Looks like I've got an light brahma/black cochin cross in my flock that's been masquerading as a pure black cochin bantam!
Here's the situation: I currently maintain a flock of black cochin bantams. At one time, however, I had a trio of light brahma bantams (one rooster and two hens). A year or so ago, I got rid of the brahmas so that I could focus on one breed: black cochin bantams. I'm always looking to improve my flock's type by getting rid of those birds that do not conform to type. I recently noticed that one of my assumed-to-be black cochin hens lacked a distinct "cushion" tail and had a pea comb as opposed to a single comb. The particular bird I am referring to is pictured below in the first photo. As you can see, she is a beautiful bird but not at all "typey". She is obviously all black like all my other black cochins, but is a bit more streamline that my other girls and has a pea comb. I originally thought her pea comb was an under developed single comb, but the more I though about it I began to have a sneaking suspicion that she might be the result of a cross between one of my black cochins and one of the light brahmas I once had. I thought it unusual however that she would be pure black with no white from the light brahma, so I wasnt sure if my hunch was correct. This particular hen has been setting on 12 eggs. They began hatching yesterday afternoon (see them here ). To my surprise, one of the chicks is almost all yellow with a bit of grey on its back (nothing like a black cochin chick). In other words, the chick looks just like a light brahma chick. So, I am now convinced that this pretty little hen is indeed a light brahma-black cochin bantam cross. Until very recently, I simply thought she was an un-typey black cochin bantam. And has been lurking in my flock as such until I finally figured her out with the birth of this light brahma looking chick. Just thought I'd share my interesting surprise!
Light Brahma-Black Cochin Hen:
Black Cochin Chick (Right), The Bramha-Cochin Hen's Chick (Left)
Here's the situation: I currently maintain a flock of black cochin bantams. At one time, however, I had a trio of light brahma bantams (one rooster and two hens). A year or so ago, I got rid of the brahmas so that I could focus on one breed: black cochin bantams. I'm always looking to improve my flock's type by getting rid of those birds that do not conform to type. I recently noticed that one of my assumed-to-be black cochin hens lacked a distinct "cushion" tail and had a pea comb as opposed to a single comb. The particular bird I am referring to is pictured below in the first photo. As you can see, she is a beautiful bird but not at all "typey". She is obviously all black like all my other black cochins, but is a bit more streamline that my other girls and has a pea comb. I originally thought her pea comb was an under developed single comb, but the more I though about it I began to have a sneaking suspicion that she might be the result of a cross between one of my black cochins and one of the light brahmas I once had. I thought it unusual however that she would be pure black with no white from the light brahma, so I wasnt sure if my hunch was correct. This particular hen has been setting on 12 eggs. They began hatching yesterday afternoon (see them here ). To my surprise, one of the chicks is almost all yellow with a bit of grey on its back (nothing like a black cochin chick). In other words, the chick looks just like a light brahma chick. So, I am now convinced that this pretty little hen is indeed a light brahma-black cochin bantam cross. Until very recently, I simply thought she was an un-typey black cochin bantam. And has been lurking in my flock as such until I finally figured her out with the birth of this light brahma looking chick. Just thought I'd share my interesting surprise!
Light Brahma-Black Cochin Hen:
Black Cochin Chick (Right), The Bramha-Cochin Hen's Chick (Left)
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