Dominique
Dual purposeUnited StatesBeginner friendly
America's oldest chicken breed scratched around colonial homesteads long before the Barred Rock it's so often mistaken for. Look for the rose comb and softer, staggered barring — and expect a thrifty, level-headed hen that takes care of herself on pasture.
Eggs per year
180–260
Egg color
Brown
Egg size
Medium
Hen weight
4.5–5.5 lbs
Temperament
Calm and steady
Broodiness
Sometimes broody
Did you know?
Dominiques kept pioneer families in eggs, meat, and featherbed stuffing, and the breed has survived at least two brushes with extinction since.
Dominique egg production
Expect roughly 180–260 brown eggs a year from a Dominique in her prime — about 3–5 a week, or 15–22 dozen over the course of a year. That puts it among the more prolific backyard layers. Production naturally dips during the annual molt and the short days of winter, and eases off as a hen ages past her second or third year. Most pullets lay their first egg somewhere between five and eight months old.
Temperament & handling
The Dominique is generally described as calm and steady. These are calm, people-oriented birds that tolerate handling well and settle into a backyard flock without much fuss — a big part of why they're such a common first breed.
Climate & care
Rated cold-hardy, the Dominique rides out hard winters well as long as the coop stays dry and draft-free — keep drinking water from freezing and watch combs and wattles for frostbite in a deep freeze. It handles summer heat comfortably too, given shade, cool water, and good airflow.
Broodiness & raising chicks
A Dominiquehen may go broody now and then, but it isn't something to count on — if hatching chicks matters to you, plan on an incubator and our incubation calculator.
Space & feeding
A Dominique hen is a medium-sized bird at 4.5–5.5 lbs. As a rule of thumb, a small flock of 6 would want around 24 sq ft of coop and 60 sq ft of run, with about 2 nest boxes and 5 ft of roost. Size it to your own flock with the coop size calculator, and estimate the monthly feed bill — and your real cost per egg — with the feed cost calculator.
Is the Dominique right for you?
A great fit if…
- You want a dependable supply of eggs
- You're new to chickens and want a forgiving bird
- You want a calm bird that's good around children
- You want both eggs and a solid table bird
- You get real winters and need a hardy bird
Think twice if…
- Honestly, not much — this is a versatile all-rounder rather than a specialist
Dominique FAQ
- How many eggs do Dominique chickens lay?
- A healthy Dominique hen lays about 180–260 brown eggs a year — roughly 3–5 a week, or 15–22 dozen over a year. Output drops during winter and the annual molt, and eases as a hen ages.
- What color eggs do Dominiques lay?
- Dominiques lay brown eggs, medium in size.
- How big do Dominique chickens get?
- A Dominique hen weighs roughly 4.5–5.5 lbs — a medium-sized bird — with roosters running a little heavier.
- Are Dominiques cold-hardy?
- Yes. The Dominique is rated cold-hardy and rides out hard winters well, provided the coop stays dry and draft-free. Keep water from freezing and check combs and wattles for frostbite in a deep freeze.
- Are Dominiques good for beginners?
- Yes. The Dominique is a forgiving, calm and steady breed that suits first-time keepers well.
- Do Dominique hens go broody?
- Sometimes. A Dominique hen may go broody now and then, but it isn't guaranteed — plan on an incubator if hatching matters to you.
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Give every bird a profile in PoultryPal — track their eggs, weight, and life events, and see who's really your best layer.
