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Cochin

Cochins came from China in the 19th Century. They were recognized by the APA in 1874. They were...
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General Information

Breed Purpose
Ornamental
Comb
Single
Broodiness
Frequent
Climate Tolerance
Cold
Egg Productivity
Low
Egg Size
Medium
Egg Color
Light Brown
Breed Temperament
Friendly,Easily handled,Calm,Bears confinement well,Quiet,Docile
Breed Colors/Varieties
White, Blue, Black, Buff, Red, Partridge and various other newer colors, Splash
Breed Size
Large Fowl
APA/ABA Class
Asiatic
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The Cochin is one of the most popular breeds of chicken with the hobbyist in the world today. The main reason for the breed's popularity is it's exceptional temperament. Cochins are renowned for having for extremely kind and quiet dispositions. They are easily tamed and very friendly, making them one of the most popular pet breeds for children. Mature birds also do not roam much and do not fly well at all, making them easier than most breeds to confine.

The breed originated in China and was exported to Britain and America in the mid 19th century, and are one of the breeds responsible for starting “hen fever” – the national obsession for poultry that struck America and England at that time. As the breed was developing in China, particular attention was paid to the large size of the bird and it is one of the largest breeds, with roosters weighing 11 lbs and hens 9lbs. Another notable feature is the bird's plentiful feathering, that covers not only the body but its legs and feet, making an already large bird appear even larger. It comes in a wide variety of colors and patterns, with many more being developed by hobbyists. They come in both standard and bantam sizes and frizzle feathered Cochins are also extremely popular.

Cochins are an extremely broody breed, are great mothers, and are often used as foster mothers for other breeds, or even turkeys and ducks. They are very cold hardy and considered a good winter layer. While the hens are good layers of large light brown eggs when they are laying, their tendency to go broody multiple times a year cuts down their total egg production. It is also used as a slow growing meat bird, and was considered one of the best breeds for making capons.

It was recognized by the APA in 1874 and is on The Livestock Conservancy's Watch list.

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Cochin eggs

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Cochin chick

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Cochin juveniles

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Cochin hen

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Cochin rooster

For more on the Cochin breed and their owners' and breeders' experiences, please see our breed discussion here:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/chicken-breed-focus-cochin.977805/
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Latest reviews

Fluffy_Moth_With_Silkies
Great Breed
Pros: Very pretty
Nice Brown eggs
Super nice
Cons: Less eggs
Large bird; needs more food
I love cochins! They look super cute and are very sweet chickens. They seem like they are fat, but it's mostly just fluff.
I love the review, it's very well written!
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PippinTheChicken
Friendly pets
Pros: Friendly, very cute, cuddly
Cons: Slow to mature
I have a little bantam frizzle cochin. She's absolutely adorable and friendly!
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Amer
Pros: Sweet, gentle, great pets, lap chickens
Cons: Fragile, few eggs, infertility, high maintenance, pushovers
We had a pair of the sweetest exhibition quality bantam Cochins. They were beloved pets, but our intention for breeding them was never realized since the pullet never laid any eggs. Not long after we got her, she died for no apparent reason. Romeo the male (one of my sweetest roosters ever, definitely a bit of a lap chicken) disappeared unexpectedly. This breed really doesn’t work in a free range situation unless you don’t care about getting their feet dirty. They are a higher maintenance chicken.
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Kglassmo
Kglassmo
So sorry to hear of your loss. We have 4 Cochin hens (2 lavender, 1 buff, 1 white) all over 3 yrs old. One of my lavenders never laid well, she was bred for style over functionality but worth it! She’s super cuddly! Other 3 lay regularly, every other day. in hot weather they struggle- they’re more tolerant of cold climates. They’re not meant to free range, as they’re very trusting; not great at defending themselves. They like to be close to home, their flock/people. Our Cochins are pets and hop into laps whenever able. I love them; my children adore them. Buff variety gets broody often which can be pro or con, depending on your goals. Cochins make excellent mothers. My oldest show hen lived to be 11; laid eggs until age 6, only a few times/wk. We have a Polish roo who looks over them and their variety of sisters. We never let them all free range unless someone is with them- too many predators. Good luck to you if you try Cochins again! They are a beautiful, kind breed!
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Comments

Csoldan
I love that phrase "freezer camp"
That's where my "strange" ones are going.
I have an EE girl ("strange") that is very aggressive towards the younger pullets but the young roos fight her off, she's about a month older then them. So I don't think it's the breed, just an attitude.
Thanks
 
JadedPhoenix
These cochins came out of the assortment of bantams at Mt. Healthy.

My roos are Augsburgers, not cochins so I am thinking that it is the breed. I've already rehomed a cochin roo for being nasty to the younger chicks (even the ones that were only a week younger than him) and I sort of wish that I rehomed all three of them at the same time. I was trying to hold out hope for the two girls.
 
chicken110
I have generally had Cochins in my near six years in raising chickens (mainly the bantam variety) and they are soooooo sweet. Most in the top ten most docile breeds list if there is one around.
 
Bob G
My experience with Cochins is limited, but has she gone broody? My Cochin went broody almost as soon as she became a hen. Whew, she was a handful. So I got some fertile eggs from a chickenista and she hatched four out of six. She was a wonderful mama and after that she settled down as just another member of the flock. She would not let the others pick on her, even though she was a bantam. Maybe yours will settle down as mine did. Good luck with her.
 
starterfarm
I love my little cochins (i have 3) an Golden lace (i think) then a smoky grey with black markings then one that is exact opposite color wise of that one lol..can't wait for little babies!
 
doitright
we have very docile buffs but one didn't grow very much and all those hens, domineckers, and rhode island reds all chase her and hurt her and won't let her eat either, So we put her in our yard and then sometimes she even comes in! What's amazing is she will sit in my husbands lap (he's 82) and it is so sweet. I never thought I'd let one in the house but she would even go do her job outside or where the dogs go. She has even slept with our dogs. I have pictures of it but is on my phone. We finally put a nest of hay in a deep dark corner and now she is setting and I don' have any fertilized eggs and she will NOT give up.She needs some chicks and I am hoping I can find some eggs . She has two she laid now and one fell out at night and I heard this commotion, got up and he egg was on the floor and bles her heart , she was trying everything to get the egg back into her nest so I finally got in there and put it back. She rolled it with her neck. What a sight to see. I need San Angelo people to give me some fertilized eggs. Anyway,don't think you can stop the fighting and pecking order. I wish I had the answer for this little one too but I don't and I can't see keeping her in the house. She's so small, any big bird or other wild thing like a cat can get her but I have an Australian shepherd who watches over things too.
 
Ks1063
That's funny. I have an Americauna hen like that. I named her "Psycho Chicken". She's the only hen that attacks me and anything else that gets remotely close to her chicks. Even when you try to get away she chases you down and draw blood. She very aggressively attacked a hawk a couple weeks ago! The hawk did not leave with a chick! I kept one of her chicks last year. Ended up naming her "Psycho II" for the same reasons. With everything that will eat a baby chick, I'm glad I have Psycho I and II.
 
hellbender
I admire lots of chicken breeds, including the Cochin but I can't deal with any breed that are feather-legged and breeding to remove the feathers from the legs is far beyond my ability and frankly, my patience.

I suspect that the process of removing the feet feathers might also detract from the qualities that I now admire, so I'll leave them in the hands of folks who appreciate them as 'well enough'. Still, beautiful birds.
 
jobishop
I have 4 black Cochins and have had the same experience as you Viverelam. I got them because I had read reviews of how friendly they were. Well all 4 of mine have run from me ever since I got them. They've never been friendly and are not good layers. They are pretty, but I want chickens for their eggs and personality. They are also mean to smaller chickens. Oh well, live and learn!
 

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Category
Chicken Breeds
Added by
Super Admin
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Comments
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Reviews
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Last update
Rating
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