Cochin Thread!!!

[Simmonsfunnyfrm]

If you can't tell, I am very new with the technical stuff on cochin breed standards so I'm soaking all this up! I got the black and the splash pullets from a breeder with a good reputation here in AR. I don't know if the rooster recently molted, I've only had him for a couple months at most. Traded some of my roosters for him with a friend and, although she has bred quality chickens for many years, I don't think her specialty is cochins, she does mostly brahmas and orpingtons. She told me he was a frizzle, but maybe he's a sizzle? I really don't know. I always thought his comb and wattles were huge, what could be in him that makes them so big? Do you think he is mixed? I will get some good pictures tonight, this is a great learning experience.

 

[Lady Ressler]

I am going to share some of the thoughts that have swirled in my head since the discussion of the single/double breeding began recently. It really good to have you back with us lilcrow! Hope to see you again soon.


1. I do not want to scare off anyone who is interested in any scarce recognized variety. I consider Silver Laced, Silver Penciled, Gold Laced, Black Tailed Red, Red, Barred, Buff Columbian, Columbian,and Lemon Blue Bantams to be uncommon. Anyone who is interested in any of these is someone I want to help in any way I can!

2.Only a few of us show but all of us want to see more of the currently rare varieties.

3. From my discussions with Matt McCammon and Tom Roebuck I realize I have to not worry about the pattern until I infuse some of the correct type thru outcrosses. Type first then bring the pattern back. It is a multi year commitment to make any real improvements with no guaranteed results.

4. I don't want to start an argument or any hard feelings.

5. All the posts about double breeding to get proper color are correct but leave out any discussion of improving the overall bird.

6. I ended up with Nancy's Partridge flock this spring. I found out how tenuous a strain can become if one person has many of a variety and a disaster happens. In my case coons killing over 100 birds this year. It could be a dog, fire,tornado, flood, or even a coated light bulb that could wipe out a strain or variety. We need to not hoard our birds but get them out among other enthusiasts who have the commitment and understand the value of keeping a rare variety going.

7. These are hobby birds and I sometimes find myself losing site of that. Not everyone wants a show bird. Most appreciate a SQ birds but some just want to have a few hatchery quality birds that breed naturally. I have to remind myself of that from time to time.

8. I want to help anyone get started showing that is interested. It is not something to shy away from. You meet the some of the nicest people through poultry and an occasional grouch.

9. I wish people could understand that most of us only keep a few hens of any variety so we don't have eggs or chicks available. Fall is about the best time to find birds.

10. I give my honest opinionated mostly unfiltered responces. Sometimes I wished my filter worked better when responding to posts.

Craig

I really appreciate your honesty, your willingness to help others promote these rare birds, your informative and knowledgeable nature, you dedication to these varieties and chickens in general, and your support to those of us just getting started or starting show interest in showing/breeding.

Thank you Craig!

 

[Coopa Cabana]

Slightly OT, but because we were just discussing Copper Marans, I looked them up and came across this picture on Feathersite. OMG!! - This is one scary dude:




My Caption: Got Comb?? Got Wattles??

 

[davony's chicks]

Quote:
Yes, there are many knowledgable and helpful people on here willing to help. They all deserve a huge round of thanks for their continued efforts in helping out all newbies looking interested in listening. Thank you guys and gals!

 

[ki4got]

for frizzle/smooth, or any other non-homozygous breeding, the percentage quoted isn't the actual percentage of what you'll get, it's the probability of getting a chick of a certain color... but you have to factor in any number of things to actually go from the sperm/egg to being fertilized, incubated, hatched, etc... i don't think there's really a reliable way to accurately predict something like genetics.

on my one frizzle/smooth pair i had, i hatched 15 chicks. none were frizz. the new owner of the pair has gotten 5/5. my self blue/black pen has 1 self blue hen, 2 black split hens and a black split roo... the self blue girl should produce 50/50 black/sb chicks, the split girls roughly 75/25 black/sb... overall i've hatched MORE self blues than blacks from that pen so far this year. (and they're still for sale too!)

all you can really say about genetics is the probabilities of what can be produced. not what you'll actually GET.

 

[Simmonsfunnyfrm]

Well just got home from work and my little black cochin had passed...she didn't make it. I'm sad, she was my favorite of my cochins! Such a sweetie, I'm pretty sure she was egg bound and it broke inside her...

I did manage to get some more pics of my other two, I hope they are better quality...What do you think of them? Are they good quality?

The pullet




The rooster



They are a little wet in these pictures, it's been raining all day. Also, I was wondering now should I get some new cochin pullets to keep my little girl up there from getting lonely? These two are my only bantams now and the rooster hangs out with a different crowd. The pullet sometimes hangs out with a couple of RIR girls but half the time she is alone. Do you think she needs to be with other girls her own size?

 

[tiki244]

Aww sorry about the little black one Those are my favorites here.


It looks like they are crouching down. Could be because of the rain. Mine do that when they get rained on.

 

[davony's chicks]

Anyway, Matt McCammon has written an absolutely fantastic article in the issue just out for October. It starts on page 3 (his Cochins International Update column). He walks you through what to watch for, wait for, and/or cull for as your birds develop. It is EXCELLENT, and no one should miss it!
Great article! Thanks for sharing Gail!

 

[joanie_maine]

Anyway, Matt McCammon has written an absolutely fantastic article in the issue just out for October. It starts on page 3 (his Cochins International Update column). He walks you through what to watch for, wait for, and/or cull for as your birds develop. It is EXCELLENT, and no one should miss it!

Great article! Thanks for sharing Gail!

http://www.cochinsint.com/uploads/8/8/2/1/8821267/ci_-_matts_book.pdf

 

[chickobsessed]

Has anyone ever purchased from ravenstorm5102 on ebay? I saw this listing and am curious what you all think of their birds from the photos: http://www.ebay.com/itm/8-SHOW-QUAL...399?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f1c9b9ac7 They are also in Michigan so it would be nice to receive the eggs without many "miles" on them.

I have purchased from this ebay list. Unfortunately non of the eggs made it to full hatch but one. I had over 20 eggs to start. I really think it was the shipping on these eggs that caused the problem.