Cochin Thread!!!

[evenstargirl]

My Cochins all roost! But I do not show.... They seem very happy up there, though.

 

[lilcrow]

I show and I allow my birds to roost. I believe the reason some breeders don't allow their birds to roost may have more to do with how upset they get when time to go to bed and they can't find a roost. The show cages of course have no roost or provision for one and I have seen birds that appeared very upset, literally climbing the sides of the cage, flapping wildly when they can't find a roost. Don't hold me to this though, I've never really heard it discussed with the more experienced breeders.

 

[mjgigax]

Well I am back from Congress and got to see some amazing Bantam Cochins! I entered four of my birds. My blues did very well but, my poor black babies did not

. I hope to get them filled in more since they are both only 7 months old and need to finish filling in their cushion and type.

I was also lucky enough to pick up two pairs from Tom.

Here are my entered babies

I love your blue girl.

 

[Coopa Cabana]

I show and I allow my birds to roost. I believe the reason some breeders don't allow their birds to roost may have more to do with how upset they get when time to go to bed and they can't find a roost. The show cages of course have no roost or provision for one and I have seen birds that appeared very upset, literally climbing the sides of the cage, flapping wildly when they can't find a roost. Don't hold me to this though, I've never really heard it discussed with the more experienced breeders.

One of the arguments in favor of allowing them to roost is to give them whatever chance possible to develop good wing muscle development. Cochins should have good, high, tight wing carriage - above their thighs. They can tend to have very lazy and relaxed wing carriage. Allowing them to fly up to and down from the roosts can help develop the wing muscles.

 

[mjgigax]

Well, I finally found a way to post pictures, but I think it's really weird. Anyway, here they are, my brags.

This is my Birchen pullet that I took to Crossroads (got slammed there) and the National (took BV with nice competition). Ha! Go figure.

This is a cockerel that is developing to possibly take the place of his father.



This is a nice cockerel that I think is going to work well for me to use on my over marked females. He's a bit on the understated side.



Here are my Columbians that are still very immature, but I'm thrilled with how they are coming along. Please excuse the stains.






This is a fellow I just couldn't resist showing to you. I found him one morning on the floor of his run, nearly unable to walk. When he did try, he was obviously in pain and couldn't bear any weight on his left leg. I brought him in, checked him over and guessed that he had broken his leg. It pretty much just hung there and there was no muscle tension or resistance in it at all. I couldn't determine where the break was located, so I decided to splint the leg, even up past the hock joint. Why I fell in love with this little guy, was that he allowed me to lay him down on his side and work on him without fighting me or struggling at all. I kept him in for about 2 wks. Every day I would get him out and place him on a towel on the kitchen table, clean his behind, check his foot to make sure it was warm and fed him yogurt and moistened dog food in addition to his regular feed. He quickly became a very sweet "pet" and "talked" more like a hen then a roo. I swear he appeared to enjoy being held, cooed to and scratched around his neck and face. Initially I wasn't very optomistic that he would be able to regain use of his leg, but eventually I noticed he would try to use it to scratch with and that he might be trying to put weight on it. I finally decided to take the splint off and the long and the short of it is, I can't even notice a limp any longer. He's out with the other birds and has fit in perfectly.
During all of this he became one of the house residents and was quite happy sitting or standing on his towel on the table. I was able to leave him there, unconcerned that he'd try to take off or freak out about any of the other animals in house (I have 4 dogs and a cat that live in the house with me). One day Lilly the cat even jumped up to say hello and see what was going on and he didn't even flinch.
He is a very unusual and remarkable little boy.
Mandy (the Cochin Coop) was with me on one of the weekends and she saw what a cute little guy he is. It was he creative idea to take these pictures with the flowers. I think they are great.

Hope I didn't bore you guys too much.
Thanks for letting me crow a bit.


I can never see too many pictures. Thanks for sharing you story of your roo with the broken leg. I had to put a roo down yesterday so it is nice to hear a happy ending.

 

[Beth G.]

Thank you!! Alot of people liked her. I have her sis at home I probably should have washed her up and broght her too but, I got lazy. I also have two babies that appear to look just like their momma from the show Cookie but, they were not as mature looking as her son in this picture so I left them home.

I love your blue girl.

 

[Beth G.]

They are very pretty looking in your pictures

Hi guys! I have four Cochins. I am in love with them. I think they are the prettiest birds. I can't wait to see what kind of babies I end up getting.
I also have (by accident) a Cochin Silkie cross, who is gorgeous, and two Cochin Wyandotte crosses, who are HUGE. I would really like to work with this breed, and I have enjoyed looking through photos on this thread! You all have some gorgeous birds.

 

[Black Cochin Bantams]

Hi, I'm not sure to be honest. I've never had any roosts with my Bantam Cochins or Silkies. I prefer to have them on the ground and snuggling at night in a pile!!! lol Maybe someone else will chime in and advise you whether or not they allow them to roost.

I have roosts for almost all birds I own.The early grown out pen does not. Less than half use them when available. Some prefer the deep bedding others prefer roost. I wish they all would use the roosts so perhaps they would develop better/stronger wings. Cochins tend to have a looser wing (males generally worse than hens) and it can never hurt to have them use their muscles.

 

[Beth G.]

Ahhh I knew someone would have knowledge of this. I agree with you. The few times I had a roost in the brooders when they were youngsters they never used them much. Maybe I should get my lazy winged pals outside and chase them up and around to get some good wing strength. Just don't tell the neighbors or they will laugh histerically watching the chubby midaged woman running around the yard with her birds

I have roosts for almost all birds I own.The early grown out pen does not. Less than half use them when available. Some prefer the deep bedding others prefer roost. I wish they all would use the roosts so perhaps they would develop better/stronger wings. Cochins tend to have a looser wing (males generally worse than hens) and it can never hurt to have them use their muscles.

 

[Black Cochin Bantams]

Hi Craig , Possible Columbian? 2weeks old.

Looks like it. We will know more when hackle feathers come in. That is definitely Columbian wing but until the fluff actually turns to feathers we won't know about the pattern. Is this out of the ones you got from me in Oct? I want to see more pictures in a month. Keep us informed.
Craig