Cochin Thread!!!

[Sanna]

Thank you. Obviously, I am very new to this and only set out wanting some "pretty" chickens running around, thus I fell in love with the Cochins.
After one of the post here, I am some what afraid to ask "uneducated" questions concerning color, genetics, standards etc. I do not want to offend any "expert" breeders by asking uneducated questions and/or to not show respect to the breed (because currently my various colors and/or various qualities breed together.)
Once again, thank you for taking the time to explain what "type" means, much appreciated.

I am pretty new to chickens also, especially Cochins. I've had Silkies for a couple of years as pets, but 2012 was the first year when I decided to get some better quality birds in hopes of showing and breeding. This year, my "chicks" are old enough for shows and breeding. Can't wait until spring! I get to collect my very first eggs that will hopefully hatch out some nice birds.

I give you breeders a lot of credit answering all the questions here! It's great information for all of us and I try to save a lot of the things I read here on my computer for further reference.

After many attempts I finally was able to copy this post by Gail from the Cochin International FB Page to help explain type. Gail copied a picture of a Tom Roebuck to make this. I think it a very good visual reference.

When you think Cochin, think round, think circles. Look at how perfect these circles are. And remember that the beak should be slightly back of a line drawn perpendicular with the breast, and that a line drawn parallel with the top of the tail should bisect the eyes (males), or top of the comb (females).

I think this picture and the description are excellent. I saved this on my computer to help me better understand what I'm looking at. I can always go back to it when I have questions before posting here.

 

[ki4got]

Quote: I'm proud to know all the dedicated cochin breeders here
i have to say, i had an awesome mentor when i first started with cochins, but this group has given me more insight, tips, and information than I could have hoped to get after 15 years chicken-less (ie, i forgot more than i remembered LOL)

 

[lilcrow]

Thank you. Obviously, I am very new to this and only set out wanting some "pretty" chickens running around, thus I fell in love with the Cochins.
After one of the post here, I am some what afraid to ask "uneducated" questions concerning color, genetics, standards etc. I do not want to offend any "expert" breeders by asking uneducated questions and/or to not show respect to the breed (because currently my various colors and/or various qualities breed together.)
Once again, thank you for taking the time to explain what "type" means, much appreciated.

Stacy, I don't doubt that you may have been snapped at by a breeder and it's possible it could have even been me at one time or another. I know that most of us want to help and encourage newbies, particularly anyone committed to the future of Cochins. From the time that I started in chickens/Cochins I have received nothing but kindness and help from the established breeders. That is not because there is anything special about me, or any other mysterious reason, it's just that I have consistently moved in the direction of demonstrating my devotion to the breed, and verbalizing my gratitude for the help that has been given to me. I have also done a lot of searching/researching on the NET or any other place that I can get information. I believe what the "old timers" get aggravated about is being asked questions that are easily found in beginner books or literature that everyone should have researched before they even got their first chicken. The recent post by Craig, Black Cochin Bantams that is a quote from a discussion the Cochins International members were having about this very topic - getting aggravated with certain questions - specifically "what would I get if I bred X to Y" is an example of one of those aggravating questions. Coopa Cabana made the point that folks who ask this question probably have no business breeding anything to anything.
I don't know if that helped or hurt the situation, but if you're serious about Cochins hang in there.

 

[riversedgefarm]

I understand the newbies problems as I am a newbie and I have bought every book I can I don't have a lot of ways to look online as I only have a phone. That is how I'm posting now. There a lot of websites u can't pull up on a phone. But I have posted pics as well as asked a question or 2 and have got nice ppl and some ppl who make u feel like a real dumb *****. So now I hardly ever post I just read. I must say to them ppl out there that are the "pro" breeders when u get kinda of rude try to remember you was the new breeder once.

 

[12eggs]

I have to laugh.. yes there are questions that are repeatedly asked, however does that mean they have to be answered by the Breeders that are disgruntled or frustrated that the questions are being asked again ? I read the question AND answer to the color / genetic the other day .. and Craig answered it .. and his answer thru me as just a new wanna be owner of the Bantam Chicken. In fact i thought hmmm maybe i will just own Silkies... on that thread I havent read too many that seem too busy or frustrated to answer repeated questions nor throw it in someones face that if you ask a certain question maybe you should not be breeding .... and a few of you agreed... I realized all of you that agreed are the big breeders.... hmmm did you all start breeding by asking questions just as simple ?? as the ones like all are asking ? or did u go staight to the site where all questions are posted and just read and read ?? I doubt it. Just saying....

 

[dak]

I have to laugh.. yes there are questions that are repeatedly asked, however does that mean they have to be answered by the Breeders that are disgruntled or frustrated that the questions are being asked again ? I read the question AND answer to the color / genetic the other day .. and Craig answered it .. and his answer thru me as just a new wanna be owner of the Bantam Chicken. In fact i thought hmmm maybe i will just own Silkies... on that thread I havent read too many that seem too busy or frustrated to answer repeated questions nor throw it in someones face that if you ask a certain question maybe you should not be breeding .... and a few of you agreed... I realized all of you that agreed are the big breeders.... hmmm did you all start breeding by asking questions just as simple ?? as the ones like all are asking ? or did u go staight to the site where all questions are posted and just read and read ?? I doubt it. Just saying....

I did read and read and read. I find that all the info is out there if you look for it. This is the computer age. If I found discrepancies in the information, then I asked questions. That is the purpose for these threads, to allow someone to educate themselves. Most breed clubs also provide basic info for newbies. If you want someone to take their time to answer repetitive questions, be considerate and do some basic research. We are all very busy this time of year setting up breeding pens and incubating and attending to incubators and brooders. Respect the time and effort you expect from others by putting in some yourself.

 

[12eggs]

Exactly - so does that mean those that are busy HAVE to answer ? Can you not go by that question , let someone else answer that does have the time ? and let snide comments drop. But also i was referring to answers that turn off people completely to wanting to even have chickens.. or Bantams.... as I mentioned.... the answer Craig gave the other day... to a simple question about genetics/colors. Are you telling me that if someone asks a question here it has to be answered by people that are busy ??? Or that this thread is only for special status breeders with certain topics on their agenda ? I am very confused ?

 

[12eggs]

I tried to read on that genetics honestly .. i became more confused.. . just an FYI. I wont even put one of the questions on the thread. Luckily I wont even be breeding. I just want chickens... as pets.

 

[ki4got]

I can see where some people might get the wrong idea from craig's post... I don't think it was aimed at anyone in particular, but at the same time might have been worded a bit better. yes i know it was a quote, but could have been paraphrased maybe.

the topic of breeding x to y and 'what will i get' is repeated quite often, sometimes aggravatingly so. and 9 times out of 10, you won't get anything predictable most likely. but IMO, if you want to produce mutts that can't be shown, simply for more egg layers and meat birds (excess roosters), have at it. .

but don't try to go off and say they are 'purebred' cochins, since they're not. that's what aggravates me the most, are people at local swaps, trying to sell something as purebred that has no place even being called *fill in the breed name here*.

my 2 primary breeds are bantam cochins and dorkings. yes, i have projects in both breeds, of unrecognized (by the American Poultry Association) color varieties, but at the same time, i also have an understanding of the genetics behind the varieties i'm working with, and a definite goal in mind. not just indiscriminately breeding random birds to see what i get. my dorkings are just the opposite... one strain has been mixed up so much over the years that it won't breed true anymore, and i'm trying to sort out what mutations are actually being worked with. so in this respect, yes i'm breeding these ?? birds to plain red roosters, to 'see what happens'. but my goal here is to narrow down the mutations that ARE there and eliminate the ones that shouldn't be. again, there's a definate goal at work.

it's those 'oops' birds that I see at a lot of swaps being sold as 'purebred' cochins, when one parent was a black the other buff, and the chicks come out with random markings and colorations. blacks with red leakage, buff-ish birds with odd black feathers here and there, whatever. and the parents weren't show quality birds to begin with either, so the type is vaguely cochin-ish but they have stiff tail feathers, lacking in a decent cushion, sparse foot feathering, and the list goes on...

so unless you're asking about breeding a gold to silver of the same variety (laced, birchen/brown red, partridge/penciled, columbian, etc) your results will NOT be predictable. especially when a solid colored bird is involved, as the genes involved in those varieties tend to mask other mutations that can remain hidden for generations. go back and look at Andy Capp's birchen-ish chick that resulted from breeding a black to a white...

sorry if i rambled too much... i might answer these 'what do i get' posts occasionally, but for the most part, unless you want to produce essentially mutt birds, i wouldn't.

 

[12eggs]

you didnt ramble on too much for me.. and you did enlighten me... so thank you !!!