Breeding Cochins - do you have to AI?

[D Bar J Acres]

With cochins having such "fluffy pants" is it necessary to AI them? I'd just be looking for decent hatchery stock, not the overly fluffed SQ ones. This is my deciding factor if I get any or not. Thanks!

 

[cochinman2005]

I AI all of my Cochins (Large and Bantam). IMO you probably won't have to AI hatchery quality birds. They have much less fluff and are usually longer legged. The hatcheries go for quantity over quality. You can always trim the show quality birds around the vents to make sure they get proper contact. That way they could still breed naturally and you'll have birds that are good representatives of proper breed type according to the standard.

 

[BantyMom]

I never had to AI or trim any of my show cochins (bantams). The roo was very good at his job and the line was very vigorous.

 

[Goose and Fig]

I have all breeder birds- never had to AI- bantam or LF.

 

[lockedhearts]

I have and have had Show Quality Bantam and Large Fowl Cochins, never had to AI and have always had good fertillity. With young birds it may take them a bit to figure it out but they will.

 

[cochinman2005]

I'll add some clarification. I AI for a several reasons. It takes out the guess work. If I set 50 eggs, I am reasonably assured that I'll have great fertility. With the abundance of feather that my birds have, it just makes more sense. I have fertile eggs when I want them and I am in and out of breeding season when I want to be. The other plus in this is that the females don't get tore up either. The large fowl especially, can wear out the feathers on the backs of the females pretty quickly. Especially on the favored hens. AI works for me. It isn't for everyone, and some won't do it at all because it's not "natural." It's a personal preference.

 

[Ladyhawke1]

Forgive me for high jacking here, but inquiring minds want to know. I am not the brightest bulb on the block…but neither am I unworldly. May I inquire what “AI” means ?

I can assume it means removal of feathers from the butt….but and that is a big but, can you use the words here to give me a clue? Would this be done to a burglar if I he was caught climbing OUT of a person’s window?

 

[cochinman2005]

AI - Artificial Insemination

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

Quote:
Oh gosh I hope not! LOL


AI means:

Artificial Insemination (for the purposes of this discussion anyway!)

 

[Ladyhawke1]

Quote:
DU"OH! I should know better and I apologize if I have affended anyone.