Cochin Thread!!!

[kabhyper1]

I think Cochins and Silkies have a free pass from being used for meat. They lay yummy eggs, and they are cheaper to run than an incubator for hatching. They also have wonderful personalites. I don't see a reason to kill them unless they were mean or ill.
Broody Lavender .. such a good momma......


She won't cut the cord. They are almost 4 months now.

 

[dak]

And gain a useful bird. If the breed used to have those qualities and still have "type" then it can again. It would just take some time, I'm thinking. What I can't imagine is why so many folks just want feather and type but no usefulness out of the breed. That's a conundrum. Why settle for mediocrity if one is to put so much time and effort into a breed?

When you show me this imaginary dual purpose show winning bird, I'll eat my words. I'll get my eggs from my hatchery gold sex-links and most of my meat from the grocery. My birds reproduce sufficiently to give me plenty to show in the fall.

Edited by Staff

 

[theadvocate19]

Any bantam hens near Tampa bay, Florida? my SO is gonna kick my butt if I get any more chickens!

 

[Beekissed]

When you show me this imaginary dual purpose show winning bird, I'll eat my words. I'll get my eggs from my hatchery gold sex-links and most of my meat from the grocery. My birds reproduce sufficiently to give me plenty to show in the fall.

What? You don't eat chickens or eggs?

Show winning...there lies the rub. Winning shows is nice, I guess. Can't really eat a trophy or a ribbon, though. Just interested in chickens being chickens and when talking of original traits, really interested in seeing that a breed performs like it originally did.

Everyone approaches breeding from a different perspective, one to win shows or a name, others dedicated to breed excellence and both of those have a different definition as to what makes a breed excellent. You like feathers and gloss and I like a little more substance under the fluff. I think we can agree to disagree on what we consider garbage.

 

[dak]

What? You don't eat chickens or eggs?

Show winning...there lies the rub. Winning shows is nice, I guess. Can't really eat a trophy or a ribbon, though. Just interested in chickens being chickens and when talking of original traits, really interested in seeing that a breed performs like it originally did.

Everyone approaches breeding from a different perspective, one to win shows or a name, others dedicated to breed excellence and both of those have a different definition as to what makes a breed excellent. You like feathers and gloss and I like a little more substance under the fluff. I think we can agree to disagree on what we consider garbage.

I think we disagree on what we consider substance. Show me the marathon runner that wins the 50 yard dash. The champion swimmer that excels at gymnastics. Biology and genetics quickly show us that nature limits its gifts. The Arab will beat the Quarter horse crossing the desert, but won't have the speed for the 1/4 mile. Breed what you want, but there are broilers for meat (in 6 weeks), and as I stated before, I get more eggs than I need for a couple gold sex links.

 

[Beekissed]

I think we disagree on what we consider substance. Show me the marathon runner that wins the 50 yard dash. The champion swimmer that excels at gymnastics. Biology and genetics quickly show us that nature limits its gifts. The Arab will beat the Quarter horse crossing the desert, but won't have the speed for the 1/4 mile. Breed what you want, but there are broilers for meat (in 6 weeks), and as I stated before, I get more eggs than I need for a couple gold sex links.

And somewhere, in the history of your fluffy bird, are the genetics of an athlete. Just because someone took him apart and turned him into a sissy doesn't mean those genetics can't be found once again. Doesn't it even make you a little curious as to what the breed could be if given half a chance? This breed once had amazing gifts that were well documented. Some of those traits were even used to create/augment other breeds...that's a thing to be proud of.

 

[ki4got]

What good is a minature horse?

LOL ponies and minis were used in the mines to haul ore carts. they are still quite useful in driving, but with the advent of the auto, nobody (except maybe the amish) drives anymore except for show it seems.

they are ridable by children as well. my senior stallion is capable of carrying almost 200 pounds on his back if we go on extended trail rides as well, on his pack saddle.

my dream is to do a long distance ride with nothing more than myself, 1 riding horse and 2 minis and a well-designed cart. (ok that's the simplified version, the reality is a much longer description).

 

[dak]

And somewhere, in the history of your fluffy bird, are the genetics of an athlete. Just because someone took him apart and turned him into a sissy doesn't mean those genetics can't be found once again. Doesn't it even make you a little curious as to what the breed could be if given half a chance? This breed once had amazing gifts that were well documented. Some of those traits were even used to create/augment other breeds...that's a thing to be proud of.

I think you are ignoring the fact that an organism can not excel in all departments. I prefer excellence in a few traits to mediocrity in all.

 

[dak]

The majority of the breeders in this thread are very happy with our birds. We will continue to enjoy, and improve them according to the SOP put forth by the APA and ABA.

 

[ki4got]

Also, though I've never had LF cochins myself, in all the historical documents I've read, I've seen that the LF cochins. while large, also tended towards a tougher less desirable texture of meat, which is why it was not used in many meat bird crosses specifically.

as such that's why I chose a different breed for my meat/eggs, and chose the bantam cochin for it's appearance.

if you want a breed to do something specific, I'd suggest finding a breed that already does just that and not trying to reinvent the wheel or change a breed that doesn't into something else entirely. if you try to take the LF cochin "back to what it was" it will no longer be recognizable as a LF cochin IMO...