Cochin Thread!!!

[Coopa Cabana]

Quote:
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?

It sounds like he's talking about the muscle development of the wings - great suggestion about making sure that roosts are up - even a little bit. With better muscle development of the wings, when you open them, they will "snap" back into place - the muscle development helps them hold them higher and tighter. Lack of muscle development can cause the wings to hang lower, as the muscles are looser (sloppy). Kind of like a spring or coil that snaps back into place after being stretched out, versus one that is weak and when stretched out, remains limp and doesn't "snap" back into place.

 

[Chickielady]

I agree, most often when you pull a wing outward as you hold the bird, then let go, the wing will snap back and the bird will tuck it up close.
I have not paid that much attention to their wing carriage, guess I had better go look.
I know these big birds do not want to fly up high, and their roosts are about 2 feet off the floor.
Once up there, they do not want to get down, and go round and round looking for an easy way down.
I am contemplating lowering the roosts for them.
But then they would get no flying exercise at all ?

I have to pick through photos til I find some that show how their wings are held.
They are 3 1/2 years old, spoiled and heavy !

 

[mjgigax]

Good discussion! Thank you for sharing pictures of your birds and for the information on wings and developement in type.

 

[jossanne]

Thank you cochinman! This boy has been roosting on a cinderblock on the ground. He lives with three silkies and an OEGB, and they all sleep in a pile. I think I'll start making changes to who lives with whom, and put him with some birds that are used to roosting. Cross your fingers

for us that it works. I really love this boy and think he's got great potential if I can just get his wings up! I was thinking today that maybe he uses the OEGB as his example, as his wings tend to point to the ground quite a bit...

 

[Mr. Ree]

What Tom is refering to by snap, is when you take the birds wing and pull it away from the body (as a judge would do), you want the wing to spring back towards the bird and not to stay somewhat splayed open as if something is holding it there. You want the wing to pull back into the bird when you release it. Hope I hit the nail on the head with my explanation, if not Tom will claify.


~Casey

 

[wildwoodcochins]

Hopefully someone on this thread can help~
I have a friend who bought a pair of mottled cochins a couple of months ago from a top breeder. Last week, she noticed the young pullet (about 6 months old) acting a little under the weather. She has them in a warm, insulated building. She put the pullet in a cage by herself under a light to try and get her feeling better. The next day, she checked on her to find she had prolapsed and died.
I am thinking that maybe the pullet being so young would possibly cause this.
Anyway, the problem now is the young roo seems really down, doesn't move around much, puts him on the floor and he just stays where he's at instead of walking around. He is eating okay and has good meat on his breast. We are puzzled? Anyone have any ideas? She's giving him some antibiotics now and he has been treated for cocci but is worried to death she will lose him. He just has no spunk.

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

300 Pages -

 

[cochinman2005]

Quote:
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?

Both Casey and Coopa are correct about wing "snap." It's about muscle development in the wing. In an Old English Game you want the wing to snap back into place when you let it go after you open it from the body. Cochin bantams don't tend to have that kind of snap to their wings but you don't want them to be sloppy either. A sloppy wing when you open it will most assuredly be carried low. Birds that are accustomed to sleeping on the floors of their pens can be taught to roost. You just have to be willing to go out every night after dark and put them up on the roost until they figure it out. Some figure it out on their own, others need some lessons.

The large fowl don't tend to have as many issues with low wing carriage as the bantams. My large males have very good wing carriage angles. The females in both sizes usually don't have an issue with sloppy wings, and if they do, I'd certainly have to have a real good reason to use them in the breeding pen.

 

[WyandotteTX]

Tom I wanted to say its great to read about all the nuances of Cochins from an experienced breeder as yourself. I do have a request for you. I love your website and all of the photos. Especially all of the pics of your pens and buildings. I am just curious as to what the compound looks like now..... How do all of your pens, cages and houses look now? I know you are a busy man with that many birds and will understand if you cannot. I will just keep looking and getting ideas from what you have up currently.
I do have a question about LF Cochins for you. What age do you usually cull them? Been trying to cull lately and having a hard time deciding because they are so slow developing.
Thanks for all you do.

 

[dak]

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

Both Casey and Coopa are correct about wing "snap." It's about muscle development in the wing. In an Old English Game you want the wing to snap back into place when you let it go after you open it from the body. Cochin bantams don't tend to have that kind of snap to their wings but you don't want them to be sloppy either. A sloppy wing when you open it will most assuredly be carried low. Birds that are accustomed to sleeping on the floors of their pens can be taught to roost. You just have to be willing to go out every night after dark and put them up on the roost until they figure it out. Some figure it out on their own, others need some lessons.

The large fowl don't tend to have as many issues with low wing carriage as the bantams. My large males have very good wing carriage angles. The females in both sizes usually don't have an issue with sloppy wings, and if they do, I'd certainly have to have a real good reason to use them in the breeding pen.

Thanks,Tom