So what exactly are we looking for in our bantam cochins? How do we know who to keep and who to sell to a young person who is just starting out and wants a pet?
First, you look at the anatomy of your bird.
*Critical anatomical features to avoid:
Five toes or more
Crooked toes (may not seem like much, but it is hereditary unless toe was broken)
Full sickles and hard tail feathers
Hard feathered birds (birds that lack fluff around rumps and thighs; birds that appear "sleek" as opposed to birds that look round and fluffy
Birds with pigment other than white
White earlobes; earlobes more then half white/pearl
Crooked beak (again, unless an accident happened it will be hereditary)
Split wing ( a feather in the middle of the flight feather is missing -called the axial feather- that splits the primaries from the secondaries. In a split wing, there is a noticeable gap at all times.)
Twisted feathers (feathers with spiraled shafts)
A comb type other than single comb
Beard/muffs that would suggest the bird is not pure
Feathering not extending down the middle toe
Feathers on the inner toe/inside of the shank
Birds with cataracts and/or irregular pupils
Side sprigs or split combs. Side sprigs are easy enough to remove, but a bird with severe side sprigs should not be an active breeding bird.
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Now, what is something that we want in a cochin?

*Anatomical features to breed for:
As I once read, a judge said that a cochin should be as round as it is tall. Basically a walking ball of feathers.
Leg feathering. Long, beautiful shank and toe feathers that are so hard to keep clean are vital to having a good cochin.
It is one of the hardest challenges to breed a cock/cockerel with a good cushion. The best cushion possible on a rooster is one that when standing with out his head extended or tucked in, is horizontal with his eyes. For hens/pullets, the ideal level of the cushion is one that is just slightly higher than the eyes when just standing.
**Page under construction.