Cochin Thread!!!

[Majestic Lane Poultry]

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Quite the ambassador of the breed. The very reason when people ask me about breeds that are good w/children, Cochin are always the first out of my mouth!

It helps that at 4 years old very little intimidates him, and he is very good at restraining their wings.

Absolutely Adorable! I just love little boys and that second picture is just precious.

 

[cochinman2005]

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What is your goal? Black X Blue will at least yield a recognized variety. Black X Buff will yield crosses. I ask because I don't know how best to answer your question. If you are breeding toward the Standard for type, color and size, the Buff female lacks in all three categories. She's too small, carries a very stiff tail, with no cushion, and doesn't have enough fluff, and she's heavily shafted (lighter shaft color in the feathers, which you can see in her breast feathering). Likewise, the Blue and the Black appear to be small, and lack in type. They also appear to be dark eyed and have dark legs. Eye color should be reddish bay, and the leg color should be yellow to swarthy yellow. You at least want good yellow bottoms to their feet. The dark eyes (usually dark brown) and dark legs go hand in hand. If however, you aren't planning to show and are just looking to add a few Cochins to your flock, then either cross will work.

 

[jossanne]

According to the SOP, a bantam cochin roo is supposed to carry his wings up quite high, above his thighs. I've been watching my gorgeous little cockerel, and his wings don't look high enough to me. He's the only one I've got, and I've had a HECK of a time getting good quality cochins to hatch. I've had two sets of eggs, with one chick from each batch hatching. I have to wait for more until I have a broody hen, darn it. I'm on a list at Lund Poultry for chicks, but who knows when that will happen. Their fertility hasn't been great either. So with this cockerel who carries his wings low, and a pullet who carries her wings quite high, do I have okay chances of breeding nice birds? Or am I just totally out of luck with this guy? They're still young, 5mo cockerel and 7mo pullet.

 

[cochinman2005]

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Too young to tell much about her. So far color looks pretty good and she has a good amount of foot feathering and fluff for a bird her age.

 

[NellaBean]

Age is everything. Even a good looking young bird can improve with age.


Here was my girl in September. I think she was about 3 months old then. Maybe 4 months?

And here she is 3 months later.....at her current 6-7 months.

 

[Mr. Ree]

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If he is only 5 mos I would give him at least 5-6 more months before you really see what he will be. Cochins are slow to really mature, and if he is 5 mos and the pullet 7 mos, give them some time. Cochins hatched later than June tend to be better as adults, not juveniles. The pullet does have very nice wing carraige, and I can see what you mean with your cockerel. But also remember, just because a bird doesnt look show roo ready doesnt mean that they cant produce offspring better then themselves. Just be patient and see what comes from these two at a little older age, and I wouldnt get discouraged with the wings either. It is something to consider, but try breeding these birds before you decide to find something better. You never know what they can produce.

~Casey

 

[jossanne]

Mr. Ree :

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If he is only 5 mos I would give him at least 5-6 more months before you really see what he will be. Cochins are slow to really mature, and if he is 5 mos and the pullet 7 mos, give them some time. Cochins hatched later than June tend to be better as adults, not juveniles. The pullet does have very nice wing carraige, and I can see what you mean with your cockerel. But also remember, just because a bird doesnt look show roo ready doesnt mean that they cant produce offspring better then themselves. Just be patient and see what comes from these two at a little older age, and I wouldnt get discouraged with the wings either. It is something to consider, but try breeding these birds before you decide to find something better. You never know what they can produce.

~Casey

Thanks Casey. I appreciate your input. I am just feeling really impatient!!! Must bide my time...​

 

[cochinman2005]

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You've hit on a characteristic that is common on many lines of Cochin bantams and a flaw that is tough to overcome. You do want the wings tucked up as high as you can get them. The females tend to be better in this department than the males and some varieties have better wings than others. The key to making progress in the wing department is to look at the wing feather length. The longer the primaries and secondaries the greater the potential for lower carried wings. The females tend to have shorter wings because generally speaking they are smaller and more compact than the males. Something else that can be a factor is that just by the way a Cochin is put together they aren't much in the flying department. Getting them to roost even if the roost is 12 - 14 inches off the ground forces them to use their wing muscles. You want some snap in the wing of a Cochin, not so much as a game, but you don't want it to be sloppy when you open the wing. Of course there isn't much you can do for genetically poor wing carriage, except breed away from it.

 

[dak]

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You've hit on a characteristic that is common on many lines of Cochin bantams and a flaw that is tough to overcome. You do want the wings tucked up as high as you can get them. The females tend to be better in this department than the males and some varieties have better wings than others. The key to making progress in the wing department is to look at the wing feather length. The longer the primaries and secondaries the greater the potential for lower carried wings. The females tend to have shorter wings because generally speaking they are smaller and more compact than the males. Something else that can be a factor is that just by the way a Cochin is put together they aren't much in the flying department. Getting them to roost even if the roost is 12 - 14 inches off the ground forces them to use their wing muscles. You want some snap in the wing of a Cochin, not so much as a game, but you don't want it to be sloppy when you open the wing. Of course there isn't much you can do for genetically poor wing carriage, except breed away from it.

Could you explain "snap in the wing" . I'm unfamiliar with the terminology. And, is this a LF problem also?

 

[Black Cochin Bantams]

I agree with Cochinman2005 that roosting does help wings. I have to say that my birds that tend to roost on the ground generally have poorer/lower wing carriage than the ones that use the roosts. That is in my blacks. All of my columbians use their roosts while some of my blacks never seem to get the hang of roosting.