The females are usually a bit darker and smaller, about 4-5 pounds. They're reasonably good layers of medium to large brown eggs. Smaller, bantam strains of Dominiques also exist. The chicks carry a sex-linked gene which allows you to separate the males from the females at hatching. Pullets have a yellow spot on the top of the head, and dark gray or black toes.
Cockerels have yellow toes and shanks, and their heads are a blend of yellow and black.
Both rose and single combed barred chickens were common in parts of the eastern United States as early as 1750. In time, these barred chickens were bred for uniformity in size and type. Eventually, those with the rose combs came to be known as Dominiques, and the single comb types became known as the Plymouth Barred Rocks. The popularity of the breed grew and declined, as these things generally do. Asiatic breeds were imported and crossed with domestic breeds, new breeds developed, creating new trends.