flock members: Moderate
Noise level: Moderate
Origin of Dominique chickens
Dominique chickens are also commonly called Dominickers. “Dominickers” has an old-timey sound to it and seems much more American, right? So where did the French-sounding name “Dominique” come from?
Tradition claims that the Dominique breed was developed out of chickens that were imported from Santo Domingo (Haiti today), which was a French colony from 1659 to 1804. Hence, the French-sounding name “Dominique” for an American bird. Whether this origin story is true or not—nobody knows.
And that’s one of the interesting things about the Dominique. Nobody really knows where it came from or which types of chickens were used to create it, which, in a way, makes it truly American—a “melting pot,” could-have-come-from-anywhere, kind of bird.
“The Dominique is truly the original American bird.”
Part of the reason the breed’s origin is so mysterious is because in early America, all birds with the Cuckoo or Barred feather pattern were called “Dominiques.”
So, this means a Barred Rock would have been called a Dominique (and some Americans from our older generation still do called Barred Rocks “Dominiques”). A Cuckoo Marans would have been called a Dominique. And a Dominique would have been called a Dominique. And who knows how many other breeds were called Dominiques. No wonder the records are so muddled!
What do Dominique chickens look like?
Dominique feather colors and patterns
Dominiques come in only one variety: barred (also known as cuckoo). As Storey’s Illustrated Guide to Poultry Breeds describes them:
“[Dominique] feathers are barred in black (varying from pure black to dark slate gray) and creamy white over [the] whole body. Males may be a shade lighter than females.”
The barring pattern is sometimes called “hawk-colored” because, particularly in shaded areas, it’s presumably harder for aerial predators (such as hawks) to notice from above.
Dominiques can also be found as bantams (i.e., miniatures). In the YouTube video below of Dominique show birds, you can see a regular-sized rooster and a bantam hen.
What is notable about the Dominique chicken’s appearance?
The most notable attribute of Dominique chickens, aside from their beautiful plumage pattern, is their lovely rose comb. Ideally, this comb will have an upturned spike at the back, but commonly it looks misshapen. The comb is small-medium in size.
Dominiques also have small- to medium-sized wattles, red earlobes, reddish bay eyes, and yellow beaks, shanks, and feet.
Dominique chickens also have a distinctive carriage to them. As veteran chicken keeper and author, Christine Heinrichs says in her book, Backyard Field Guide to Chickens:
“They strut around their yard with head held high on arched neck. The roosters hold their heads up so well their backs have a U-shaped silhouette. They hold their full tails higher than other American breeds.”
In the picture below, you can see the striking U-shape of the Dominique rooster’s back.
How big do Dominique chickens get?
Roosters: 7 lbs
Hens: 5 lbs
Bantam roosters: 28 oz
Bantam hens: 24 oz
What do Dominique chicks look like?
Dominique chicks are black with white patches on the tips of their wings and tails. They have an adorable little white spot on the crowns of their heads.
Below is a video showing Dominique chicks.
Dominique chicken growth
For a heritage breed, Dominique chickens grow quickly.
In the video below, you can see how large Dominique chickens are at just 3.5 months.
Are you getting Dominique chicks?
Share your photos, week by week!
Dominique chickens and egg laying
“Although categorized as a dual-purpose breed, these birds are first and foremost egg producers with hens historically averaging 230-275 small- to medium-sized brown eggs.”
Egg color: Brown
Egg size: Medium
Age of lay: 6 months
Eggs/week: 4-6
Eggs/year: 230-275
Dominiques are amazing year-round layers, not phased by the cold.
In the video below, you can see a 5-month old Dominique hen singing the egg song. Not sure what that is? Hens let out a particular vocalization before, during, or after laying an egg. Once you get your chickens, you’ll become very familiar with this tune.
Broodiness: Do Dominique hens want to hatch their eggs?
Dominique hens do tend to go broody, meaning they will want to sit on their eggs and raise babies.
Meat production of Dominique chickens
Dominique chickens are considered a dual-purpose breed and, therefore, are good for meat production. In The Backyard Field Guide to Chickens, the author says, “They make good roasters or fryers.”
Dominiques have a market weight of 4-6 lbs.
Dominique chickens: A Hardy Breed
“The main reasons for the breed’s popularity were that it possessed a very hardy constitution and could therefore be kept at little expense by even the poorest of rural families.”
Dominique chickens were developed over the 18th and 19th centuries to live in harsh conditions. This means this breed is exceptionally hardy, thriving in the cold and heat alike, foraging like a champion, and fending off predators.
Back in the day, these chickens would have been basically left alone to fend for themselves. (Of course, in the modern world, we can and should give them much better lives than that.) This makes them very good range birds that you can expect to forage for most of the day.
One chicken keeper said of her Dominiques, “Just like everyone else has said, these guys are vicious foragers. They really do make other breeds look lazy… It’s clockwork to them.”
Below, you can see a video of a Dominique rooster busily foraging with his hens. As an added bonus, the rooster does a hilarious-sounding crow at the end of the video.
Dominique chickens vs. predators
The barred feather pattern that Dominiques have is thought to provide some camouflage for them, particularly in shaded areas. The pattern has been referred to as “hawk-colored” as it may make them less visible to aerial predators, such as the dreaded hawks.
Dominiques are also very alert and active, which makes them quite cautious of potential predators.
Dominique chickens: Can they handle confinement?
For all the reasons outlined above, Dominique chickens make excellent free-range birds.
However, as a calm and docile breed, they tolerate confinement as well. If you do plan to confine your Dominique chickens to a run, be sure to give them as much space to explore and exercise as you can. These birds will appreciate any extra space you can give them.
How do Dominique chickens do in the heat and the cold?
Dominque chickens do well in most environments, whether they be hot, cold, dry, or humid. As with all chickens, they will need plenty of shade and cold, fresh water in the warmer months.
Dominique chickens tend to be incredibly cold-hardy with their tightly fitted plumage. Because they have thick rose combs that lay close to their heads, they are much less prone to frostbite than most other breeds.
One chicken keeper said of her Dominique flock, “I live in a colder climate and these guys thrive in it. One day this past winter it was -45° F and these guys were out in their run like it was nothing. Their hardiness is astonishing.”
Of course, if you keep your chickens in such cold conditions, you must have a dry and cozy coop. I recommend hanging Sweeter Heaters above the roosting bars for your chickens’ safety and comfort, even for hardy birds.
You can find small Sweeter Heaters here on Amazon, medium Sweeter Heaters here, and large Sweeter Heaters here.
Dominique chicken temperament: Just what kind of birds are they?
The words most commonly used to describe Dominique chickens’ temperament are these: genial, docile, and calm.
One chicken keeper described her flock as “Sweet lap chickens… totally docile.”
Another said of hers, “They are very calm and easy-going. Mine don’t mind being picked up and held, even my rooster. They all love to eat out of my hand…”
Check out the video below of Dominique chickens eating banana out of somebody’s hand:
If you want a snuggly chicken, Dominiques may be a good breed for you. One chicken keeper described hers this way: “…they actually seem to adore attention and want to be held and petted…”
Check out the video below of a lady holding and petting a little Dominique hen.
Like many breeds that are bred for the range, Dominique chickens are known to be very inquisitive. They love to explore, get into everything, and try new things.
One chicken keeper said of her Dominique hen:
“I’m so glad I picked her, she is such a fun chicken. She was the first to do everything—escape the brooder, sit on the water bottle, perch, eat treats, jump on your hand, roost, and lay eggs. She is so inquisitive and follows me around like a dog. I cannot get her to leave me alone when doing ‘coop chores.’ She has to be right with me sticking her nose into everything. She’s really sweet and quite a pretty bird as well.”
Another chicken keeper tells a very similar story:
“This chicken is the goofball of our flock. Always the first out of the coop, first to run up and get a treat. Even as a chick, she was the first to perch, first to find her way out of the bin we had them in, first to jump up on our bathroom counter. She would jump up on us if we got too close and try to perch on us like a parrot. She is always the first to figure out something new.”
How are Dominique chickens around children?
Dominique chickens are definitely kid-friendly. As calm, sweet, and docile birds who love to be held, this is a great breed for children.
How well do Dominique chickens get along with other chickens?
Dominique chickens aren’t known to be highly aggressive with other chickens, but they may be bossy with other chickens, particularly those of other breeds.
One chicken keeper told this story: “I’m the lucky owner of one Dominique hen and I absolutely adore her… as soon as I integrated her, she flogged the rooster and beat up the lead hen.” Notably, this Dominique chicken was still a pullet (i.e., young chicken) at the time.
Another chicken keeper tells a similar story about her Dominique hen, who “…adapted very well after her brood sisters passed away and we brought in new chickens. Asserting herself, but never being vicious, she’s stayed as alpha chicken, even though she’s one of the smaller ones, and [she] treats the new chicks well too.”
Others have also described their Dominiques as “assertive, but not aggressive” and as “lead chickens.” Below you can see a video of Dominique chickens free-ranging well with a mixed flock:
Are Dominique roosters aggressive to people?
Dominique roosters aren’t known to be particularly aggressive. They tend to be gentle with both their hens and their human keepers.
However, you will come across aggressive individuals in every chicken breed. With patience, you can usually reform unwanted behavior.
One chicken keeper said this of her Dominique rooster, “Our rooster is a gentleman, and with some basic training to learn his boundaries with us, he’s respectful of anyone he knows coming to the coop. He takes good care of his girls.”
Dominique chickens: Are they noisy?
Dominique chickens aren’t really any louder or quieter than other breeds. Some individuals will be more talkative than others. And, of course, roosters will like to crow.
Below is a video of Dominique hens—you can hear them quietly talking:
Below is a video of a young Dominique rooster who just started to crow—pretty cute.
Dominique chicken health problems and life expectancy
Dominique chickens are very robust and hardy. You can expect them to live an average chicken lifespan of 5-8 years.
Breeds you may want instead of Dominiques
A very similar breed to the Dominique (and a much easier breed to find) is the Barred Plymouth Rock—in fact, many people get these two breeds confused as both have barred feather patterns. Plymouth Rocks were actually bred from mixing an old, single-comb variety of Dominique chicken (no longer around) with several other breeds, including Javas, Cochins, and Brahmas.
The easiest way to tell Barred Plymouth Rocks from Dominiques is by their combs and feather patterns. Plymouth rocks have single combs and a straight barring pattern, whereas Dominiques have rose combs and a staggered barring pattern. Plymouth Rocks are also larger than Dominiques. The birds are similar in hardiness and disposition, although Dominiques are less prone to frostbite with their rose combs.
Other hardy, dual-purpose breeds you may want to consider are Javas, Sussexes, or Wyandottes. For more information on these breeds, check out these articles:
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Dominique sources
Bassom, Frances. Mini Encyclopedia: Chicken Breeds and Care. Dorking: Interpet Publishing, 2011.
Damerow, Gail. Storey’s Guide to Raising Chickens. North Adams: Storey Publishing, 2017.
Damerow, Gail. The Chicken Health Handbook. North Adams: Storey Publishing, 2015.
Ekarius, Carol. Storey's Illustrated Guide to Poultry Breeds. North Adams: Storey Publishing, 2007.