Cochin Thread!!!

[mjgigax]

Beautiful!!!

So sorry for everyone's losses. I hate to hear about predators getting birds, it really stinks. I can't resist the urge to put a plug in for my dog. We have an 8 year old Great White Pyrenees who was trained as a livestock guardian as a pup and since we have had her we have lost maybe 2 birds to predators and she caught on really quick to how they got in the pen and put an end to it. We have a GP pup coming this summer to work with her. As far as I am concerned she is worth her weight in gold to not worry about my birds at night or even when they free range during the day. The only thing she has trouble with is hawks but she still barks at them when they fly over!


Molly, don't let her fluffy sweet looks fool you, she is a ferocious defender of her birds!

- to share part of your life with a good dog is a great gift.

 

[ki4got]

- to share part of your life with a good dog is a great gift.

my favorite dog quote...

"It came to me that every time I lose a dog they take a piece of my heart with them. And every new dog who comes into my life gifts me with a piece of their heart. If I live long enough, all the components of my heart will be dog, and I will become as generous and loving as they are."
--Unknown

 

[AndyCap]

Hi All, quick question from a new cockerel owner. My partridge boy who is 6-7 months old seems have lost his crow this morning. Apart from that he is behaving normally. Is this something that happens with cockerels from time to time? he is not breathing heavily and the only noticeable difference is the crow. Do they sometimes have a bad "crow" day, or should i keep a very close eye on him for the next few days?

 

[jen85]

Hi All, quick question from a new cockerel owner. My partridge boy who is 6-7 months old seems have lost his crow this morning. Apart from that he is behaving normally. Is this something that happens with cockerels from time to time? he is not breathing heavily and the only noticeable difference is the crow. Do they sometimes have a bad "crow" day, or should i keep a very close eye on him for the next few days?

. I had one do that and it lasted about a week. It went away, not sure what causes that but it sure worried me. He was perfectly fine otherwise.

 

[cochins1088]

Is there a limit for spur length for cochins? I was holding my black LF rooster and I noticed the size of his spurs. They are just over 3 inches long. He's about 3 years old, is it normal for LF cochin spurs to grow that large?

 

[County Boy]

Is there a limit for spur length for cochins? I was holding my black LF rooster and I noticed the size of his spurs. They are just over 3 inches long. He's about 3 years old, is it normal for LF cochin spurs to grow that large?

I have a bantam golden laced who's spurs are 5/8 inches. He is 4 years old. They may be longer now. I last measured them in November. He is used in the free range flock though so it is good he has them.

 

[cochins1088]

I have a bantam golden laced who's spurs are 5/8 inches. He is 4 years old. They may be longer now. I last measured them in November. He is used in the free range flock though so it is good he has them.

Only 5/8 inches? Really? My rooster, Tom, is also free ranged. I just measured his spurs and they are a full 3 inches long.

I don't keep him around for breeding. He's in my pet flock as the protector. He never mates with the hens but he always puts them first. If I give him a piece of cheese, he'll walk over to the nearest hen and give it to her. He's a sweet heart.

 

[ki4got]

Is there a limit for spur length for cochins? I was holding my black LF rooster and I noticed the size of his spurs. They are just over 3 inches long. He's about 3 years old, is it normal for LF cochin spurs to grow that large?

i think it varies among birds. i've got a dorking roo who's spurs make a nice 90 degree curve UP...

you can safely trim them a bit at a time with snips, but if you go too short at once he'll bleed. I use a dremel on my roo with the curved spurs. i have to be careful to keep them dull or he stabs himself when he sits on the roost at night. tho the girls don't seem to mind the curve, they don't get poked as easy as other roos might. but i do tend to keep all the roos a bit dulled at least. minimizes any damage if they decide to spar now and again.

 

[cochins1088]

i think it varies among birds. i've got a dorking roo who's spurs make a nice 90 degree curve UP...

you can safely trim them a bit at a time with snips, but if you go too short at once he'll bleed. I use a dremel on my roo with the curved spurs. i have to be careful to keep them dull or he stabs himself when he sits on the roost at night. tho the girls don't seem to mind the curve, they don't get poked as easy as other roos might. but i do tend to keep all the roos a bit dulled at least. minimizes any damage if they decide to spar now and again.

Thanks for the advice, I'll have to watch him when he sits and roosts to see if it's causing him any problems. He's a sweet boy so I don't mind his long spurs, but if they are bothering him, I'll try to shorten them.

 

[lilcrow]

my favorite dog quote...

"It came to me that every time I lose a dog they take a piece of my heart with them. And every new dog who comes into my life gifts me with a piece of their heart. If I live long enough, all the components of my heart will be dog, and I will become as generous and loving as they are."
--Unknown

I love it also, as you can see it's part of my signature and has been for years Zuccaro is the author as you can see.