Breeding Cochins

[Nicole_Hutchison]

Need some help figuring out which hens/roos I need to get rid of and which ones I should keep for breeding. I was told a red/brown will bleed in to the black, white and blue colors?

1) I have both standard size Cochins and bantams. What happens if a standard size breeds with a bantam? What size will the chicks be? Does this impact the fertility rate and should I stick with either standard size or bantams versus both?

2) Here is an overview of my hen to roo ratio. I know I need to get rid of most of my roos and at least the black mixed hen ( this is my only one that is a mix) so I only have pure Cochins left.

Which roo(s) should I keep and which hens should I keep for breeding? They will all be in the same coop. Some are right under a year and most are 1 1/2 years old.

Hens:
1 black Cochin (possibly a mix)
2 dark blue standard size Cochins
5 molted bantam Cochins

Roos:
1 splash (I think) standard size Cochin roo
1 white/black frizzle roo
1 red Cochin bantam roo
1 multi colored Cochin bantam

 

[ColtHandorf]

Correct. Also I am unsure what the chicks will look like if I breed my mottled Cochin bantam hens to my splash standard size Cochin roo.

Okay so going off what you have currently:

Hens:
1 black Cochin (possibly a mix)
2 dark blue standard size Cochins
5 molted bantam Cochins

Roos:
1 splash (I think) standard size Cochin roo
1 white/black frizzle roo
1 red Cochin bantam roo
1 multi colored Cochin bantam

The only birds that will breed consistently and throw correctly marked offspring are the BBS birds. The large fowl Splash(?) cockerel crossed to the two large fowl Blue pullets will throw Blue and Splash chicks. The Black Cochin and that male will produce all Blue chicks. If she is mixed and not Cochin they will still be Blue, but the physical characteristics of the chicks may not be the same. I'd test breed her and if the birds from that pairing produce decent pet-quality chicks then she could stay in the breeding program.

Technically the Mottled Bantam hens would also follow the BBS rule, although I wouldn't cross a large fowl and a bantam together personally. I would find a Mottled Bantam rooster and put it over them.

I'd rehome the Red and mixed color cockerels. The Frizzle appears to be a Birchin. If you can find smooth-feathered Birchin pullets or hens you could keep him and set up a third breeding pen. If you can't I'd rehome him also as the three males with no appropriately colored females to breed are just going to produce leaky and mis-marked chicks with the hens you have available. Of course, you could always acquire some Red pullets to put with the red male. The mixed boy is worthless from a breeding standpoint unless someone is just wanting to produce chicks and don't care what color they will be.

 

[Nicole_Hutchison]

This is the type of feedback I was hoping for!! Thx you so much!!

Okay so going off what you have currently:

The only birds that will breed consistently and throw correctly marked offspring are the BBS birds. The large fowl Splash(?) cockerel crossed to the two large fowl Blue pullets will throw Blue and Splash chicks. The Black Cochin and that male will produce all Blue chicks. If she is mixed and not Cochin they will still be Blue, but the physical characteristics of the chicks may not be the same. I'd test breed her and if the birds from that pairing produce decent pet-quality chicks then she could stay in the breeding program.

Technically the Mottled Bantam hens would also follow the BBS rule, although I wouldn't cross a large fowl and a bantam together personally. I would find a Mottled Bantam rooster and put it over them.

I'd rehome the Red and mixed color cockerels. The Frizzle appears to be a Birchin. If you can find smooth-feathered Birchin pullets or hens you could keep him and set up a third breeding pen. If you can't I'd rehome him also as the three males with no appropriately colored females to breed are just going to produce leaky and mis-marked chicks with the hens you have available. Of course, you could always acquire some Red pullets to put with the red male. The mixed boy is worthless from a breeding standpoint unless someone is just wanting to produce chicks and don't care what color they will be.

 

[ColtHandorf]

I am breeding the Cochins to sell to others in the NW AR area. My goal is to breed Cochins that are good quality/healthy and desirable colors that others would be interested in. Does that help? The eggs will all be incubated, hatched and sold.

So you want to breed quality, pure-bred Cochins, that are standard (APA/ABA accepted) colors?

 

[JedJackson]

You can mix them but then you'll get intermediate sizes that don't match the standard. And you could get some genetic surprises since the bantams and large fowl are distinct races.

I would do the same as Texasclucker suggested. Breed the large splash male to the large blue females, which should give you 50% splash and 50% blue. And then find a good bantam mottled male to breed to your bantam mottled females.

 

[ColtHandorf]

This is the type of feedback I was hoping for!! Thx you so much!!

No problem!

The large fowl Splash(?) cockerel crossed to the two large fowl Blue pullets will throw Blue and Splash chicks. The Black Cochin and that male will produce all Blue chicks. If she is mixed and not Cochin they will still be Blue, but the physical characteristics of the chicks may not be the same.

I should mention that if you get any Black chicks from that male over those hens he is in fact Blue and not Splash.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Depending on which cochin is male and which is female, some chicks will be large, some bantam and some inbetween

 

[ColtHandorf]

I can't answer that question without knowing what your goals are. Why do you want to breed them? What's the purpose?

 

[Nicole_Hutchison]

No problem!

I should mention that if you get any Black chicks from that male over those hens he is in fact Blue and not Splash.

Awesome good to know! Yeah I am unsure if that guy is a splash or blue Cochin. I “think” splash but not 100%.

 

[Texasclucker]

Me personally i wouldn't keep the mix or multicolored or frizzle but its your chickens but they are gorgeous!