Cochin Thread!!!

[roostersandhens]

This is mu Cochin mix Hoot:

 

[joanie_maine]

New England Bantam Club Show last weekend. The five red bantam cochins are mine!

 

[ihavechickens2]

awesome, I like him and the brown red hen sticking her head out behind him.

 

[Scifisarah]

Your first show? Congrats! I go to many within my state. I plan to get more cochins to show, because my cock does not do very well. The only problems I have with those cages is that they are too small for fluffier birds like cochins and brahmas. (bantams) It is a tight squeeze. Pack things to do! Shows get really boring. I know you probably know this, but bring lots of water. Do not feed your bird until he has been judged, and do not walk in an isle that the judge is judging in. It is disrespectful, and the judge needs space to stand back and look at the birds. water your birds in plastic dixie cups. Have fun!!

Do you think it is necessary to stay at the show all day? I haven't been to Tennessee since I was a child so I was hoping to get some sightseeing in with my husband while we are there. I'm not sure what is proper show etiquette though? We only have two shows here in Michigan, one in the spring and one in the fall. I'm sure I'll enter in those next year.

 

[atotton]

Quote:

• roostersandhens
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• Location: On the Farm With My Chickens in California!
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This is mu Cochin mix Hoot:




Love the colouring!

 

[Reyvaughn]

This is mu Cochin mix Hoot:

She looks like an Orp x Cochin cross... Mauve or blue?

 

[2seth2]

For conditioning avoid wire they can touch and have a solid bottom.

 

[Scifisarah]

For conditioning avoid wire they can touch and have a solid bottom.

It is plastic coated wire, do you think that would be okay? I am allergic to wood shavings, so he'll have to go out in the garage otherwise as I can't have them in the house. I wonder if there are any alternatives to the wood shavings for bedding that he would not try to eat? Mostly he sits on his 1x2 roost. He looks awfully cute in my living room!

 

[brahmabreeder]

Are LF white Cochins like Brahmas in that they should be eight to ten months old before they are shown? BTW I love your little guy Sarah.

 

[lilcrow]

I do have a double bantam show cage for practicing that, but I mean more for the month before. I've read that I am supposed to keep them more or less solitary confined for about a month and imagine I would want them to be able to flap their wings, and not lose muscle tone.

Thank you for the explanation of removing them from a show cage though. I would rather not feel like a fool when I can't get my chicken out of the cage at a show!

I just found somebody with this cage used for only $30, so I think I will give that a try. I am intrigued by the floor, meant to be for a rabbit. Hopefully it will let chicken poo through it as well!

http://www.amazon.com/Prevue-Produc...1384905459&sr=8-1&keywords=prevue+rabbit+cage

OK, I think what they're talking about is conditioning, meaning to make sure their feathers are all intact, none are broken, hens don't have any feathers missing from their heads from roosters breeding them. It takes more than 1 mo to achieve this, it needs to start from the last molt. They need to be kept alone and on shavings so they don't break any feathers. I've got several birds separated right now and it is admitedly a lot of extra work, but it does make a huge difference in the way they look at show time. Cochins deal with confinement much better than most breeds so if you keep them in an area about 2' X 3' this is more than big enough and they won't suffer for it. I do have a hen that doesn't like being caged very well, but I think her noise making is just more noticeable because she's up close.