Cochin Thread!!!

[austinhart123]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=395464
SQ white cochins for sale. i also have white chicks from these birds for sale, and some lavender mottled splits on the BST forums, PM for details

 

[serendipityfarm]

Quote:
Depends on the variety and whether they are large or bantam. some of the varieties mature quicker than others. Generally speaking, for an established line of Cochins, once you've culled for the obvious, you may have to wait until they are 10-12 months old to make your final decision as far as type. For some of the not as common varieties you can cull for type earlier because they don't have the consistency of an established line.

So, there's still hope that my trio may mature at least a little better than they are currently (about 5 months)? I bought some Mille Fleur/Calico babies because Im new to chickens & naive (I liked the color). But the more I read on here, I'd really love to have some NICE birds. Not so sure I want to show or anything 9but wha can say?), just for my own enjoyment at the moment. I also figure, if I'm going to do something better to do it right.

Thanks for your reply. Maybe at some point I will post some pics for critique/advice, when I get up the courage!
~Terry

 

[davony's chicks]

Quote:
No matter what they are, they are pretty birds. I bought some "cochins" that turned out not to be cochins but they are still pretty and I love them just as much as the real cochins I have.

 

[mjgigax]

Hello Cochin Folks,
I posted the phots below on The Mille Fleur Cochin thread as I am just starting my project. I love the mille fleur colors but form is very important to me . I would also appreciate your opionions and advice. -

I uploaded some pictures of my two Mille pullets and my new Mille cockerel. I would like the opinion of anyone with more Mille Fleur and Cochin experience.
I think the roo has pretty good form; very broad chest and short back, very fluffy cushion (for a boy), lots of feathers on his feet and a nice comb. He is a little scruffy since he was in with several other roosters but is cleaning up nicely. He is about 6 mo. old. He has some beautiful vermillion in his hackles and saddle and some nice black in his tail. He has good chevrons in his chest but may be too red.
The two pullets are about 3 mo. old. The heavily speckled one has great color, even has chevrons on her feet but I am not sure she has good form. She is definately getting fluffier but her mostly buff little sister has a fuller cushion. The buff girl is getting more chevrons as she grows but that is not many.
Please tell me about my prospects

 

[Braclin]

Quote:
I've checked my catalogs but haven't found any in the standard size. Bantam only.

I'm going to offer up an opinion that I know a lot may differ with. Many only want to buy eggs or chicks, because they don't want other people's "culls". If you are buying from a reputable breeder with a well established quality line, you can do extremely well buying their "culls" (I hate that word!). If you are buying birds at 6 months to a year or year and a half, they have already been thru a couple rounds of culling, and the worst traits have already been weeded out. Again, with a reputable breeder with a well established quality line, your chances are pretty good that the older the bird is, the better (assuming the bird is still of a good breedable age). IMHO.

So is it possible to take a pair that don't quite meet the standard and have offspring that does? Or is this a dumb question?

 

[Braclin]

Quote:
Thanks! I've decided I have to have one. Now the adventure has just begun.

I have a a poor quality pair for sale if you want them

Rooster isn't bad, hen has very poor coloring and type both......her lacing is not clear.....big FAT hen though. It would be a start if you're interested.

Nella will you be coming to the Sadieville swap this month?

 

[Coopa Cabana]

Quote:
I'm going to offer up an opinion that I know a lot may differ with. Many only want to buy eggs or chicks, because they don't want other people's "culls". If you are buying from a reputable breeder with a well established quality line, you can do extremely well buying their "culls" (I hate that word!). If you are buying birds at 6 months to a year or year and a half, they have already been thru a couple rounds of culling, and the worst traits have already been weeded out. Again, with a reputable breeder with a well established quality line, your chances are pretty good that the older the bird is, the better (assuming the bird is still of a good breedable age). IMHO.

So is it possible to take a pair that don't quite meet the standard and have offspring that does? Or is this a dumb question?

There is no such thing as a dumb question. I've certainly asked my fair share.

Keep in mind that the SOP is the Standard of "Perfection". It describes the perfect bird. Any bird can meet the standard and be considered show quality as long as it doesn't have any disqualifying traits, such as vulture hocks or bare middle or outer toes. But just because you can show a bird without disqualifications doesn't mean its a good bird. I really don't think that you should expect to "breed up". Don't expect to take 2 birds with poor typed backs and expect to get quality backs. But if you have one with an exceptional back, you can pair it with one of a slightly lesser back, but you don't want to pair it with one that has a poor back. The worse the 2nd bird is, the lower your chances are of producting good offspring, and you will have to hatch that many more to see any good results. That being said, I used the "back" as an example because it carries the most judging points. So as far as the conformation of the 'back', I would always try and pair the absolute best I could find to start with, and not try to make any allowances here.

I put the attached worksheet together for myself a couple of weeks ago, to help me in my culling decisions. Please keep in mind that I am a novice and still learning. I based the entire worksheet on the SOP "Scale of Points" (excluding weight and condition/vigor). Basically, a "perfect" bird can earn 100 points: 48 for shape/type, 38 for color, 10 for condition/vigor, and 4 for weight/size. Different parts of the body receive more points than others. I broke it up into three sections: judging for shape/type, judging for color, and judging for both. It might help you in determining what factors are most relevant.

 

[Braclin]

Thanks Coopa, I think as a small timer here that i'd like to get a couple and see how i like them and then work my way from there. I've never had Cochins before but I saw a GLC and thought she was beautiful.

 

[NellaBean]

Quote:
I have a a poor quality pair for sale if you want them

Rooster isn't bad, hen has very poor coloring and type both......her lacing is not clear.....big FAT hen though. It would be a start if you're interested.

Nella will you be coming to the Sadieville swap this month?

No, but I will be up in georgetown 1 weeked in october.

 

[Urbanfarmerkc]

I have a cochin question. (I'm new and already got slammed because I posted a question inappropriately so if I need to ask this some place else let me know.)

I hatched a bunch of cochins with the idea that they would be my mini incubators. I have a lot of people who have decided to buy my eggs to hatch which is fine I guess. Most will never take these birds to show. I call my cochins barnyard cochins since I'm not trying to be true to any color. What I'm struggling with though is I have 5 roosters that need to be thinned down to 2. I have a mille fleur, a birchen, a red, a buff, and a mystery. I already know I'm keeping the birchen cause he is too pretty not to. The other problem is my mystery. He is by far the prettiest of them all. He is smaller with MUCH more colors, feathered legs like a cochin but he has a pea comb. I would keep him but although colors don't bother me when mixing cochins, breed does.

So here is the question, should I throw caution to the wind and keep this rare beauty and corrupt my breed with that pea comb or should I let him go and keep one of the others. The red and the buff bore me but I have more buff pullets than any other. I hear the mille fleur is rare (and pretty) so he is certainly a possibility. Anyway, that is the dilemma. Any advice Cochin lovers???

Dave