Cochin Thread!!!

[chevgrl]

What color of splash is this? it was in with some partridge cochins. This is not my rooster i simply saw the photo and wondered if it was a partridge splash.

 

[Inkheart]

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I would call it a blue tailed buff

I just had never seen one really - thanks
He is an impressive boy in person - well at least i think lol

 

[okieinalaska]

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Call me a cynic, but I don't buy it, "she had bought them from another lady as chicks and they must have come with the rubber bands. Because of all the foot feathers and bands being black, she didn't see them." If she had them any period of time, she couldn't have cared very much to miss something like that. It sounds like she never picked them up to pet them or touch them affectionately, let alone check them over. My guess is she has animals to make money, and those folks rarely put the welfare of the animal first, the philosophy being that money spent on them cuts into to the profit and creates unnecessary overhead.
I don't know how much you paid for your girls, but if it was me, I'd keep the ones you already have and go back and get the rest.
Of course that's just me, I can't stand seeing someone abuse/neglect an animal.

If it's bad enough, it wouldn't be beyond me to report them to the local chapter of the SPCA or a humane society. The environment sounds disgusting and she sounds at the very least neglectful.
Nancy

I don't blame you one bit for thinking that but I really do believe her for several reasons. From the beginning when I first inquired about them she told me she had got them as older chicks from someone else. They are extremely tame and I know she held them but she does have quite a few chickens. The bands were hard to notice and matched the color of feathers on their feet exactly.

Switcheraroo is doing well this morning eating and drinking in the big tub in my kitchen. Tonight the middle one gets checked.

 

[Fyrekitten]

I'm sorry! But I would have to let her have it! Got the birds from someone else and never noticed - my behind! I don't know about you all but even with being newly crazed into chickens I check my chickens daily and new ones and hatchlings even more! You CANNOT properly or honestly say you are caring for your animal I think if that many of them had bands on them! Sorry, I've been watching the thread and not replying since I lost another dog from old age this past weekend and have been trying to get a few things done while the NY weather is half decent here near the foothills of the Adirondacks where I live.

I am soooo vey sorry for your babies and I hope that you are able to do something for them. They deserve a good life and the best care as they cannot help themselves nor can speak and let us know what's wrong. I'm not a crazy person - i do believe in culling flocks and I think chicken is yummy but I cannot stand abuse or antipathy in caring for animals.

My cochin roo Sammy was so cute and funny today - let him and the girls out for some free range time which made the Barred Rocks unhappy

but I caught Sammy and got the nicest little cuddle session from him - I need to clip a couple of his nails I noticed as they are getting longer and aren't wearing down like I hoped. He and his gal Sophie along with Sea another one that we aren't sure what the heck she is are all in with my babies that are old enough to be outside with the brooder lamp just in case it gets cold at night. He gives them a little peck or a nudge if they get too much in his way but he is just so very patient with them. He alone has sold me on keeping and raising Cochins. I've liked their look for a long time but he has me hook line and sinker on the them..

 

[Msbear]

many people don't have chickens to love and cuddle with. You may find it hard to understand but, many people have birds to lay eggs or free range on the property and they NEVER hold and love them... I have many birds and I frequently hold most of them but, that's only because they are cochins and I need to keep them trimmed for fertility or dust them for mites or whatever but, many of my birds never get touched. It's not because they aren't loved.. well, maybe a little

but, it's more because I have more than 3 hens in my backyard and have things I have to do.

It's unfortunate that this happened to your new birds but, honestly, slaying the lady that dropped the ball is not the answer. Let's just learn something from this... don't use rubber bands.

 

[Bo Garrett]

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I would tend to agree, we all mess up from time to time and if we can't forgive then how are we to ask to be forgiven when we fail? We don't know the circumstances and have no grounds to pass harsh judgement on someone we do not know. Now to your birds; check the bird by placing your finger underneath the foot pad and push up against it, if the bird wraps its toes around your finger and grips then there is probably no nerve damage, if it cannot grip or grip well it will most likely have a slight limp but will survive and be productive.
Banding young birds requires close management or damage can occur, change bands regularly (about every two weeks) until they reach a point that the feet are large enough to band permanently with a large enough band that won't slip off and need not be changed anymore.

Bo

 

[okieinalaska]

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Just for the record...I am not for slaying anyone and the lady and I are on good speaking terms. I understand mistakes can happen.
Still makes me sad though. She is working with hers (even the one with hanging foot) to get them both healthy and is refunding my money. (and I get to keep mine to nurse them back to health hopefully)

edited to add thank you bo for the tips, I will try that with her feet tonight.

 

[Coopa Cabana]

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I would tend to agree, we all mess up from time to time and if we can't forgive then how are we to ask to be forgiven when we fail? We don't know the circumstances and have no grounds to pass harsh judgement on someone we do not know. Now to your birds; check the bird by placing your finger underneath the foot pad and push up against it, if the bird wraps its toes around your finger and grips then there is probably no nerve damage, if it cannot grip or grip well it will most likely have a slight limp but will survive and be productive.
Banding young birds requires close management or damage can occur, change bands regularly (about every two weeks) until they reach a point that the feet are large enough to band permanently with a large enough band that won't slip off and need not be changed anymore.

Bo

Bo raises an excellent point - it's not just rubber bands. I've heard horror stories about people who forget to change out the zip tie bands - any then couldn't get any snippers under the zip tie to cut it off without injuring the bird. Everyone gets busy - we don't realize just how fast these little guys are growing, because we look at them every hour/every day, and when the bands are covered by masses of feathers . . . it's out of sight - out of mind. We just all need to be careful.

And thank you, Bo, for the explanation on checking the bird's foot for nerve damage. Hope I never have to use it, but it's good to know.

 

[thecochincoop]

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I would tend to agree, we all mess up from time to time and if we can't forgive then how are we to ask to be forgiven when we fail? We don't know the circumstances and have no grounds to pass harsh judgement on someone we do not know. Now to your birds; check the bird by placing your finger underneath the foot pad and push up against it, if the bird wraps its toes around your finger and grips then there is probably no nerve damage, if it cannot grip or grip well it will most likely have a slight limp but will survive and be productive.
Banding young birds requires close management or damage can occur, change bands regularly (about every two weeks) until they reach a point that the feet are large enough to band permanently with a large enough band that won't slip off and need not be changed anymore.

Bo

Bo raises an excellent point - it's not just rubber bands. I've heard horror stories about people who forget to change out the zip tie bands - any then couldn't get any snippers under the zip tie to cut it off without injuring the bird. Everyone gets busy - we don't realize just how fast these little guys are growing, because we look at them every hour/every day, and when the bands are covered by masses of feathers . . . it's out of sight - out of mind. We just all need to be careful.

And thank you, Bo, for the explanation on checking the bird's foot for nerve damage. Hope I never have to use it, but it's good to know.

this is why I use wing bands. you can put them on after just a few days and they wont outgrow them

 

[Msbear]

I think Im going the wing band route as well.

He Bo, I read a post awhile back about brown cochins. I would love to see pics of them and am curious as to what genetic background they have. I remember seeing an old calendar or maybe it was an old SOP and the brown cochins, though sounded simple, were in fact very interesting looking. I can imagine a trio floating across my lawn now

I would probably love and cuddle THEM daily