Brindles chooks Posted April 25, 2009 Share Posted April 25, 2009 Hi all, Going to get some chickens in a couple of months' time, and am RIDICULOUSLY excited Does anyone have / know much about American Dominiques? I think they're beautiful but can't find out much about them. The website of the breeder I've found says that they lay well and are hardy and active - anyone got first hand experience? Sooooooo can't wait... Kate x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted April 25, 2009 Share Posted April 25, 2009 I've had a look at some pictures on google. I think they look a bit like cuckoo marans? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted April 26, 2009 Share Posted April 26, 2009 Found this: http://www.chalkhillpoultry.co.uk/lf_american_dominique.html Not much info though. Visited there but ended up getting my girls from another breeder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feemcg Posted April 26, 2009 Share Posted April 26, 2009 Have a look here http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/CGD/Doms/BRKDoms.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angels4 Posted April 26, 2009 Share Posted April 26, 2009 Or here. It's a web in the US, but I'm sure you will find all the information you need. www.dominiquechicken.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaPoule Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 Found this:http://www.chalkhillpoultry.co.uk/lf_american_dominique.html Not much info though. Visited there but ended up getting my girls from another breeder. I am thinking of getting some chickens from there this summer - what was it like? Would you recommend them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brindles chooks Posted April 27, 2009 Author Share Posted April 27, 2009 Hi there, Thanks for all the replies. Looks like there's a few websites out there, but not many who own them! At least not in the UK... I'm also thinking of going to Chalk Hill. Grateful for any feedback - any reason you didn't buy from there in the end? Thanks, Kate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted April 28, 2009 Share Posted April 28, 2009 Chalk Hill was OK, but I much preferred Wylye Valley. I think he had more or less just started up there and was clearing the site (apparently it had been littered with burnt out cars and just treated as a dump beforehand). He had only just moved there a short while ago. I believe someone on this forum had been to the guys previous place and was very happy with them. I think maybe he has a bigger acreage now. He has certainly improved his website. When we went there were lots of tiny piglets running around! If you go to visit - and he is very happy to let you wander around without supervision (although there was a teeny cockerel that wanted to fight your ankles running free too!). At the time some of the pens had different breeds to the ones on his list (I know some weren't the same, and we showed him, so hopefully that has been altered). He has trays of eggs and he will show you what breed lays them - handy if you are looking for a variety of colours. You can see the chicks through the windows underneath the heat lamps. He also does hybrids which are in a different spot out in the fields (well, they were when we went there, but a lot can happen in a year). I think if we hadn't gone to Wylye, we would have bought our birds from there - I so loved the Croad Langshans, but Wylye doesn't have them. Fleur puts saddles on her ladies at Wylye, but Chalk Hill didn't and some of the birds looked a bit, well, sore and should have had protection - I think that was the clincher really, but maybe he does now. We did go to the Domestic Fowl Trust and that was really bad, we were appalled to be honest - Chalk Hill was infinitely better. I hope this helps - it is still worth a visit (and it's very pretty around that area too!). PS take your wellies - the piggies make it very muddy - which again might have changed by now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaPoule Posted April 30, 2009 Share Posted April 30, 2009 Thanks Koojie - I bought some chickens from Wylye Valley Chickens a couple of years ago - I was very impressed. However, Fleur doesn't have laced Polish and Silkies, so I thought I would try Chalk Hill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted April 30, 2009 Share Posted April 30, 2009 You're welcome - and Fleur has white silkies - saw one there - in the sin bin! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brindles chooks Posted April 30, 2009 Author Share Posted April 30, 2009 Thanks Koojie, Chalk Hill's a bit of a drive for us anyway, and I know there are some good places closer to home - just looked like he had the others beat on the variety. Although my other half suddenly started talking about buying a piglet so might be best if we steer clear... Kate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...