The Dominique is the oldest recognized American breed, developed in the farmyards of the early colonists from stock they had carried from Europe, before the importation of the Asian or Mediterranean breeds.

They are the quintessential barnyard bird: medium-sized, hardy, excellent foragers. The hens are good layers and will go broody. “Dominique” is an old term describing the irregular barring of their feathers, also called “cuckoo,” or “hawk-feathered.”