Cochin Thread!!!

[FlashPointFarm]

This is Sampson, we're thinking about showing him, but not sure if I want to take him anywhere yet!

And one of my black hens we're breeding him to.

And a blue hen

 

[Sweetfolly]

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Great pics, Annarie. And good luck on the mottled eggs. That's one color I haven't added to my collection yet, but just love. I think that's the hardest part in raising Cochins. I would like some in every color. They're just so darn cute-in every color they come in...

Thanks! I know - I want every color too!

I think I've settled on Columbian, Mottled, and White for now though. Actually, those Mottled eggs in the 'bator will mostly be solid Blues and Blacks split to Mottled...but I have a really nice little Blue cockerel who's out of a very nicely Mottled hen, so if I'm hoping for some girls out of these eggs to match up with him. Then, they should produce lots of very nicely Mottled chicks. I just love the whole process of breeding them and raising them, so I don't mind it taking a generation or two. I sort of suspect that you get better, cleaner Mottling when you breed from splits anyways.

Here's that little Blue guy, "Kirby" - he's such a sweetie. Loves to perch on people's arms!

 

[Black Cochin Bantams]

Flashpointfarms: I suggest that you show Thanksgiving weekend at Iowa City. The Eastern Iowa Poultry club puts it on. Nice people putting on a good show. Last year a little over 2000 birds. Your birds look nice but can't truly judge them from pictures. It would be my luck to have some that nice and they would start to molt the day before the show. Please show and I hope you enjoy the experience. For all of you with cochins I hope you will attend a show (if only to look around). Showing can be fun and frustrating. I always enjoy the people I get to meet at poultry shows. I won't deny that I would love to win but that isn't what makes showing fun for me. Good people and good poultry make my day!

 

[mame1616]

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That's exactly how I feel - I love to go and see the other poultry people, and see everyone's birds. If I win something, great - if I don't, great. I can't wait for the shows.

 

[FlashPointFarm]

I have a feeling we've met before down in Burlington! I just joined EIPA this year, will be going to help with the set up of the show on Turkey Day. This will be my first show, poultry show anyway.

I'm going to show up there either way. Probably enter some birds for the experience. Not planning on winning anything. I'm bringing a pair of Black Ameraucana's for sure. Possibly a Golden Laced Polish. Phil found me a SLW cockerel and I'm getting a Lavender Ameraucana from Sharon at the show.

I have some Underwood RIR's. They are so big, very lanky looking right now.

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[elieugene6]

These are my two black bantam cochins. Bought this past august, she is 6 months and he is 5. My kids named them he is Buddy and she is Cutie pie.

Do bantam cochins roost? I have a post but not getting many responses and I thought maybe this would be the place to ask. Mine just don't seem to want to leave the ground. Except the roo who seems to have little man issues as he attacks my standard hens.

 

[new chick 203]

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my girls are all about roosting, and have quite the sense of humor and will roost on my head if i'm bent over weeding.

 

[elieugene6]

That's what I thought. Of course I would get stuck with the weird ones. Do you think its possible that its just because they lived in cages until I got them?

 

[Sweetfolly]

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Only about half of my Cochins roost. ALL of my Blue Mottleds sleep in a heap on the floor, even though I spent a good hour toiling all by my lonesome trying to put a nice, level roost in their coop for them - the coop is an A-frame, but apparently I didn't get the angles quite right, because I couldn't get the darned roost to fit in there right - and then trying to hold it level while I was attaching it to the walls...it was a nightmare - and for what?! They don't even use it!

One of my White hens roosts all by herself, while the other White hen and the rooster sleep on the ground.

Now, my Columbians, they throw a fit if they don't have a roost, and they squabble amongst themselves for the "good spots". Apparently, there's a specific order they have to be on the roost in - Henry can't roost next to Darcy, and Bridgette absolutely MUST roost next to April.

 

[mame1616]

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Only about half of my Cochins roost. ALL of my Blue Mottleds sleep in a heap on the floor, even though I spent a good hour toiling all by my lonesome trying to put a nice, level roost in their coop for them - the coop is an A-frame, but apparently I didn't get the angles quite right, because I couldn't get the darned roost to fit in there right - and then trying to hold it level while I was attaching it to the walls...it was a nightmare - and for what?! They don't even use it!

One of my White hens roosts all by herself, while the other White hen and the rooster sleep on the ground.

Now, my Columbians, they throw a fit if they don't have a roost, and they squabble amongst themselves for the "good spots". Apparently, there's a specific order they have to be on the roost in - Henry can't roost next to Darcy, and Bridgette absolutely MUST roost next to April.

I know what you mean! I routed and sanded an eight foot, two-level roost low to the floor for all my big girls, and they insist on sitting in a carpet of poop on top of the nest boxes I built. I didn't anticipate that, or I would have put something on top of it. Only those low down in the pecking order sit on the roosts. I even bolted to roosts to the floor - they are so strong I can stand on them. Stupid birds.

And yeah, what IS with the fighting over the sleeping spaces every night? I have to make sure I'm not in there with them, because next thing you know, I'm yelling at everyone to shut up and settle down and stop fighting. Makes me feel like I'm losing my mind. And they all end up in the same places, so just SHUT UP!