Cochin - but what kind?

[Katz5617]

I bought her as a Cochin, but I have no idea what kind. Could she have something else mixed in - her feet don't look nearly as feathery as some I saw. Her feathers on her feet were sparse when I got her and on one leg it seems like the feathers are only on the outside of the leg. The pictures aren't really that great but her feathers have an almost iridescent jeweltone hue - maybe greenish - but she is completely black - just when the light shines it has that iredescent hue. I just call her a black cochin - but from the photos can anyone tell me what breed she is or what she may be mixed with or is she just simply a black cochin. I've looked at pictures of Australorps and that's what her feathers remind me of - the jeweltones I see in the light - but her feet don't seem as feathery.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

There's pictures of most varieties here

http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/CGA/Cochins/BRKCochinStd.html

 

[21hens-incharge]

My black bantam cochin has the green sheen to the feathers as well. It is from the oils they spread on the feathers from the oil gland.
Some cochins will have better foot feathering than others. It could be she is mixed with an aussie or that she is just hatchery quality.

The sheen shows up very well on cayuga ducks.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cayuga_duck

 

[BantamLover21]

She looks like a hatchery quality Black Cochin to me. The fact that her legs aren't very heavily feathered simply means she isn't the best show quality. All black birds have some degree of greenish sheen.

 

[Wyandottes7]

She looks like a hatchery quality Black Cochin to me. The fact that her legs aren't very heavily feathered simply means she isn't the best show quality. All black birds have some degree of greenish sheen.

I agree.

 

[Michael OShay]

She looks like a hatchery quality Black Cochin to me. The fact that her legs aren't very heavily feathered simply means she isn't the best show quality. All black birds have some degree of greenish sheen.

Agreed.

 

[donrae]

Looks like hatchery quality to me.

I started with pretty nice quality bantam cochins years ago. I've hatched out birds with hardly any feathers on their legs over the years, despite the fact feathered legs are dominant. It's just something you'd cull for if you were a serious breeder, but not a problem in a backyard flock.

 

[Katz5617]

Thank yall! I knew she was black and a cochin - but then kept seeing such heavy feathers on others legs and wondered if she was a mix of something. No show intentions here - they are all just pets. We've just been enjoying watching them. They're sweet little girls.