Cochin Thread!!!

[Coopa Cabana]

If you decide to trim instead of plucking, please be sure and use a blunt-end scissors!! Dimestore magnifying eyeglasses are a big help as well. And outside, downwind, helps, or you can end up with a mouthful of fluff!! That stuff just seems to disintegrate as you trim.

 

[WestKnollAmy]

Spoken from experience! LOL

 

[Reyvaughn]

I have opted to trim mine. Okay, I pluck Bryon because he's so nasty - my way of revenge. It made quite a difference, that's for sure! I went from 100% fertility to 75-80%.

A 2nd set of hands helps, too.

 

[Ivywoods]

Thanks, everyone. I have pretty much decided if I'm going to get any chicks I better trim them. I don't think I can bear to pluck that many feathers as it's going to take, so I think the scissors will be my choice, at least this time.

How much do I trim?
What feathers need to be trimmed?
Other than waiting and watching for chick development, how do I know when "enough is enough?"

Here is a pic of my OLD rooster. He died this year. Unfortunately when I got my hen I think he was too old and I never got any chicks out of him. He was about 10 years old when this was taken. The black feathers on his head had turned to brown, kind of like gray hair.


Here is a picture of Imelda. She had more feathers on her feet than Imelda had shoes. Unfortunately she died unexpectedly. I don't know why..


Here is Donkey. It's going to take some major fluff removal. I don't have a pic of my new roo. He's major fluffy, too.


Not the best picture, but you get the idea. My camera is just too slow to take good posed pictures of moving chickens.

 

[Black Cochin Bantams]

I have a pair of nice bantam black cochins. So far I have had "0" fertility. They are both VERY heavily feathered. I haven't had any luck with the AI thing, so I am wondering if there is a link to some pictures, a tutorial or a video on the correct way to trim around their vents. I'm pretty sure this is the problem. My little hen has such a big badonkadonk I call her Donkey. I tried searching but what I have come up with hasn't been very helpful.

Thank you to anyone who can help. My hen is laying right now, so I would like to get some chicks out of her.

You trim or pluck the male from the vent down checking regularly that when you put your hand under his breast like he is breeding his feathers do not roll back and block fertilization. The females need to be plucked from the vent and up. Checking that when male is on top feathers do not come down and block fertilization. It is a lot of feathers if done right and they will not grow back until they molt. Plucked feathers will be back enough to block fertilization in 6-8 weeks. Good luck!
Craig

 

[skyl3r]

Ok, So I got my supposed "silver laced cochin" out for more pics. Here are the pics I promised. The little girl wasn't too excited about showing off her wings Hope these help. I have no idea what this is. There are little white streaks here and there on the shaft of her feathers. Then on the wings some look kinda painted or splashed??, but some are speckled with brown/beige too?? Let me know what you think! Any opinions are appreciated!

Here is the little white feather shaft things (sorry if my anatomy is incorrect)


Left wing with the splashed areas on feathers, then the inner feathers have brown speckled areas.


Slightly out of focus (my silkie was confusing the camera). Here you can see the little brown black speckled parts.

Hey y'all, I was wondering what you think of my lil funny colored cochin?

 

[Samantha P]

Ivy are yours LF or bantam?

 

[Ivywoods]

You trim or pluck the male from the vent down checking regularly that when you put your hand under his breast like he is breeding his feathers do not roll back and block fertilization. The females need to be plucked from the vent and up. Checking that when male is on top feathers do not come down and block fertilization. It is a lot of feathers if done right and they will not grow back until they molt. Plucked feathers will be back enough to block fertilization in 6-8 weeks. Good luck!
Craig

Thanks! That is exactly what I needed to know.

SamanthaP -Mine are bantam.

 

[TexasChick09]

Ok, I think this one is old enough to tell the sex of. I have been calling it a roo so far. Am I right?

 

[ki4got]

Quote:

Ok, I think this one is old enough to tell the sex of. I have been calling it a roo so far. Am I right?

i'd say so...