Cochin Thread!!!

[Coopa Cabana]

I know we've had discussions in the past about vulture hocks, but I thought I'd try to bring it up again. I remember Tom saying that a lot of juvenilles can "look hocky", but then grow out of it. At what age should you expect them to grow out of it? Does anyone have some pics they can post - looking hocky vs actually having vulture hocks? As it's the number 1 DQ, I'd really like to see it discussed some more.

I've seen some pics of Cochins on some threads where the birds are carrying their wing feathers very low, rather than up above the fluff and close to the body - and they are being told they are vulture hocks. I always thought vulture hocks were stiff feathers protruding from the hocks.

I really need to see some pics!!

 

[thecochincoop]

If you ask me they all look like they have vulture hocks until they start to get their adult feathers. I have never worried about it and have never had a judge mark anything about anything like that. What I am taking it to mean is that if they dont get in the fluff to cover up the vulture hock appearance then that would be a dq, and if that was the case you would have a very ugly bird

 

[JenEric Farms]

Here's a good example of vulture hock (this is not my picture). It is not the wing hanging low. Vulture hock is the stiff feathers growing out from the hocks.

 

[blaundee]

Quote:
Same here!!!

 

[michickenwrangler]

Quote:
Same here!!!

x2

Any old time cochin breeders give their "top 5 rules" for breeding quality cochins?

 

[Coopa Cabana]

Quote:
Same here!!!

x2

Any old time cochin breeders give their "top 5 rules" for breeding quality cochins?

I'm old time, but not an old time breeder, so still learning as I go, too. I just read an article this past week that says, in addition to breeding to the Standard, we need to learn to cull to the Standard. I found that an interesting approach. So maybe, if they post their top 5 breeding rules, they can add their top 5 culling rules.

 

[dak]

Quote:
Three of the four cochins at our county fair were DQ'd for vulture hocks, so it is out there. It was an APA/ABA judge.

I agree with cochincoop that all of my GLCs looked like they had vulture hocks as adolescents. About 2/3 of them grew out of it. I've fould it's not just a lack of fluff , but a certain stiffness to the hock feathers

 

[Lolita]

 

[Sumatra503]

A friend of mine is an old timer, but he doesn't blog that often. LOL. He raises bantam Cochins.

Vulture hawks are feathers growing directly from the back of hawk joint. A good way to detect it is to feel where those hawky feathers attach. If they are growing from the hawk, cull the bird. If not, then you may need to just breed a bit softer feathering into the back of the bird.

He gives his at least six months to grow out. If they aren't fully round and fluffy by then he doesn't keep them. Remember that the standards can take up to two years to fully mature. It is important to see how your line matures.

Also. The feathers on the feet are apparent at birth. If a chick has a bare middle toe as a chick it will have it as an adult as well. Vulture hawks can also be seen in the chicks and are more apparent as they begin to get their feathers.

Don't just breed for feathering. Remember that Cochins are supposed to be full breasted and stalky birds. They were originally used as a meat bird before they were bred into fluff.

Remember that Standard Cochins are extremely large birds. Some weighing in at 15 lbs. A bantam is a miniature of a the standard. A bantam variety for a breed is often 1/4 to 1/6 the size of its larger counterpart. Bantam cochins should range along the larger end of the weight regulations in the standard. I've seen the large birds win shows and the little ones score lower.

On a good cochin the feathers should be so fluffed out that you can't tell if the bird is standing or not. You should also not be able to see any air between the legs.

Some color varieties, such as mottled and mille fluer, with take a molt or two to come in completely. They will also get more white with each molt.

Don't forget to rwead the standard thoroughly and know it backwards and forward.

These are the things I have learned from 4 years of breeding cochins. I am extemely good at picking my new stock. I haven't bred any cochins in quite some time. I have since switched to Sumatras and Seramas.

 

[TennesseeTruly]

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BEEEEautiful!!!!

Laurie