a REALLY tough decision ;(

[chickNjake]

okay, about a year ago I bought a FANTASTIC, but old bantam, rare, birchen Cochin pair from a show. The rooster used to be a big show winner, but he's too old to show

. NOW here comes the hard part... the rooster has caught some disease or something that doesn't go away (vet told us and i can never remember) BUT! it doesn't transmit through the eggs. the hen is still laying but is probably going to stop within the next year. i don't ever get rid of a hen when she stops laying, but i was thinking i could put her with the sick rooster and get the pure bred eggs and get real good show quality birchen Cochin babies.

but then the hen will get sick and i'll have to "cull" her

and I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO!!!!!!! please help

 

[cyanne]

I'm pretty sure that I've read somewhere on here that it is possible to breed chickens by artificial insemination. Maybe one of the more experienced chicken folks will chime in with instructions on how to do this and you can 'collect' the stuff you need to breed them without endangering your hen.

 

[greenthumb89]

you can AI chickens and it is used very often with cochins because of the feathering problems, i read about it once but dont remember how to do it but i think it was pretty straightforward if i remember right

 

[chickNjake]

well first of, thank you that is a great idea!!!! in fact the PERFECT idea!! BUT... unfortunately IT DIED

i went out with a test tube and a syringe and he was dead

poor thing, at least he's outta his misery

thank you for all you're help! sick for months and he dies now