Cochin breeding, genetics, and showing

[aoxa]

 This is an excellent example of vulture hocks in Cochins, if you want to see what they look like on a breed that requires per the standard, look at d'Uccle. They are very pronounced and easily seen on these birds. You should also be able to "feel" them, they are very stiff and have heavy shafts.

My boy has soft vulture hocks though. They are not stiff like a d'uccle, but they are visible. :/ I am torn. I really wanted to breed these guys, but am unsure whether or not it is worth the time and effort of separating them and building a breeding pen.

 

[tiki244]

aoxa your birds are beautiful, I don't see it. ~ All this talk about vulture hocks is making me wonder if some of my blue ones have these. soft ones. I never noticed until now and am not sure of what I am looking at.

 

[tiki244]

Contact info for the Portage show is on the Cochins International website:

http://www.cochinsint.com/show-calendar.html

Thanks I will try this. I called a number last week twice and left a message but haven't heard back yet.

 

[aoxa]

aoxa your birds are beautiful, I don't see it. ~ All this talk about vulture hocks is making me wonder if some of my blue ones have these.  soft ones. I never noticed until now and am not sure of what I am looking at.

Thank you. Someone at the show suggested I just pull the feathers out before show. That won't help me when I'm breeding them.

They really are soft, and not at all hard.

 

[joanie_maine]

Quote: It almost looks like a second wing, doesn't it.....and they are hard shafted feathers...not fluff.

 

[aoxa]

It almost looks like a second wing, doesn't it.....and they are hard shafted feathers...not fluff.

By fluff are we talking about down, or just soft pliable feathers?

 

[aoccl]

It seems like many of my chicks start with vulture hocks and lose them. Am I missing them as they get older or is this a common experience?

 

[Coopa Cabana]

It seems like many of my chicks start with vulture hocks and lose them. Am I missing them as they get older or is this a common experience?

It is very common for young Cochins to look "hocky", so you do not want to cull for vulture hocks at an early age. Give them a few months to grow out of them.

 

[lilcrow]

If they are soft like body feathers, they are not vulture hocks. True VH are HARD and stiff, and even if you wanted to pull them out for a show it would be painful and difficult to do.

 

[aoxa]

If they are soft like body feathers, they are not vulture hocks. True VH are HARD and stiff, and even if you wanted to pull them out for a show it would be painful and difficult to do.

They are definitely not hard and stiff like wing or tail feathers.. more like the pliable feathers on a hen's backend. I have had D'Uccles, and I know what how stiff they were, and his are nothing like this. Now I am wondering why I was DQ in the first place :/ They took their sweet time figuring him out too. They had their book out and what not.