Cochin Thread!!!

[burbanchick]

I'm new here and new to owning chickens. I have a couple of rocks and one white cochin pullet. I noticed this morning when I went out to feed them that her leg feathers look funny. I don't like the looks of them. Anyone know what this is and what I can do about it? Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[AndyCap]

I'm new here and new to owning chickens. I have a couple of rocks and one white cochin pullet. I noticed this morning when I went out to feed them that her leg feathers look funny. I don't like the looks of them. Anyone know what this is and what I can do about it? Thanks for any suggestions.

is she not moulting?

 

[burbanchick]

She's only 8 weeks old. I don't think she should be moulting yet, do you?

 

[AndyCap]

She's only 8 weeks old.  I don't think she should be moulting yet, do you?

they are probably pin feathers then. Is there a "sheath" with a bit of feather sticking out the end? Can't really tell from the picture.

 

[annewandering]

they are probably pin feathers then. Is there a "sheath" with a bit of feather sticking out the end? Can't really tell from the picture.

They are pin feathers.

 

[ki4got]

I'm new here and new to owning chickens. I have a couple of rocks and one white cochin pullet. I noticed this morning when I went out to feed them that her leg feathers look funny. I don't like the looks of them. Anyone know what this is and what I can do about it? Thanks for any suggestions.

that's normal. those are new feathers growing in. they're called blood feathers, or pin feathers. nothing you can do about them. as the feather grows it has a waxy sheath covering it that breaks off and lets the feather out. if you break one of these feathers down into the pinkish area, it will bleed because there's a blood vessel that feeds the feather as it grows. once the feather's done growing the blood vessels recede and the feather shaft hardens further.

all birds have these. when an old feather falls out or is pulled out, a new feather grows in it's place. some birds moult all at once, other birds spread it out over a longer time frame. shorter feathers can take up to 6 weeks to grow out fully, longer feathers a matter of months sometimes, depending on the feather and how long it is.

 

[TheLittlestPig]

We have some cochin bantam roosters and they are very loud! I agree with another post though, the more roosters there are, the louder they will be. I think they like to challenge each other. At one time, we only had one cochin bantam rooster. He would crow in the morning and then be quiet throughout the day (unless something set him off) and then would crow a couple of times in the evening. I don't find the crowing annoying and our neighbors have never said anything.

 

[burbanchick]

They're definitely pin feathers. It looks, though, like all the fuzziness is gone from those feathers. Also, her legs look a little too pinkish around them. I don't ever see her plucking at them. I just don't know.

 

[Black Cochin Bantams]

I'm new here and new to owning chickens. I have a couple of rocks and one white cochin pullet. I noticed this morning when I went out to feed them that her leg feathers look funny. I don't like the looks of them. Anyone know what this is and what I can do about it? Thanks for any suggestions.

Normal. It looks strangest on my Whites and Columbians. That is the sheath on the feathers. She will do this several more times before she is grown. Welcome to the world of Cochins! 1 likely won't be enough because Cochins do grow on you.

 

[burbanchick]

I'm in the suburbs and not supposed to have ANY chickens, so I got three hens. Originally 4 but the little light brahma died by day 2. I mail ordered them, which I will NEVER do again! They all had pasty butt and I cleaned them up. The Cochin pooped a great big poop right away. The little Brahma was just too constipated by that time. Way too traumatic to ship day old chicks. Live and learn. The cochin is really beautiful and sweet but the rocks are ridiculously friendly. The cochin (Sister) won't let me pick her up much but when I finally do she's calm and sweet. The other two get up on my shoulders and nuzzle into my neck. Sweeties. Love them all. They're our pets. I have to keep them in their pen for a couple more weeks and then I can let them hang around in the fenced back yard while I'm out there to keep an eye on them. They love bugs more than I can express and get sooooooo excited to find a cricket, run around peep peep peeeping with the others chasing after. Sister is the dominant pullet (she's a little bigger than the other two) and has chosen the window in the hen house to perch in at night. Funny, just a couple of weeks ago all three could fit up there. Love my chickens! Thanks for the info. I can't believe you're so far away in Johannisburg! Is it yesterday or tomorrow there for me? Which way do I look at that?