Chicken breed
Dominique
Also called Dominiker, Pilgrim Fowl, Dominic
The Dominique is considered America's oldest chicken breed. It has barred feathers and a rose comb that resists frostbite, lays brown eggs well, and is friendly with people. It forages well and adapts to both cold and hot, humid climates.
At a glance
230–275eggs a year
4–6eggs a week
16–26weeks to first egg
5 lbhen weight
7–7.5 lbrooster weight
Mediumegg size
Traits
- Cold hardyhigh
- Heat toleranthigh
- Goes broodymedium
- Fine in a small runmedium
- Egg colour
- light to dark brown
- Temperament
- calm, friendly, alert
- Good with kids
- Usually, yes
- Origin
- United States (America's oldest breed; earlier origins uncertain)
- Comb
- rose
- Bantam size
- Available
- APA standard
- Recognized
- Conservation
- Watch
- Purpose
- dual
Good for
- beginners
- families with children
- cold climates
- hot, humid climates
- free-ranging
Watch out for
- broodiness varies by line
- prefers to range
Looks and feathers
Cuckoo-barred plumage with a low rose comb.
Our drawing shows the most common US variety; colours vary.
Similar breeds
All breedsSources
- 1Dominique Chicken (breed facts)The Livestock Conservancy
- 2Dominique (breed page)My Pet Chicken
- 3Accepted Breeds & VarietiesAmerican Poultry Association
- 4Dominique Chicken (product/breed profile)Cackle Hatchery
- 5Dominique Day Old Chicks (product/breed profile)Meyer Hatchery
Hatcheries often disagree on eggs a year; ranges span every source we read. How we check the facts.