CHAPTER XXII 



AMERICAN DOMINIQUES 



The oldest American variety — Not merely a Rose Comb Barred 

 Rock — Double mating not required in breeding 



Prior to the introduction of the Barred Plymouth Rock the Domi- 

 nique was increasing in favor among the farmers of the eastern United 

 States. There is no definite evidence as to the origin of the Domi- 

 nique. The breed is looked upon as the oldest American variety, and 

 is believed to have been produced by the crossing of the common 

 hawk-colored stock in the country. The breeds that entered into this 

 cross-breeding are unknown, but the earliest pictures of Dominiques 

 were suggestive of the English Dorking. Possibly some English 

 Hamburg blood entered into the makeup of the Dominique, and a 

 French cuckoo colored fowl is also referred to. 



Utility qualities. The Dominique was a progenitor of the modern 

 Barred Plymouth Rock. It is smaller than the Rock, more active, 

 an excellent layer, and for table purposes the flesh is found to be 

 well distributed. The birds stand confinement or make good foragers 

 when on range. 



Many people want a rose combed fowl. They also prefer an inter- 

 mediate one in size — something between the Leghorn and the Rock; 

 one as active and as prolific a layer as the Leghorn, yet carrying 

 some of the meat properties of the Plymouth Rock. To these people 

 may be recommended the old Dominique. As chickens the birds of 

 this breed feather more quickly than those of the Rock, mature more 

 quickly, and are more active. As layers they produce a firmly 

 shelled egg of good size and from light brown to dark brown in 

 color of shell. 



In the showroom and breeding yard. The Dominique has much 

 more plumage than the Plymouth Rock, and birds in the showroom 

 should present the true Dominique type. A great many cross-bred 

 Barred Plymouth Rocks are entered at the fairs as American Domi- 

 niques because pumpkin show judges are prone to give the awards 

 to straight, even barred specimens. The fact is that the barring of 

 the Dominique is not the same straight across the feather barring 

 found in the Rock, nor does it show the same black and white con- 

 trasts between the light and dark bar. The Standard calls for irregular 

 barring, and the color should be of a bluish tone. This bluish hue is 

 obtained by the light bar being slightly gray and the dark bar not 

 being too intense in color. On full-blooded birds the last bar at the 

 tip of the feather is shaped like a new moon, and is not a straight- 

 across-the-feather bar. 



Mating. Double mating is not required, as the Standard calls for 



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