Cochin Thread!!!

[mjgigax]

Quote:
When I got my first little blue hen that is so nice now, I thought she was black in the beginning, as she got older I noticed lacing on her contour feathers. She matured to the lovely dark blue, laced with navy and almost black head.
This is her as an adolescent. Wish I had a current pic.
http://i590.photobucket.com/albums/ss342/lilcrow7/My Chickens/goodblhen.jpg

Oh and the signature line.....I fell in love with when I saw it. I don't know the gal, but I've given her the credit for it. It couldn't be more true for who I am if I had written it myself.

Thanks for this picture. She is beautiful!
My blue pullet is 8 weeks old and I saw that her color was "different" only about 3 weeks ago and shee still looks black to me if she isn't standing near the black mottles. I don't need her for my breeding pens but she is so sweet and I can't wait to see her adult color.

 

[mjgigax]

Quote:
There is a thread on the genetics of the Self blue/Lavenders - https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=222829

 

[cochinman2005]

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I am certainly no expert, but the Lavender (or self-blue) is a completely different genetic color from the regular blue. They may not be a recognized color yet, but they are indeed a separate color.

Robert

Correct, the Self-Blue (Lavender) genetics are wholly different from the Blue genetics. The confusion lies in what we are calling them vs. what is recognized in the Standard of Perfection and the Bantam Standard. The Lavender genetics are recognized and defined as Self-Blue in both Standards. In the different breed club's quest to get Self-Blue varieties recognized (Silkie, Ameraucana), they have proposed introducing the term Lavender to head the color description. This was a topic of discussion during the recent ABA Board of Directors meeting in Columbus. Self-Blue is already a recognized variety, so why add another variety name to confuse things? The Silkies had a qualifying meet for the Self-Blue variety at Columbus, that went very well, from what I've read so far.

I am working on Self-Blue Bantam Cochins, and I have been very careful and purposeful, in describing them as Self-Blue whenever I discuss or write about them. I am a traditionalist and don't really see a need to add another variety name to either standard, and intend to (when the time comes), seek a qualifying meet for Self-Blue Cochins, not Lavender Cochins.

 

[wildwoodcochins]

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He's gorgeous!

...no matter what you call him!

 

[DANNY]

I agree with you Tom. To tell you the truth I don't know what got me started calling them Lavender. Maybe I read something from UK and they refered to them as Lavender. So I will try to refer to them as Self Blue from now on.
Quote:
I am certainly no expert, but the Lavender (or self-blue) is a completely different genetic color from the regular blue. They may not be a recognized color yet, but they are indeed a separate color.

Robert

Correct, the Self-Blue (Lavender) genetics are wholly different from the Blue genetics. The confusion lies in what we are calling them vs. what is recognized in the Standard of Perfection and the Bantam Standard. The Lavender genetics are recognized and defined as Self-Blue in both Standards. In the different breed club's quest to get Self-Blue varieties recognized (Silkie, Ameraucana), they have proposed introducing the term Lavender to head the color description. This was a topic of discussion during the recent ABA Board of Directors meeting in Columbus. Self-Blue is already a recognized variety, so why add another variety name to confuse things? The Silkies had a qualifying meet for the Self-Blue variety at Columbus, that went very well, from what I've read so far.

I am working on Self-Blue Bantam Cochins, and I have been very careful and purposeful, in describing them as Self-Blue whenever I discuss or write about them. I am a traditionalist and don't really see a need to add another variety name to either standard, and intend to (when the time comes), seek a qualifying meet for Self-Blue Cochins, not Lavender Cochins.

 

[oberhasli01]

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As a "newbie" to chickens, I appreciate the consistency. I will say that finding information on standards and color expectations is frustrating, at best. I don't anticipate getting into showing chickens nor do I desire to have a bunch of different breeds or varieties. Coming from a background in show dogs and for the past 20 years, dairy goats, I am just not use to the lack of easily accessible information on standards. You can go to any national breed club in either species and find just about everything you need to know on what the breed should look like. While the CI website lists a description of the breed, I couldn't even find a list of approved colors let alone a description of the colors. I don't want to invest yet in the APA standard book as this is a new project and I realize in other species there is a high turnover. Plus, I don't really care what a Silkie or Modern Game is suppose to look like, Spending $40+ to know expectations for 1 breed and 1 variety within the breed is a bit steep!

Tom

 

[cochinman2005]

Quote:
As a "newbie" to chickens, I appreciate the consistency. I will say that finding information on standards and color expectations is frustrating, at best. I don't anticipate getting into showing chickens nor do I desire to have a bunch of different breeds or varieties. Coming from a background in show dogs and for the past 20 years, dairy goats, I am just not use to the lack of easily accessible information on standards. You can go to any national breed club in either species and find just about everything you need to know on what the breed should look like. While the CI website lists a description of the breed, I couldn't even find a list of approved colors let alone a description of the colors. I don't want to invest yet in the APA standard book as this is a new project and I realize in other species there is a high turnover. Plus, I don't really care what a Silkie or Modern Game is suppose to look like, Spending $40+ to know expectations for 1 breed and 1 variety within the breed is a bit steep!

Tom

Howdy Tom,

I had to ask for permission to use the Breed desciption text from Standard on our website. You can't even get the color descriptions from the ABA or APA sites. I'll scan the color description areas for you for Cochins over the weekend and send your way.

Tom

 

[oberhasli01]

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Thanks, Tom. Guess I would think that would be information that the organizations would want easily accessible. If you can't find out what "good" ones are to be, how do breed for "good"?

I've been spoiled by dairy goats where not only is each breeds' standard readily available, we use a unified scorecard under which all breeds are evaluated and, at show, judges give reasons on each placement in each class so you can watch and listen and, at least in that judge's view, know exactly why 1 placed over 2, 2 over 3, etc. Of course" I don't think putting collars on the chickens and walking them around the ring will have quite the same effect.

My son showed rabbits for awhile and they were elusive with information but chickens seemed to be even more so. Seems to have a "good ol' boy" network feeling. You have been wonderful with information and were quite helpful in obtaining my foundation birds but that seems to not always be the case! (My ex wrote to a few of the secretaries of the breed clubs on breeds she wasn interested in and most didn't respond. I realize they're volunteers but if the primary contact person for the club cant hit reply on an email, the club may want to find a different point person.)

Sorry to vent but want to try and breed the best possible birds I can. I'd like to think I am not too "unique" (sounds better than being odd!) in wanting more accessible information.

Tom

 

[Chickielady]

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Well that looks interesting, but still, the lavender birds with a darker head/neck are prettier if you ask me...rather than a pure lav bird I mean...thanks for explaining.

I believe what you're referring to is a very light blue bird. I like them also, however in the world of "proper" cochins, there is no place for them, other than as pets. The proper blue color is more of a navy blue. It is two tone, laced hopefully, the head is darker than the rest of the body, the roo is very dark above and lighter on the lower part of his body.
This is one of my first cochins. I still have her, but she is only used as a broody. This pale blue is not an acceptable color for a cochin.
http://i590.photobucket.com/albums/ss342/lilcrow7/My Chickens/gracie4.jpg
This is the more appropriate "navy" blue that I was describing.
http://i590.photobucket.com/albums/ss342/lilcrow7/My Chickens/beau1.jpg
I think it was this thread that someone mentioned that there are no good birchens around. They are out there, you've just got to know where to look. This is one of my roos.
http://i590.photobucket.com/albums/ss342/lilcrow7/My Chickens/george-024.jpg
and my first birchen hen.
http://i590.photobucket.com/albums/ss342/lilcrow7/My Chickens/birchenpullet2.jpg
I've got some hens that are much better than this now.

OK maybe it is just me, but the bluish hen, and the roo, look identical to me other than their appropriate sexes...in other words they look to me like two of the same bird, only different sexes.
If the hen had been a male, it would look like the "more appropriate roo" so what is it I am missing ?
The hen's head looks the same color as the roo's hackle...was she not to be that dark ?
Is that it ?
Was she supposed to be all the light blue ?
(my Marans are)

 

[Chickielady]

Quote:
Correct, the Self-Blue (Lavender) genetics are wholly different from the Blue genetics. The confusion lies in what we are calling them vs. what is recognized in the Standard of Perfection and the Bantam Standard. The Lavender genetics are recognized and defined as Self-Blue in both Standards. In the different breed club's quest to get Self-Blue varieties recognized (Silkie, Ameraucana), they have proposed introducing the term Lavender to head the color description. This was a topic of discussion during the recent ABA Board of Directors meeting in Columbus. Self-Blue is already a recognized variety, so why add another variety name to confuse things? The Silkies had a qualifying meet for the Self-Blue variety at Columbus, that went very well, from what I've read so far.

I am working on Self-Blue Bantam Cochins, and I have been very careful and purposeful, in describing them as Self-Blue whenever I discuss or write about them. I am a traditionalist and don't really see a need to add another variety name to either standard, and intend to (when the time comes), seek a qualifying meet for Self-Blue Cochins, not Lavender Cochins.


I am not sure if I am more confused or if it is starting to dawn on me !

I was under the impression they were 2 different things and therefore had 2 different names and that blue will not breed true and that 'lavender' will.
I gotta go read up on this more.
For the longest time I did not want to as why should I confuse myself further on something that does not concern me...but the blue genetics do concern me...*Sigh!*