Cochin Thread!!!

[Black Cochin Bantams]

He is about 5 months old. He has a good bit of growth left in him. Do you think he will be ok for a 4-H show?

I have gone to 4H shows where any clean bird could win and I recently went to a show where the competition was as tough as any open show. My comment: is he OK for a 4H show depends on what you want to get out of it. You have raised a bird you like and know. You are learning about Cochins. If winning is your only goal then I must say that over 60% of the birds I see in 4H shows are too young to do well. they just need more time to mature. If winning is the #1 priority then buy a good bird from a breeder who shows and wins. Condition is also a factor. You will not be embarrassed with the bird you have. More questions you can PM me at any time.

The only thing you can control in any show is what you bring. You find out on show day what others have done and then develop a plan for next year. Enjoy!!

 

[Jharper]

I have gone to 4H shows where any clean bird could win and I recently went to a show where the competition was as tough as any open show. My comment:  is he OK for a 4H show depends on what you want to get out of it. You have raised a bird you like and know. You are learning about Cochins. If winning is your only goal then I must say that over 60% of the birds I see in 4H shows are too young to do well. they just need more time to mature. If winning is the #1 priority then buy a good bird from a breeder who shows and wins.  Condition is also a factor.  You will not be embarrassed with the bird you have.  More questions you can PM me at any time.

The only thing you can control in any show is what you bring. You find out on show day what others have done and then develop a plan for next year. Enjoy!!

I mean I have a SQ black Cochin bantam hen that was recently attacked and isn't in very good shape. I got her from a breeder. Now I can't show her in October because she might not be good by then.

 

[joanie_maine]

Quote: Correct me if I am wrong, but doesn't the knowledge and bird handling of the 4-H person count for more than the bird?

Having an excellent bird probably helps. I guess

I know that at the youth judging of APA/ABA and fair shows here, the young person shows their knowledge, answers questions from the judge and dresses in a professional way.

And can the 4-Her use another bird, or does he/she have to commit to one bird at the start of their project???

 

[Jharper]

Correct me if I am wrong, but doesn't the knowledge and bird handling of the 4-H person count for more than the bird?

Having an excellent bird probably helps. I guess 

I know that at the youth judging of APA/ABA and fair shows here, the young person shows their knowledge, answers questions from the judge and dresses in a professional way.

And can the 4-Her use another bird, or does he/she have to commit to one bird at the start of their project???

We have our local FFA pitch in with the show, too. We just leave our birds in separate cages and the judge walks around and takes the bird out and handles it.

 

[Black Cochin Bantams]

I took a picture of my Frizzle hen and the 2 oldest of her this years chicks. I had some good luck and now have 10 Frizzled chicks from 1 week to 10 weeks.

 

[McPhersonFarm]

I took a picture of my Frizzle hen and the 2 oldest of her this years chicks. I had some good luck and now have 10 Frizzled chicks from 1 week to 10 weeks.

Beautiful babies!!

 

[Chicnextdoor84]

Goldie Hawn<3
[IMG]https://www.backyardchickens.com/content/type/61/id/5890834/width/200/height/400[/IMG]my sweet girl getting ready for bed

 

[lilcrow]

Gail is getting eggs now and will start to hatch this years GL soon!!

After everything she has gone through this year I can only wish her the best!

Yaaaahooooo.............go Gail!

 

[Scifisarah]

Started the task of sorting this years birds today.

1st picture is of a pen of Silver Penciled Bantams. Most still need to grow more before much sorting can happen. I will have some pairs available for sale towards fall.

the 2nd picture is a pen of Blacks with a Frizzle hen in there to keep order. Also GL, SL males, and Partridge in there. Like the other pen sorting will start soon for foot color and DQ defects. All of my Columbians are too young to do anything with except feed them.

Craig

Is that fine sawdust bedding in the second photo? How does that work for bedding, and where do you find it? Always looking for something better to use in our coop to keep things clean.

If I ever have the space to keep an additional variety to my mottled, it would be silver-penciled. Such beautiful patterning, and it would be fun to improve them.

 

[Black Cochin Bantams]

Is that fine sawdust bedding in the second photo? How does that work for bedding, and where do you find it? Always looking for something better to use in our coop to keep things clean.

If I ever have the space to keep an additional variety to my mottled, it would be silver-penciled. Such beautiful patterning, and it would be fun to improve them.

I had never had access to the fine bedding until a few years ago when I got some at the newest Farm Fleet type store that opened. It is called mini flake. Horse people use it in stalls is what I was told.

The good:

It absorbs MUCH better, easier to clean up (it will sweep , scoop, or vacuum up), last longer than the chip type I used to use, composts faster

The bad:

It is lighter so I put my feeders and waterers higher(on blocks) or they get it in them, If I turn on a fan it can blow around in a pen unlike the chip/flake bedding,When one of my automatic waterers leaked this stuff absorbed like a sponge making clean up quite heavy

Overall thought on it is the good outweighs the bad in my situation.

If you ever get the space I would love to have more people raising Silver Penciled. An uncommon variety worthy of consideration. I enjoy mine.