Cochin Thread!!!

[Black Cochin Bantams]

I fully understand, my partridge cockerel looked pretty terrible until about 6 months. i have seen a lot of postings elsewhere where people say with patterned birds wait at least until the first year moult, and some even saying 2nd year moult. That is a long time and a lot of food to invest into birds if you are unsure how they will turn out.

Did you hatch any columbians this season? i am really really struggling to find some here. All the pullets i have seen are very pale in the neck and saddle. I would love to see what yours look like at a few months old, so i could get an idea of what they are meant to look like if you dont mind posting a picture or two.

The top pen is about 3 months old. The bottom pen more like 10 weeks. Top pen is Columbian, Partridge, Silver Penciled, Black and one project cross bird at the bottom left. Bottom pen also has some Golden Laced in there as well- this picture only caught about half the birds in that pen. I should have a lot more Columbians than I do but I was trying to use a sterile bird for breeding and it took me a while to figure out that it wasn't just a poor trim job that was causing the infertile eggs. I put a nice Cockerel in and now I have some decent ones developing.

 

[joanie_maine]

Quote:

 

[LOVEMYCHICKS03]

Hey you live in Maine too?!

 

[Scifisarah]

When I first started out looking for quality cochins, I was irritated that breeders didn't sell hatching eggs, or chicks. Now that I am trying to breed them I can totally see why. It takes a lot of work to trim/pluck the fluffy SQ or BQ birds or AI them, and then if you are lucky enough to get fertile eggs or hatch chicks from them, you want to raise them all the way up to see if they are worth keeping. There is no way to know the quality of the bird that will come from an egg or chick, so no way to price them accordingly.

 

[Black Cochin Bantams]

When I first started out looking for quality cochins, I was irritated that breeders didn't sell hatching eggs, or chicks. Now that I am trying to breed them I can totally see why. It takes a lot of work to trim/pluck the fluffy SQ or BQ birds or AI them, and then if you are lucky enough to get fertile eggs or hatch chicks from them, you want to raise them all the way up to see if they are worth keeping. There is no way to know the quality of the bird that will come from an egg or chick, so no way to price them accordingly.

I am so happy to see someone come to the understanding of why I don't ever sell chicks. You summed it up perfectly!

 

[Sk8inChick(en)]

When I first started out looking for quality cochins, I was irritated that breeders didn't sell hatching eggs, or chicks. Now that I am trying to breed them I can totally see why. It takes a lot of work to trim/pluck the fluffy SQ or BQ birds or AI them, and then if you are lucky enough to get fertile eggs or hatch chicks from them, you want to raise them all the way up to see if they are worth keeping. There is no way to know the quality of the bird that will come from an egg or chick, so no way to price them accordingly.

I can totally understand why a breeder would want to sell only adult birds so you know what you are getting. I know it's best to get adult birds for starting a breeding flock. However, I'm not looking to start a breeeding program, I would just like some nice birds for keeping as pets.

This is a great explanation, though and it makes a lot of sense. Thanks for posting it!

 

[sbucciarel]

I am so happy to see someone come to the understanding of why I don't ever sell chicks. You summed it up perfectly!

What I don't understand is I've seen one person "judge" chicks pics posted here with just a terse
Beak color should be yellow
Feet yellow
More feathers on middle toe

Then I go to Cochin Int site and it says

Bantam Male and Female
BEAK: Short, stout at base, curving neatly to point.

LF Male and Female
BEAK: Short, stout at base, curving to point.

Not a word about beak color and in fact, there are pics of showbirds with winnings that have a great deal of black coloring in their beaks.

 

[Black Cochin Bantams]

What I don't understand is I've seen one person "judge" chicks pics posted here with just a terse
Beak color should be yellow
Feet yellow
More feathers on middle toe

Then I go to Cochin Int site and it says

Bantam Male and Female
BEAK: Short, stout at base, curving neatly to point.

LF Male and Female
BEAK: Short, stout at base, curving to point.

Not a word about beak color and in fact, there are pics of showbirds with winnings that have a great deal of black coloring in their beaks.

If you go to the Standard of perfection or the Bantam Standard there are specifics for every variety. The description on the Cochin International website is the general description that all Cochins should strive to meet. When in doubt check the Bantam Standard (ABA)or the Standard of Perfection (APA). the dark beak you may be refering to is described in the SOP as swarthy Yellow. You were getting honest evaluation. Just keep asking until you get your questions answered.

 

[dak]

What I don't understand is I've seen one person "judge" chicks pics posted here with just a terse
Beak color should be yellow
Feet yellow
More feathers on middle toe

Then I go to Cochin Int site and it says

Bantam Male and Female
BEAK: Short, stout at base, curving neatly to point.

LF Male and Female
BEAK: Short, stout at base, curving to point.

Not a word about beak color and in fact, there are pics of showbirds with winnings that have a great deal of black coloring in their beaks.

I suggest you invest in a Standard of Perfection, or the Bantam standard. All birds are judged against that. What is correct for one color of Cochin may not be for another. The are different specifications for each color. There is never a perfect bird. Also, there is never a judge who is 100% comfortable judging every breed.

 

[AndyCap]

What I don't understand is I've seen one person "judge" chicks pics posted here with just a terse
Beak color should be yellow
Feet yellow
More feathers on middle toe

Then I go to Cochin Int site and it says

Bantam Male and Female
BEAK: Short, stout at base, curving neatly to point.

LF Male and Female
BEAK: Short, stout at base, curving to point.

Not a word about beak color and in fact, there are pics of showbirds with winnings that have a great deal of black coloring in their beaks.

I hear what you saying, and i think there are two points to consider.

Firstly, if someone posts a chick and asks for opinions, i am afraid that people will offer them in all forms, this being a public forum means you can get advice / comments from anyone, if you think they are a bit short then ask them to elaborate further, i have learned some invaluable things by asking people to explain a bit more(and they are generally willing to do so)

i personally believe are very fortunate here to have some very experienced and knowledgeable people, who are willing to answer some beginner questions and offer some valuable advice. Some are members of Cochins int, but all should be praised for sticking around to help out beginners like myself when we ask questions. Trust me, this forum is a lot more "sugar coated" or open then others.

We are lucky enough to have great breeders of LF, pencilled, laced, frizzles, whites, blacks, mille fluer, columbian and some darn good genetics buffs too, and for the most part they are willing to help, or, at least further explain their lines of thought, for this they should be praised.

Secondly, and perhaps away from the point a bit, some people dont want pure show quality cochins. Some would just like to post pictures of their chickens, and to communicate with others about their chickens. That is fine too. They do make great pets too, and those people should be able to post pictures to their hearts content, if that is their desire.

It is a tough call but BYC has a very good balance in my opinion. Allowing free exchange of knowledge, information and general chat. The same topics will always come up, every few weeks. The almost impossible to answer what will i get if i breed "x" to "y", the how can i sex my chicks at age "x" etc. We must be glad that some of these folks stick around to help as many people as they do