Cochin Thread!!!

[cabinchicky]

My roosts are just moderately higher than the boxes so to them it's all fair game.

My LF Cochins do not roost at night. They pile up on the floor while my other coop roosts. Our old nest boxes were a pain. My lower order girls would roost on the front opening of them and make the nest rather dirty. We removed those and use Little Giant plastic nests now. No mice nests in them so far as well.

 

[CliffB]

I added a roost bar so that everyone wouldn't be so cramped. Just walked out there and now instead of having 2 birds on each bar and a handful on top of the nesting boxes, they are ALL on the one new bar.

 

[cabinchicky]

I added a roost bar so that everyone wouldn't be so cramped. Just walked out there and now instead of having 2 birds on each bar and a handful on top of the nesting boxes, they are ALL on the one new bar.

Great to hear! Nothing like watching them all try to sort out who roosts by who. My large male is the worst at roosting time. Knocks off any banty near him, pecks hens that are not his, his favorite pecks dirt from his beard.That's the mixed flock coop. My Cochin male has a dislocated knee and will not roost. Pile of fluffy butts on the floor there.Hope to get a new male but worry the new one will hurt my guy I have. He's a big sweetheart. Loves his wattles stroked.

 

[CliffB]

Great to hear! Nothing like watching them all try to sort out who roosts by who. My large male is the worst at roosting time. Knocks off any banty near him, pecks hens that are not his, his favorite pecks dirt from his beard.

After removing a 30 pound turkey, an 8 pound turken/broiler and a 2 pound cochin from the coop our birds have no idea what normal is anymore. Don't tell them there is about to be 5-6 new chicks and 2 new ducks to sort out.

 

[WVduckchick]

Couple new pics of my bantam pair: Armand and Katherine

I'm so excited. These 2 are the only cochins I have at the moment. They are cooped with 2 white silkie girls. The silkies are a bit older, and I knew I was getting eggs from them, but I was unsure about Katherine. Yesterday, I finally got 3 eggs on the same day, so now I know she is laying. The 3 eggs are very similar, but I assume hers is a bit smaller, and a touch darker color. Which leads me to my excitement... I already have some in my incubator on day 15, developing nicely!!! I assumed they had come from the silkies, so I'm very happy at the prospect of babies from my favorite pair next weekend!!

 

[CliffB]

Back on the topic of cochins. Our girl went outside with the flock today and she did pretty well. Some of the smaller birds did bully her a bit but nothing she couldn't handle or get away from. Then low and behold she walked over to the brooder and jumped vertically 3' onto the brooder edge then walked across the ledge and hopped back down. Not bad for one eye.

 

[cabinchicky]

After removing a 30 pound turkey, an 8 pound turken/broiler and a 2 pound cochin from the coop our birds have no idea what normal is anymore. Don't tell them there is about to be 5-6 new chicks and 2 new ducks to sort out.

Which breed of duck? We tried two Kahki Campbells last year and once I seen them trying to drown my large Cochin aND a few others.. I rehomed the evil buggers.So looking out for a more gentle duck. You have reminded me I have yet to get a scale for my birds. Need to keep up on how heavy they are. Getting more Large Fowl breeds this year and quail.

 

[CliffB]

Which breed of duck? We tried two Kahki Campbells last year and once I seen them trying to drown my large Cochin aND a few others.. I rehomed the evil buggers.So looking out for a more gentle duck. You have reminded me I have yet to get a scale for my birds. Need to keep up on how heavy they are. Getting more Large Fowl breeds this year and quail.

I am tired of the hawks picking off birds so we are switching focus from pretty birds to pretty eggs. Adding Legbar, Welsummer, Marans, Jersey Giants and Swedish Isbar. Currently we have a Rouen with our girls and we will be adding a Cayuga or two. I've got a pekin and a crested in the brooder now but i am not at all a fan of white birds.

 

[holm25]

I am tired of the hawks picking off birds so we are switching focus from pretty birds to pretty eggs. Adding Legbar, Welsummer, Marans, Jersey Giants and Swedish Isbar. Currently we have a Rouen with our girls and we will be adding a Cayuga or two. I've got a pekin and a crested in the brooder now but i am not at all a fan of white birds.

Sounds like you'll have another beautiful flock! Oh the Pekins are my favorite breed!! They r beautiful if they have acess to water and outdoors! I sold all my cayugas and most of the Pekins but am building my Pekin flock back up. The darn Cayuga drakes can have an attitude problem and arent that good of layers! Other than that the Cayugas were pretty ducks to look at.

 

[Mitch Mullenax]

691 pages read... My name is Mitch and I am thrilled to be part of this community. I'm new to chickens. I selected Cochins for their gentle spirits. My birds are scheduled to arrive on April 15th. I've been in my wood shop working on parts for my coop and have been busy with "The Coop Project" most of this winter. My wife Lisa and I call the Adirondack Mountains of New York home.