Cochin Thread!!!

[spook]

Here is the question asked by many people prior to me, but if you have a nice standard hen, fluff and puff, then breed with a vulture hock...is there any luck by taking that offspring turning around and breeding to a fluffy rooster, can you make a nice bird out of that "mess"?

(I did not realize the vulture hock on the rooster) But the feet, legs and feather quality is wonderful.

 

[TennesseeTruly]

My "dwarf" Columbian roo won't be used for breeding either. Nor will my Mottled Cochin with the seizure condition. These are traits that I don't want to pass along. They will remain here as pets only.

Laurie

 

[mjgigax]

Quote:
What a pretty pair!

 

[cochinman2005]

Quote:
Lisa,

If you have specific questions you can post here, or you could certainly send me an email if you wanted. I do not raise poultry as pets. Breeding poultry is very much a hobby to me, for the betterment of whichever breed it happens to be, and I promote the hobby and poultry fancy, as well as preserving said breeds as close to the standard as possible. Saying that, you will always get a straight answer from me. I don't believe in keeping birds just because I hatched them and can't get rid of them. If I determine a bird to be a cull, that's exactly what action is taken. It is culled, either by taking it to the auction, or by adding it to the compost pile. Inferior birds that do not meet breed specfications or birds that do not fit my breeding program do not have a lengthy stay at my place. I hatched close to 1000 chicks in 2010 and there is no way I want to keep that many chickens long term, let alone feed them. The culling process is part of any breeding program.

As to your question regarding what varieties to breed to the Whites and Partridge should you have a successful hatch...the answer is White and Partridge. Any other variety bred to those birds will produce a mixed variety of Cochin that does not fit any variety description in the standards. Since this is a 4-H project for your daughter, (BTW it's great to see another young person interested in the hobby), no doubt the intent is to raise these chicks and show them at least at the county fair level. You'll want to be able to enter a recognized variety. The Cochins International website is a good place to start to locate some basic breed information (cochinsinternational.cochinsrule.com). As far as breeding information goes, there isn't really a wealth of information on any one breed and the particulars for a given breed are usually best investigated by asking someone that's been doing it a while. Generally speaking poultry husbandry is the same breed to breed. Depending on your area, I'd suggest attending a spring show, and talking to some of the exhibitors. Most of them are more than happy to talk chicken with newcomers to the fancy.

Tom

 

[mjgigax]

Quote:
We are 20 min. east of Oklahoma City. I got two more eggs tonight from my two Partridges. I've gotten 46 eggs since the 2 week in December from 5 hens?!? I am so suprized! I just put 10 eggs back under my broody girl.

 

[RhodeRunner]

A few of my growing Cochin collection. lol. I may be picking up some sq. b/b/s next week

I'm new to Cochins so any critique is welcome! Now off to browse the many pages of Cochin info and pictures.

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

Quote:
OMGoodness! Your Yellow/Golden barred Cochins are sooo cute!

 

[RhodeRunner]

Mrs. Fluffy Puffy :

Quote:
OMGoodness! Your Yellow/Golden barred Cochins are sooo cute!

Thanks! I'm not sure if I will tell him though, I would imagine to much ego can be unhealthy. lol. He is a sweet fellow though.​

 

[mjgigax]

Quote:
Nice birds! Will you ever have buff barred eggs for sale?

 

[just2rosey]

Thanks Tom,

And just let me add Howdy Neighbor! I am also from Virginia.

I have mostly been looking at the genetics on the Ameraucana website, since I am interested in those, and they don't have Partridge traits at all in that breed. I had been in a totally different color spectrum on that side of things ( black, blue, splash).

It sounds like you have a tremendous operation! I can't imagine hatching out that many eggs every year! I will look for some local birds to add to our flock, to keep a wide gene pool. I have no problem with hard culling, that is a fact of life in agriculture. I grew up on farm; if it wasn't breeding stock it went one of two places the freezer or the sale barn, period. You can't afford to be sentimental for that many animals. In my youth, I have raised and butchered my own chickens, and sent favorite feeder pigs to the sale barn knowing where they would end up. It is a life lesson, one I now must teach my daughter. Anyway for now I will stick to breeding within varieties, we aren't ready for any projects to create anything new. Thanks again, Lisa