Cochin Thread!!!

[Coopa Cabana]

I've heard that you can (and actually should) teach your birds to pose - especially if you are going to show them. How do we teach them to pose to show off their best conformation - for both shows and pics? Is there a secret?

 

[cochinman2005]

You want them to be calm in the show cage, and not hit the top of it when the judge puts his hand in to take them out. General handling will help with this alot. It's also good if they are curious when you come to the cage. A good way to get them to settle down and "show" is with treats. I've seen breeders that use raw hamburger, or even soft burger like dog food to train them. With Modern Games I know breeders that put apples just at the top of the reach of their birds to get them to stretch, and then use the judging stick to get them used to the stick and the apple (stretch) together. I am not a fan of the judging stick with Cochins. Some breeds yes, Cochins (IMO) no. I want them to be a little sassy in the show cage, but not brutally mean (males). You want the males to strut a little, and you want the females to be a bit put out about being handled so that when you put them back in the cage, they fluff their feathers and strut a little bit, as if to say, I can't believe I was just touched by human hands, but with also not being afraid of those hands. Put them in show cages for short periods of time at first, get them used to being taken out and put back in the show cages. It's all about them being comfortable with being in the show coop. If the first time they've ever seen a show coop is at their first show, they will normally be quite nervous and won't show well, won't settle down, won't relax, and will keep their feathers contracted and will have an overall scared look to them in the cage.
As far as station goes for a Cochin you want the center of their eye to line up with the top of their cushion. If you have that, you'll have pretty good balance, assuming they aren't shallow chested or long legged.

Some birds never settle down, and temperament is hereditary. I won't keep a crazy Cochin for breeding.

 

[Coopa Cabana]

Some of my better posed (and poised!) hens. And probably my better typed, as well (??). But I can guarantee you they don't always sit this well for me!
I'm still trying to assess the coloring on the pullets I got from the GL this past spring, and compare them to the SOP. I thought I had a great little girl, until I realized her beautiful hackle went all the around the front, rather than having the lacing come up the front of the neck.
I used the Splash in my BLR project, and I'm extremely happy with the type on the F1 chicks.

 

[luvchicks8]

Just a cute pic Stella and my son watching morning cartoons. My son gets her every morning for cartoons.

 

[Coopa Cabana]

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Too Cute!!!

 

[bacres]

How is the quaility of these two Standard Cochins?

Younger Male

Older Male

 

[BC Gal]

Here is a pic of my 2mo old cochin Belle:

Not sure of what her color is called - blue splash??? She is very calm and friendly - I just love her

 

[cochinman2005]

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Way too young to tell much about either of them. Bottom male looks to be long in the tail, but again, too young to tell. At least from photos.

 

[call ducks]

here is me and my beggest roo, hatched dec. or jan. 09 or 10 deppending on when the hacth was

 

[usschicago1]

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He Looks Great !