Cochin Thread!!!

[mibirder]

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Does anyone follow the Australian Pekin Club website?  I am always amazed at, not only all the different Varieties, but that the TYPE on the colored and patterned Varieties is just as good as the type on the Blacks and Whites.  And the patterned Varieties are just as popular as the blacks and whites.
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Gail

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I really find the European birds to be more my preference than the Aussie birds in general. Some great ones posted from Sweden, Serbia, Romania, Germany on several sites Casey showed me.. They would do quite well here. My jaw drops at the Silver Penciled I see over there with great penciling and color. I have seen several male SP that have no red leakage. So I know it is possible to do now all I have to do is find out how. Oh to have a pair of those to start with here. It would save years of work to start with something that good.

Craig

Gail, Craig, et al

While I may be a bit biased I think part of the genetic background in Australia and even Europe comes from the restrictions on imports. The result is that I think there stock is much more genetically clean than here in the US. We have many show quality breeders with nice clean stock, but we also have backyard hobby breeders with lesser stock. Couple that with the bulk breeders and hatcheries that do not attend to breed standards and there are a great many mixes and variations in genetic make up. It seems like a real battle, at least for me, to get clean genetics before beginning to improve either type or color especially on patterned birds. Solids are a bit easier for sure.

Unfortunately, for many reasons, beginners have a harder time starting out with the higher quality birds and building from that point. After the inital cost of the birds, they all cost the same to feed and breed. Unless a person has time and patiences, there just aren't many shortcuts starting with lesser stock. In these other countries I think their average beginning point can be further along on their standard than here unless one is willing to search out the best and pay that up front cost for the higher quality birds.

Dave

 

[Scifisarah]

Would you have any pictures to share?

These are the birds I ended up hatching from her eggs. All are 6 months old (mottled) or younger in the photos.

 

[Fancy Feathers]

I have a "Blue Calico" from her eggs that looks exactly like the pullet in the 3rd picture. Nothing I would use for breeding, that's for sure.
I have a Mille Fleur pullet from her eggs who has turned out pretty nice; lighter buff base color.
& here's my blue mottled from her eggs.

 

[Scifisarah]

From the ones I hatched, I was probably most pleased with the mottled, although I did not get a blue like I was hoping. She looks like a pretty gal! I candled my 6 mottled eggs yesterday from West Knoll Farm that are due to hatch on the 27th and all seem to be developing still. I probably will not candle again before they hatch to minimize handling them. Soooo anxious to get them hatched.

 

[Fancy Feathers]

You'll be happy with Amy's mottleds Happy hatching

 

[Scifisarah]

Matt saw my message about changing my mind and wanting the mottled cockeral this morning, but didn't write me back. Worried I scared him off by being back and forth about wanting them. *sigh* I really don't want to burn bridges this early in my "show career" and not be able to add quality birds to my flock. Then again maybe he is just busy with the show and will get back to me later today. I had an excellent chance for someone in Michigan to drive them up to within 2 hours of me. Am mad at myself now for being so indecisive...

 

[wildwoodcochins]

Did a search this morning on this but could'nt find any information on it; my 10 month old blue mottled pullet has been acting a little down lately, she's eating and seems to have a good appetite but just seems a little listless. This morning I picked her up and was looking her over and noticed her wattles are very swollen and hard. Does anyone know what this could be? I am treating her with antibiotics right now.

 

[Coopa Cabana]

Did a search this morning on this but could'nt find any information on it; my 10 month old blue mottled pullet has been acting a little down lately, she's eating and seems to have a good appetite but just seems a little listless. This morning I picked her up and was looking her over and noticed her wattles are very swollen and hard. Does anyone know what this could be? I am treating her with antibiotics right now.

Twyla, I just Googled "hard swollen chicken wattles" and probably came up with the same info that you did. Sometimes there is just too much information out there. If it were a bug bite, it would probabbly be just one wattle. Sinus infection and you'd probably see more swollen cavities, and possibly discharge from the eyes. Is her crop OK - not impacted? The antibiotics sound like an excellent place to start. Wish I could be more help.

 

[Coopa Cabana]

I have a "Blue Calico" from her eggs that looks exactly like the pullet in the 3rd picture. Nothing I would use for breeding, that's for sure.
I have a Mille Fleur pullet from her eggs who has turned out pretty nice; lighter buff base color.
& here's my blue mottled from her eggs.

She looks like she's going to mature into a beautiful Blue Mottled!
And I agree with you about the pullet in the 3rd picture. You definitely don't want to keep Cochins with pointed tails.

 

[wildwoodcochins]

Twyla, I just Googled "hard swollen chicken wattles" and probably came up with the same info that you did. Sometimes there is just too much information out there. If it were a bug bite, it would probabbly be just one wattle. Sinus infection and you'd probably see more swollen cavities, and possibly discharge from the eyes. Is her crop OK - not impacted? The antibiotics sound like an excellent place to start. Wish I could be more help.

I'm stumped Gail, no discharge from her eyes, does not seem to have an impacted crop. I almost feel like maybe some sort of allergy? Have'nt changed their feed though. The only thing that I have done different in the last week was make them some pumpkin/cornbread. It almost seemed like she started acting this way after that? I am so afraid that I am going to lose her. I'm going to put her in a separate cage under a heat lamp and monitor her. Praying she's going to be okay, as always, my favorite bird. She comes running to me to be picked up and held, talks to me, a very sweet bird and so beautiful~ Bijou~ (french for Jewel )