Black Cochins have white!

[Fraoch21]

I just bought a pair of black cochins and a blue cochin cockerel, stupidly, without seeing them first. They are about 10-15 weeks old but all of them have a couple of white feathers in their wings and the black one have white feathers around their combs. Does this mean they are not pure bred or just don't have very good gentics? And what will the chicks be like, better or worse standard than the parents, any ideas ?

 

[Black Cochin Bantams]

Without a picture I can not help. I have seen white feathers on my Blacks that molted out when they hit their final molt.

 

[Fraoch21]

Heres some photos, the person i bought the cochins off told me that there are no true bantam cochins and if someone tries to sell me any, they're bluffing, I see you breed bantam cochins, could you clear that up for me?

 

[Featherland26]

They are only little, don't judge just yet.

 

[4hchickmama]

A "true bantam" is a bantam that has no standard sized version. Something like a Sebright, that only comes in one size. So..they are partially correct, but really bending the statements. I would wait and see what happens. I wouldn't necessarily say they are mixed breed, but possibly mixed or mismarked coloring.

 

[Black Cochin Bantams]

The person is repeating what is quoted in the UK.If you research the history of the Pekin Bantam , you will read many stories about their origin.Some say that they were stolen in the 1800’s from a private collection of the Emperor of China, in Peking. Others say that they were imported as a gift to Queen Victoria the early victorian era. The birds from those bygone days were then bred, by keepers in the UK, crossed with other breeds of Bantams to create what we now know as the Pekin Bantam. Some people say that Pekins are known around the world as Miniature Cochins or Cochin Bantams, but it is generally agreed in the UK, by fanciers and keepers, that they are in fact a true Bantam and are not related to or connected to Cochins.

Now for the USA history. The Bantam Cochin and the Large Fowl Cochins have been recognized as breeds by the APA since the 1870's. The ABA has recognized Bantam Cochins as a breed since the ABA was organized. Each has their own standard that they are measured against. That is a history of breeding to a standard for almost 150 years. So in a historical sense the person who told you this may have some merit. I will bite my tongue and not go any further on the information given you. Any more specific questions please PM me.
Craig

 

[NYREDS]

Not at all uncommon for black birs to have some white feathers in their juvenile plumage. Wait 'till they grow out before making any decisions. Glad to be answering someone from my ancestral homeland: I'm a MacGregor on my mother's side.

 

[Fraoch21]

Thank you everyone! I will wait for my birds to grow up and for their first moult and see what happens

So i guess whether you class a bird as a bantam cochin or a pekin depends on whether your in the Uk or USA, I got a bit confused with the conflicting opinions!

NYREDS, I'm a MacKenzie on my fathers side!