Dominique chicken farming is very popular, especially in America. It is one of the first breed to become established in the America. It is a dual purpose breed which is valued for both meat and eggs production purpose.
Today the breed is rare, but it is historically a very important breed of domestic chicken. And the Dominique chicken is among the oldest recorded American poultry breeds. It is also known as Dominicker and Pilgrim Fowl. And the breed has been around in the old English history long before poultry standards existed.
The Dominique chicken breed was probably descended from the chickens brought to New England from southern England during the colonial times. Exact origins of the Dominique chicken is unknown. Although the initial creation of this breed may have involved European chicken breed and later in it’s refinement, some Asian varieties.
The name of this chicken breed “Dominique” may have come from birds that were imported from the French colony of Saint-Domingue (Haiti). And those birds are thought to have been used as part of the development of the Dominique chicken breed.
They were popular dual purpose birds, used for both meat and eggs and plentifully bred on many American poultry farms as early as the 1820s. And the breed enjoyed great popularity until the 1920s.
The Dominique chickens were never used as a commercial breed by the poultry keepers. And the breed was officially admitted into the American Poultry Association’s Standard of Perfection in the year of 1874.
However, as this breed is pretty rate today, so starting commercial Dominique chicken farming business can help to recover their population. And as it is a dual purpose breed, so you can raise them commercially for both meat and eggs production.
How to Start Dominique Chicken Farming
Starting Dominique chicken farming business is just like starting a chicken farming business with any other domestic chicken breeds. The Dominique chickens are very strong, hardy and active birds. So raising them will relatively be easy. You can start raising them even if you are a beginner.
Here we are trying to describe more information about starting and operating a successful Dominique chicken farming business from purchasing birds to caring and marketing.
Purchase Chickens
First of all, you have to purchase very good quality, healthy and disease free birds for starting your Dominique chicken farming business. You can start your farms either with day old chicks or mature birds depending on the price and availability in your area.
We recommend starting with day old chicks. Because the mature birds are costly, while the day old chicks are much cheaper.
You can purchase the birds from any of your local poultry chick suppliers, chicken breeding centers or existing poultry farms. You can also search your local online classified websites.
Housing
Making a good, comfortable and secure shelter/housing system is very important for Dominique chicken farming business. Because a good house not only helps the birds to stay healthy but also helps them to stay free from all types of predators and adverse weather conditions.
So try to make a good house for your birds. The type of the house can be any depending on your budget. It can be of full concrete setup, or can be made of low cost and easily available materials. Just ensure that the house is comfortable and secure for the birds.
Install good ventilation system. Because good ventilation system helps to reduce gas from the house and keeps your birds healthy. And also ensure flow of sufficient amount of fresh air and light inside the house.
Try to make the house in such a way so that you can easily clean the house. The Dominique chickens are classed as a heavy breed. So a mature bird will require around or up to 5 square feet housing space.
Feeding
Feeding the birds with very good quality, healthy and nutritious food is the most important part of Dominique chicken farming business. Because good food not only helps the birds to grow better but also helps them to stay healthy and produce more.
So, always try to feed your birds with good quality food. You can feed your birds either with ready-made/commercial poultry feeds, or prepare the feeds of your own. Just ensure that the food is good and nutritious for your birds.
Never feed your birds with contaminated feeds. And always try to provide them with enough clean and fresh drinking water as per their demand.
The Dominique chickens are good for raising in both confinement and free range system. But raising them in free range system will help you to reduce feeding costs. And at the same time your birds will produce better quality products.
Breeding
Like many other domestic chicken breeds, the Dominique chickens are also very good breeders. They will breed easily and produce fertile eggs for hatching if you keep good ratio of hens and roosters in the flock. Generally one healthy rooster is enough for breeding around or up to 10 hens.
Caring
The Dominique chickens are strong and hardy birds. And they generally require less caring and other management. Although taking additional caring will help the birds to grow better and produce more.
Monitor your birds on a regular basis for any signs of diseases or illness, and take necessary steps if you notice anything uncommon. Vaccinate your birds timely and keep good contact with a vet in your area.
Marketing
marketing chicken products is very easy. Because both meat and eggs of chickens have very good demand and value in the market throughout the world. So you will probably be able to easily sell your products in the local market. Although you should set your marketing strategies before starting this business.
These are the common steps and ways for starting and operating a successful Dominique chicken farming business. Hope this guide has helped you! Good luck & may God bless you!
