Cochin Thread!!!

[Jharper]

No yellow feet swarthy legs....I breed to standard
This is what she said about the feet.

 

[mckeesbackyard]

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I just recently acquired 7 bantam cochins. Out of that I have 4 cockerels--1 black frizzle, 1 mottled black, 1 mille fleur & 1 maybe a silver laced (not sure). But of all the cockerels, "Lightning McQueen" is my favorite! He's about 4-5 weeks old.

 

[lilcrow]

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I just recently acquired 7 bantam cochins. Out of that I have 4 cockerels--1 black frizzle, 1 mottled black, 1 mille fleur & 1 maybe a silver laced (not sure). But of all the cockerels, "Lightning McQueen" is my favorite! He's about 4-5 weeks old.

Very cute, is he a bantam or LF?

 

[mckeesbackyard]

"Lightning" is a bantam

 

[mibirder]

jharper-

Do keep in mind that the Birchen is on the ER allele and Black is most likely the E allele so the offspring will be split for the Birchen coloration. They will likely lack breast lacing and have slightly less of the hackle pattern - assuming both the Birchen and Blacks are typical and pure breeding lines.

You'd get a few ER-ER offspring from a second generation back cross. (Daughters to the Birchen Rooster).

 

[Jharper]

jharper-

Do keep in mind that the Birchen is on the ER allele and Black is most likely the E allele so the offspring will be split for the Birchen coloration. They will likely lack breast lacing and have slightly less of the hackle pattern - assuming both the Birchen and Blacks are typical and pure breeding lines.

You'd get a few ER-ER offspring from a second generation back cross. (Daughters to the Birchen Rooster).

That's what I was thinking about doing.

 

[PsycoPeep]

I tossed out more eggs last night. Day 13. I'm loosing quite a few of them. I was so happy to see I had 12+ out of 20 developing. IDK what I have now, I'd have to go recount, but prob only 1/2. Everybody always says to buy eggs vs live chickens due to health and disease, but most of the eggs don't even make it. Seems like a waste of money to me... {{feeling disheartened}}

 

[ki4got]

I tossed out more eggs last night. Day 13.

I'm loosing quite a few of them. I was so happy to see I had 12+ out of 20 developing. IDK what I have now, I'd have to go recount, but prob only 1/2. Everybody always says to buy eggs vs live chickens due to health and disease, but most of the eggs don't even make it. Seems like a waste of money to me... {{feeling disheartened}}

buying hatching eggs is always a gamble... I don't know who would say eggs vs live birds. personally for what I would spend on a doxen hatching eggs, for a bit more I could probably buy a quality pair that are ready to breed a whole lot sooner. yeah they go thru quarantine, but that's a simple thing.

 

[Fancy Feathers]

Very true. Hatching eggs seems like the cheaper way to go but it almost never works out that way.

So many variables, including incubator and operator issues!

For instance how many times are you candeling/ opening the incubator/ handling the eggs? I usually candle at day 7 or so, then again when I move the eggs to the hatching tray. That's it. On shipped eggs I still only expect to hatch half of them at most, and I'm super happy about any of them that hatch.

 

[3riverschick]

Quote: Absolutely! Fancy Feathers is right! Spend the extra money to buy started birds from a superior veteran linebred strain. Get birds 8-12 weeks old at least. That way you know the breeder has selected them at least once for quality. I spent years trying to get started in different breeds with eggs and day old chicks. This is the time of year when breeders are downsizing their stock for overwintering...so you have a chance to obtain some really nice stock in your chosen breed. Then I spent the extra money and got started birds and met with success. The initial outlay for your birds is the least amount of money you will spend getting started in poultry. It costs the same to feed disappointments as it does winners.
Check you buy from an NPIP flock. This person participates in the National Poultry Improvement Plan and has had their flock blood tested to make sure they are free of several diseases.
Best,
Karen
Waterford English Light Sussex
PA, USA