Cochin Thread!!!

[Funky Feathers]

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c281/Birdy427/Poultry/show70dd.jpg

Look for something like this hen. She is owned by John Burgess. I know these aren't the best pics, but you get the idea. A hen should be shaped like a basketball.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c281/Birdy427/Poultry/show70cc.jpg

http://s29.photobucket.com/albums/c281/Birdy427/Poultry/?action=view&current=show70dd.jpg

 

[stephanie1992]

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c281/Birdy427/Poultry/show70dd.jpg

Look for something like this hen. She is owned by John Burgess. I know these aren't the best pics, but you get the idea. A hen should be shaped like a basketball.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c281/Birdy427/Poultry/show70cc.jpg

http://s29.photobucket.com/albums/c281/Birdy427/Poultry/?action=view&current=show70dd.jpg

Thank u for the links . i know mostly what to look for, like no vulture hocks, low breast, high head, and low fluff. Hopfully i find something good since my black bantam pullet(my avatar pic) i have isnt turning out good

 

[Grumpypantsmomma]

So my two bantam cochin hens had to separated from my mixed flock because they are chasing an pecking all other girls. I am also getting no fertile eggs from them and wondering if they are jealous that my Roo is doing the deed with his other girls and not them because he cannot penetrate the butt fluff I took them out because they were ganging up on the other girls, chasing them around, cornering and then pecking pecking pecking.
Also my Roo seems disinterested in them. how long should I keep them out and since I have never trimmed around a hens backside before how much should i trim so they are comfortable yet the Roo can do his job?
Or do you think their may be some other reason for their behavior and what are your suggestions! Thanks

 

[Coopa Cabana]

Wow - I've got a lot of catching up to do! I was one of those that wasn't getting my emails from BYC - just thought things were quiet.

Loving everyone's new pics!

Welcome Back, Casey!

Craig - EXCELLENT essay!

Stephanie - you can also check out www.cochinsint.com for pictures of Blacks. Check out the page for "Variety Photos" and also "Show Results/Photos".

 

[wildwoodcochins]

Wow - I've got a lot of catching up to do! I was one of those that wasn't getting my emails from BYC - just thought things were quiet.

Loving everyone's new pics!

Welcome Back, Casey!

Craig - EXCELLENT essay!

Stephanie - you can also check out www.cochinsint.com for pictures of Blacks. Check out the page for "Variety Photos" and also "Show Results/Photos".

I was just thinking about you tonight Gail, wondering where you had been!

 

[Black Cochin Bantams]

So my two bantam cochin hens had to separated from my mixed flock because they are chasing an pecking all other girls. I am also getting no fertile eggs from them and wondering if they are jealous that my Roo is doing the deed with his other girls and not them because he cannot penetrate the butt fluff I took them out because they were ganging up on the other girls, chasing them around, cornering and then pecking pecking pecking.
Also my Roo seems disinterested in them. how long should I keep them out and since I have never trimmed around a hens backside before how much should i trim so they are comfortable yet the Roo can do his job?
Or do you think their may be some other reason for their behavior and what are your suggestions! Thanks

I wouldn't try to put a logical reason why birds peck one another. There is a pecking order in poultry. Were they raised together or different ages? As far as trimming I will attach something I have posted before. Perhaps move the Male between cages every 2 days and most eggs will be fertile. Also what is the hen to male ratio. I always have a less than a 5 hen to male ratio when trying to get fertile eggs.

If you want to show them you pluck instead of trimming. Trimmed/cut feathers do not grow back until their next molt. If you pluck you will have 6-8 weeks of fertile egg then the fertility drops as the feathers grow back. They do look more than a little rough for a while.

You pluck/trim the male around his vent and below. Probably farther than you imagine. You want it so his feathers can not bend back and up to block the vent area. Just keep checking as you go.
You pluck/trim the female around the vent and above. You keep checking as you go. Again you go higher than you think. Feathers should not come down and block the vent area.

Good Luck
Craig

 

[Black Cochin Bantams]

Wow - I've got a lot of catching up to do! I was one of those that wasn't getting my emails from BYC - just thought things were quiet.

Loving everyone's new pics!

Welcome Back, Casey!

Craig - EXCELLENT essay!

Stephanie - you can also check out www.cochinsint.com for pictures of Blacks. Check out the page for "Variety Photos" and also "Show Results/Photos".

Good to hear from you! We sure do miss you when you aren't on the Cochin thread with us.
Thank you for the compliment.

Craig

 

[Mr. Ree]

Can anyone post a pick of a show quality black cochin bantam. im goin to a show breeders property to pick out some show birds and i want to make sure i get show quality birds and not his cull birds

Just because you dont get a bird that looks SQ or what you may have seen to be SQ, but that doesnt mean the bird(s) can not or could not produce birds much better than themselves and help get you started is your own SQ line of birds. You shouldnt expect to get the very best looking birds put there, that isnt realistic in most cases. Just go with an open mind and ask questions, it will help you understand better. If you hear an explanation and dont understand it, ask for a demonstration. If this person is an established breeder they should be very happy to help, and this time of year shouldnt have any cull birds, or even offer them.

~Casey

 

[stephanie1992]

Just because you dont get a bird that looks SQ or what you may have seen to be SQ, but that doesnt mean the bird(s) can not or could not produce birds much better than themselves and help get you started is your own SQ line of birds. You shouldnt expect to get the very best looking birds put there, that isnt realistic in most cases. Just go with an open mind and ask questions, it will help you understand better. If you hear an explanation and dont understand it, ask for a demonstration. If this person is an established breeder they should be very happy to help, and this time of year shouldnt have any cull birds, or even offer them.

~Casey

ok thanks. the only reason im concered about getting culls is because someone i showed with raised show birds and let me come out and took me to a pen of his birds. I didnt know much about cochins then. he told me they were from his top breeders and they were the best he had. he sold me 5 birds for 30 bucks. i showed them. 3 were DQed for wrong leg color and the other 2 didnt place very high. the guy i showed with later told me they were from his top birds but where the ones he didnt want because they had problems. now ive studyed cochin standards and hopfully get better birds from this other breeder. i dnt expect to get perfect birds. just better than what i was sold before. i kept a few of the old ones for breeding and could use the new ones i get to improve them

 

[Black Cochin Bantams]

ok thanks. the only reason im concered about getting culls is because someone i showed with raised show birds and let me come out and took me to a pen of his birds. I didnt know much about cochins then. he told me they were from his top breeders and they were the best he had. he sold me 5 birds for 30 bucks. i showed them. 3 were DQed for wrong leg color and the other 2 didnt place very high. the guy i showed with later told me they were from his top birds but where the ones he didnt want because they had problems. now ive studyed cochin standards and hopfully get better birds from this other breeder. i dnt expect to get perfect birds. just better than what i was sold before. i kept a few of the old ones for breeding and could use the new ones i get to improve them

You mentioned something very important to me. That some were DQ. Look at the breed guidelines and remember them. It will prevent you from ever feeling took again. The $6 per bird you paid the first time is less than mine cost me to raise. That said they should have never sold DQ birds to someone who was going to show. I don't know if I would even breed from them unless willing to cull hard.

You mentioned leg color which make me think you should go to the Cochin International web page. Look at the index on top look for breed standards. It has a basic outline of characteristics for a good Cochin. Remember those or print them off as a reminder. I think the main things you watch for is eye color reddish bay not green or green/gray, leg color you want yellow on at least bottom of feet ( hens often loose the bright yellow you see in pullets as the result of laying eggs). Males need yellow foot bottoms. Never white foot bottoms.
TYPE is the most important thing.