Cochin Thread!!!

[coonriver]

I have been trying to get a hold of mark with email and phone and haven't heard back from him yet.

Craig, do you think that there will be any {good ones} for sale at the state fair? We can't go my nephew is getting married this weekend and we don't have the time to get down there this year.If there is I might see if Eric can pick some up for me. Mike

 

[Mr. Ree]

well, where else would you keep your brooder and incubators if you don't have the luxury of a barn or garage?

That's different than keeping 3 weeks old birds in your house. Incubators and brooders dont do poop and smell bad.

~Casey

 

[Mr. Ree]

Had something run across my mind today, and thought it would be a good discussion for us on this thread.

Cochins Internaional keeps a record of breeder points, as we are all mostly aware, and more often than not people try to contact the person with the most points in the vareity they are interested in. My question is, why should someone do that. I get that you have to win at shows to get points etc. but, just because someone has the top spot for one variety doesnt mean they have the absolute best birds around, it could mean that they have shown more than others, or that they acquired those points by attending shows with little competition and would have the obvious win, thus gaining breeder points. I am not saying that people do it on a regular basis, or that it is intentional, but who is to say that people dont do that? I myself have witnessed something along the lines of this (not in the Cochin community), and the person who has done this has a reputation for having great birds. But is it because they have been to major shows and placed well against stiff competition, or as I stated, been to a show with little competition in the class they show, as to get the reputation of placing at shows. And then, of course, there are the people who show birds that they themselves have not bred, but bought from another breeder and took to a show and placed well with it. And when someone buys a bird from a breeder, shows it, and places well with, they get the breeder points and the reputation that they do very well in shows. That, to me, is kind of like false advertising.

So, these are just some thoughts that I had, and are MY opinions about the matter and thought it would make for a great discussion for us here on this thread.

~Casey

 

[Black Cochin Bantams]

Had something run across my mind today, and thought it would be a good discussion for us on this thread.

Cochins Internaional keeps a record of breeder points, as we are all mostly aware, and more often than not people try to contact the person with the most points in the vareity they are interested in. My question is, why should someone do that. I get that you have to win at shows to get points etc. but, just because someone has the top spot for one variety doesnt mean they have the absolute best birds around, it could mean that they have shown more than others, or that they acquired those points by attending shows with little competition and would have the obvious win, thus gaining breeder points. I am not saying that people do it on a regular basis, or that it is intentional, but who is to say that people dont do that? I myself have witnessed something along the lines of this (not in the Cochin community), and the person who has done this has a reputation for having great birds. But is it because they have been to major shows and placed well against stiff competition, or as I stated, been to a show with little competition in the class they show, as to get the reputation of placing at shows. And then, of course, there are the people who show birds that they themselves have not bred, but bought from another breeder and took to a show and placed well with it. And when someone buys a bird from a breeder, shows it, and places well with, they get the breeder points and the reputation that they do very well in shows. That, to me, is kind of like false advertising.

So, these are just some thoughts that I had, and are MY opinions about the matter and thought it would make for a great discussion for us here on this thread.

~Casey

Casey
Everything you said is true to at least some extent. I go to points shows because I know other Cochin breeders-exhibitors will be there. I go for fellowship and to show. I feel that points show who is showing good birds in any particular variety and also to show the lack of participation by other varieties. Think Lemon Blue, Buff Columbian, and Black Tailed Red have not earned any points and I would not have considered working on any of them if I hadn't had the information. I currently have Buff Columbians. I contacted you to keep an eye out for potential birds to build-rebuild Black Tailed Reds. Is it important to keep points? Probably not but then neither is having a show just to show off our best birds. I think any points you made about how it may be abused is outweighed by the information about breeders and exhibitors of winning birds. I know I used the list years ago to find the best brood stock I could find. It is how I got quality birds to start with. To get Cochin points you have to beat Cochins. You don't get additional points for having a best of show just for the number of Cochin you beat and the minimum # is 5. Points don't come easy or cheap.

Craig

 

[thecochincoop]

Had something run across my mind today, and thought it would be a good discussion for us on this thread.

Cochins Internaional keeps a record of breeder points, as we are all mostly aware, and more often than not people try to contact the person with the most points in the vareity they are interested in. My question is, why should someone do that. I get that you have to win at shows to get points etc. but, just because someone has the top spot for one variety doesnt mean they have the absolute best birds around, it could mean that they have shown more than others, or that they acquired those points by attending shows with little competition and would have the obvious win, thus gaining breeder points. I am not saying that people do it on a regular basis, or that it is intentional, but who is to say that people dont do that? I myself have witnessed something along the lines of this (not in the Cochin community), and the person who has done this has a reputation for having great birds. But is it because they have been to major shows and placed well against stiff competition, or as I stated, been to a show with little competition in the class they show, as to get the reputation of placing at shows. And then, of course, there are the people who show birds that they themselves have not bred, but bought from another breeder and took to a show and placed well with it. And when someone buys a bird from a breeder, shows it, and places well with, they get the breeder points and the reputation that they do very well in shows. That, to me, is kind of like false advertising.

So, these are just some thoughts that I had, and are MY opinions about the matter and thought it would make for a great discussion for us here on this thread.

~Casey

It is very true and it doesn't matter if it's chickens, dogs, or horses, someone else is always trying to make a quick buck and use someone else's hard work for their own gain. It pays to do your research before you buy!

 

[Ashdoes]

i'm curious, with the weather so warm, why are they still inside?  mine are going out (with heat bulb over nights) at about 3 weeks.

We just didn't feel like setting up the brooder in the barn, since the Cochins and Silkies were last minute buys. And our first five of the flock we brooded in the house, so they were and are much more relaxed around us. But, I still don't think I'll ever do that again.
Also it's a little chilly in the mornings so we're giving the new chicks another week in the garage. They go out to the run around 10am, and bring them in at 7, and then turn the red light on for them at 10pm.

 

[Mr. Ree]

Very nice points Craig. I was hoping you would chime in, always enjoy conversating with you.

Mandy, that is a given I believe. Lol. Its sad, but true.


~Casey

 

[Black Cochin Bantams]

Contact Mark Peterson. He lives in the southern part of Minnesota. He will be showing at the Iowa State fair. He is the #1 breeder of Blacks all time. PM me if you lost his contact info.

I talked with Mark today and he will call you tonight or tomorrow.

 

[Black Cochin Bantams]

Very nice points Craig. I was hoping you would chime in, always enjoy conversating with you.

Mandy, that is a given I believe. Lol. Its sad, but true.


~Casey

Thank You Casey.

I had 1 more thought. Some of us show the same birds over and over. I do. Someone like Tom rarely shows an individual bird more than once. His points are counted the same as mine but his are by far more valuable to the breed. The list is just that a list. Those that have achieved master breeder status have earned it in my opinion. There are less than 20 who have earned Master Breeder and only 1 in large fowl. The CI points list is a good place to start for anyone wanting to find a variety. I also look in my old ABA yearbooks to see who is still winning and advertizing.
Craig

 

[Coopa Cabana]

Quote:
Also, many breeders don't advertise at all, nor do they provide a listing of their varieties for the CI Breeder Directory. Many are off-grid and very difficult to locate. The Master Breeder List may not be the perfect search tool, but for the many that prefer to advertise by their reputation alone, it may be enough. And for the lesser seen varieties, at least it gives buyers a tool to find breeders (other than hatcheries), even if they only have a few points accumulated.

Not all BYC Cochin breeders utilize the BYC Cochin Breeder Directory either, and that is OK.

The Master Breeder List should not be the ultimate search tool, but should be used as a supplement to the CI Breeder Directory, the ABA and APA yearbooks, Google searches, shows, forums, BYC Breeder Directory, advertising in the Poultry Press, etc., etc.

But even when you find what you are looking for, you shouldn't buy from a breeder unless you have fully vetted them and feel very comfortable with them. A good breeder will be there for you AFTER the sale.