Cochin breeding, genetics, and showing

[lilcrow]

Quote:
For Bantams, the ABA also recognizes:
Barred
Black Tailed Red
Buff Columbian
Lemon Blue
Silver Penciled

Thanks to you too Gail for being up to date on our stuff.

 

[discoveregg]

Quote:
For Bantams, the ABA also recognizes:
Barred
Black Tailed Red
Buff Columbian
Lemon Blue
Silver Penciled

Thanks to you too Gail for being up to date on our stuff.

Thanks to BOTH of you for your help! Now I have some research to do....google images should have some pics of each variety....

 

[mjgigax]

Quote:
Looks like 1965 to 77 was a good era for a revival in Cochins. I vote for another!

 

[Black Cochin Bantams]

Quote:
Looks like 1965 to 77 was a good era for a revival in Cochins. I vote for another!

I sort of agree. As I look at that list I see varieties that are not seen in show pens anymore. Several like Blues,Mottled, and a few others to a lessor extent are still alive and can be found of good quality if you look hard enough. I simply do not know where find quality birds of some varieties. I feel we need to also focus on some of the now obscure varieties that are already recognized or we may soon lose them. If we have another revival I hope to not see new varieties also slip to this point of neglect in the future

 

[Black Cochin Bantams]

I posted this picture on the Cochin International Forum along with this comment:


A picture of one of the 3 pullets I kept last year. I kept this one because she has good type and color as a backup in case something happened to the birds I kept as breeders. I did not use her as a breeder because her back was not clean enough nor was the lacing crisp enough. I only used her to hatch a few Black eggs.

Matt posted this response which I find helpful and thought should be shared with others.

Some may disagree with this statement, but I have always felt one should use females with ticking in the back in the breeding pen being used to produce good males. The females with the ticking or smut have excellent undercolor. If one breeds the exhibition colored birds together all the time, the result is males that will not carry good undercolor or the striping in the saddle feathers. They will also lose the lacing in the lesser tail feathers. Over time, these males will also produce females with poor color in their hackles. So, although these females are not exhibition quality, they have a definite advantage in the breeding pens. If type is there, I would keep a few of them and put them on the best colored male I have. Toe punch them and keep track of the males from this cross. Hopefully you will be surprised! Matt

 

[ChickenAlgebra]

Since my DH can't steal eggs from the LF Cochins, and they've been living with the Marans until they get a roo of their own -

And. blue hens to a Cuckoo Marans roo.

Genetic say....

1/2 will be black, 1/2 will be blue.

Any with barring will be hens?

 

[lilcrow]

Quote:
Thanks for this post Craig, I may not be breeding the Columbians, but as you know I've got one and she's pretty. I think she may even fit this description. It would seem that there is information here that can be used by breeders of other varieties also, I know I find it very thought provoking and fascinating.

 

[mjgigax]

Quote:
Looks like 1965 to 77 was a good era for a revival in Cochins. I vote for another!

I sort of agree. As I look at that list I see varieties that are not seen in show pens anymore. Several like Blues,Mottled, and a few others to a lessor extent are still alive and can be found of good quality if you look hard enough. I simply do not know where find quality birds of some varieties. I feel we need to also focus on some of the now obscure varieties that are already recognized or we may soon lose them. If we have another revival I hope to not see new varieties also slip to this point of neglect in the future

Yes, who has Bantam Silver Laced?
I have a young pair of LF Silver Laced. They are pretty but nothing like the LF Cochins that win shows.
I prefer Silver Laced to Gold Laced maybe because I like the gold/black lacing in Partridge hens. A friend said it is because I just haven't seen a really good Gold Laced yet.

 

[mjgigax]

Quote:
Thanks for sharing - I am learning alot.
Anyone got good ideas about what males to use for good lacing in female Partridge and can explain why the mossy females are better for breeding nicely colored male Partridge?

 

[lilcrow]

Quote:
Thanks for sharing - I am learning alot.
Anyone got good ideas about what males to use for good lacing in female Partridge and can explain why the mossy females are better for breeding nicely colored male Partridge?

Partridges don't have lacing, it's penciling. As far as why mossy is better than well marked.....I don't know the why's, maybe some of the more knowledgeable folks can give you that answer, I just do what I'm told by them.