cochin breeding

[dixiechick]

Who has had success with fertile eggs from cochins? Do you have to pluck them in order to secure good contact?

 

[spook]

Quote:
uhuh, yep, that is what I heard anyways. I have the bantam cochin and I wonder if I have to time them up. I don't believe she mentioned plucking (Frozen Feathers), but I had canary's like that ...another topic, story that most don't want to know! LOL...such happy lil birds..hee hee

 

[dixiechick]

Then my next question is: If you do have pluck them, how long does it take to grow out (to be ready for show?)

The things we do to have grand-chicks!

 

[tiki244]

You can artificially inseminate them which is a relatively straight forward procedure and not too hard. If you want directions PM me and I will gret them to you. Then you dont have to pluck them. It would take quite a while for the feathers to grow back...I am thinking at LEAST 2 months or more. You can cut the feathers with a scissors too, but then you have to wait for them to molt.

I like AI myself.

 

[chikkinlittlesc]

I use ponytail holders like you use in your hair and pull the feathers up around the vent in the pony tail holder. It works pretty well. Or you can take a crack at artificial insemination. It usually takes 6 to 8 weeks for the feathers to grow back if you pluck them.

 

[WestKnollAmy]

My guys and gals had no problems this past spring. They were so fully feathered I thought perhaps we wouldn't get anything but we did! I didn't care if we did or not and that is probably why we did. It seems the more you want something the harder it is to obtain.

 

[NYREDS]

The better the Cochin the fuller the feather and the poorer the fertility. Most Cochin breeders I know artificially inseminate.
I bought some very nice Black Cochin bantams a few years ago & had very little luck with natural fertility-tries cutting the feather around the vent & fertility improved but that meant those birds couldn't be shown for months.
The only option left seemed to be AI so I gave the Cochins away. I really didn't want to be that intimately involved with my chickens.

 

[silkieluvr]

I completely agree with NYREDS! lol we had the same issue, very nice cochins but no luck with natural breeding and I too did not want to get that familiar with my chooks!

 

[zschatzman]

Our Cochin Bantams breed like crazy, we have a good rooster though. They have hatched three times this year.