Cochin breeding, genetics, and showing

[HorseFeatherz NV]

Thanks Coopa and Cochinman. Coopa, that is a great article.


I have a question about toes.


One of my MF project cockerels this year, he is most likely a cull due to his color - but I am giving him time to grow out...........anyway. When I was checking him for even foot color and checking to see if he had vulture hocks, I noticed his "rear facing" toe does not - either of them. They are folded forward so they point the same direction as his "front" toes.

I don't know why I did not notice it before, but is it a genetic flaw or a hatching flaw? I cannot manipulate the toes into their correct rear facing position.

 

[jbear]

This is great! I subscribed

I raise and show white cochins..am still pretty new to it and am always learning!!
You can see my crew HERE

 

[lilcrow]

Quote:
I vote for incubation issue. When I was breeding parrots, the toe/foot problems that the parrots had were related to incubation problems, things like not being turned, to warm, too cool........on and on. The thing I would be concerned about is will he be able to balance himself while breeding.
Keep in mind, I'm not a vet or a specialist, so try to get someone who has been a lot of experience to give you their feedback.

 

[MrsChickendad]

Isn't that called Duck Foot? Its a DQ according to ABA.

 

[Coopa Cabana]

Quote:
I like the third chick pictured better than I like the Columbian. Forgive me if I am wrong because I don't have by standard with me, but I don't think that a Columbian pullet is supposed to have that much black in their tail. I had a Columbian hen once and she had the black lacing on her hackle feathers and some black on her primary feathers with almost no black on her back or tail.

The SOP calls for Columbians to have black tails.

 

[lilcrow]

Quote:
I like the third chick pictured better than I like the Columbian. Forgive me if I am wrong because I don't have by standard with me, but I don't think that a Columbian pullet is supposed to have that much black in their tail. I had a Columbian hen once and she had the black lacing on her hackle feathers and some black on her primary feathers with almost no black on her back or tail.

The SOP calls for Columbians to have black tails.

That's what I thought.........however I know the black markings on her back are not OK. I wonder if those will molt out or get darker?

 

[cochinman2005]

Quote:
If I were a bettin man (I do play the lottery every once in a while), I'd say that at least your Birchen females are from a Columbian X Black cross. Your Birchen male is showing fairly nice color, and pattern (although there is some shafting in the breast), but the females look a little incomplete in the hackle lacing. It doesn't surprise me at all that you got a Columbian from breeding these Birchens together, especially if the Birchens were out of a Columbian X Black cross. Most likely you'll see more of them along the way.

Tom

 

[lilcrow]

Quote:
If I were a bettin man (I do play the lottery every once in a while), I'd say that at least your Birchen females are from a Columbian X Black cross. Your Birchen male is showing fairly nice color, and pattern (although there is some shafting in the breast), but the females look a little incomplete in the hackle lacing. It doesn't surprise me at all that you got a Columbian from breeding these Birchens together, especially if the Birchens were out of a Columbian X Black cross. Most likely you'll see more of them along the way.

Tom

Hummmmmm.............well this all very interesting. Do you have any idea what I might expect as far as quality, meaning is there any chance of getting a well marked Columbian or are they most likely all going to be muddled in some way.
Gosh.......I knew that breeding patterned birds was going to be difficult, but I had no idea just how difficult it really is.

 

[ChickLover98]

Could someone please explain to me what vulture hocks are?

 

[sjarvis00]

Quote:
The SOP calls for Columbians to have black tails.

That's what I thought.........however I know the black markings on her back are not OK. I wonder if those will molt out or get darker?

we raise Columbian pattern birds in two breeds, when young the black on teh back is fairly common, it does molt out near maturity, however to get very well colored males you need a few pullets or hens with some black in thier back it improves saddle stripping in the males, For cleaner backed hens you will want a male that is very weak in saddle striping. one should never give up good black wing primaries or black primary tail feathers. Getting the lacing correct on female tail primaries and secondaries may also result in males that either demonstrate the same lacing or some white in the sickles. there are a few trics to getting the color right. I should also note not to give up the white leading edge of teh primary flight feathers it os difficullt to get back and will lead to very dirty backed pullets, and hens.