Vulture hocks?

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jossanne

jossanne

Crowing
14 Years
Jul 11, 2008
3,109
24
326
Gila, New Mexico
I've got bantam cochins from Ideal, 4 weeks old yesterday. They've got great "tail fins," like on a 59 Caddy, and I've just discovered they're a fault for showing birds. Obviously I know they're just hatchery chicks, and are most likely not perfect specimens, but I'd just like to know more about vulture hocks. I think they're really cute, but someday I think I'd like to get my hands on some good quality bantam cochins.

So do some chicks outgrow vulture hocks? Do many show quality bantam cochin chicks have them and outgrow them? If my chicks have large vulture hocks now, how likely is it that they'll keep them?

Thanks!

PB160008.jpg
 
Well, I would honestly wait a bit. Younger birds tend to have the "vulture hock" look. The main thing about vulture hocks, is that the feathers are the same type of feathers that you would find on the wing feathers. Same heavy vane, same heavy texture.

Here's an example although I'm sure you know what I'm trying to describe:

light%20brahma%20cockerel.jpg


While this is a very nice Brahma cock...he does have the vulture hocks.
 
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here are some on my mille roo. They are not hard like wing feathers, but they are soft and curve around to outline his fluffy butt. Are they still vulture hocks? I too would like to know.
mfcockereloct08.jpg
 
On some birds, the standard calls for vulture hocks, rather than them being a bad thing. If I'm not mistaken, the D'Uccles are one of those who are supposed to have vulture hocks....or maybe it's the D'Anvers, though I'm sure someone who knows more about them can tell us.
 
that's right, the d'uccle is supposed to have vulture hocks, somwtime it's called boots. cochins are not supposed to have them. when the chicks are little its harder to tell what they will look like after all their feathers are in and after the molt. another thing about vulture hocks, the feathering is supposed to be more on the outside of the foot, wheas the cochin is supposed to all over the foot.
 
Time for the APA book of Standards... American Poultry Association's book of Standards can be found online to read, I have yet to sit down and read through but it seems interesting. The 3 Cochin's I originally had, 2 had the vulture hocks, 1 did not. Now that I have 3 good quality Cochin's, they do not have the vulture hocks and I can understand and see the difference but I'd wait and see on these guys. Also, if you like the color, personality and feather textures, simply find a bird that needs improving in the areas that your overachievers are. Then seeing what that comes up with may please you, or may be something you do not want to try with again.
Good luck on your search for what your looking for (I am not speaking from experience, I'm speaking from someone that is at the beginning! LOL)
 
Defect or not, I think they're darling on these little guys. The black one I named Cadillac in honor of them...

Thanks for all the input! Anyone else wanna chime in?
 
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Yes, I have another comment...your right, they are darling little guys! Even tho mine had that "defect" I loved their personality. If I had not been shown the difference, I never would have known, nor did I care.

I would like to make a point where the Poultry Club here states, its ok to buy from Ideal, Murry McMurry or local feed store, they are not always a show bird from the start, for the beginner, novice and 4-H kid, its fine to show these birds. But they are fine for starter birds, to work from and create that perfect bird in your eyes.
A lot of folks on this site love to create a "Hybrid" which is a science project, but so isn't nature! LOL. Don't take this to heart I don't mean to sound better or more knowledgeable- far from it and a lot to learn, I am repeating what I have learned from the smart people at the fairs.
cute name Cadillac, its funny how we come up with names isn't it! hee hee
 
For what it's worth for show purposes vulture hocks on a Cochin are a disqualificatiion not a defect.
 

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