Cochin Thread!!!

[lilcrow]

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I'm not sure what your goal is, meaning do you plan to show or are you just wanting to breed pretty chickens? I think splash is pretty, but you can't accrue points on them, it's not an APA accepted color in cochins.
Your first hen is possibly the best bird. In general the overall "shape" of your splash birds is too tall. A good cochin should look like a basketball or soccer ball with a head on it. That's why hens show better than roos, roos tend to get tall. I noticed one of your young roos is a "pretty" boy but way too tall. He's got the long, tall neck that he shouldn't have.
As far as the mille fleur go, I'm not a fan of them unless someone is committed to working on perfecting them. Personally, I think there should be more pictures of the European birds displayed so that people can see what they should be working toward. I have a "mille fleur" pullet that I picked up at the National, and I can sit and just stare at her because I think she's so interesting and her colors so beautiful, but in truth, she is NOT a mille fleur, I 'd call her a mille fleur "project" at best. The truth is she's just a pretty chicken.

 

[Funky Feathers]

I like to show for the fun of it, I am not trying to win "Champion" or anything. I like to get the new AOV colors out there for people to see. So I guess I just like to breed pretty chickens. I am working on the MFC project with the other serious breeders, trying to improve them, but also having fun seeing what colors pop up. It can be hard to get serious when the culls are so beautiful. I know they have a long way to go. I'm getting 2 new Roos from Nancy Krohn soon. On my Splash, I am only keeping that first Roo in case I need better foot feathering on an otherwise good bird. My main breeding Roo is the other one "Jack". My Splash hens don't look too bad, do they?

 

[Funky Feathers]

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what color will the ones that don't have any white feathers turn out to be?

I don't know, but I think they will get some white as they get older. I sold them before I could find out. I'm sure they are pretty. They are a work in progress.

 

[sutillman]

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Good luck! I have been looking forever for a hen or hatching eggs (two roo's and no hens) and can't find anyone with them!

 

[thecochincoop]

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what color will the ones that don't have any white feathers turn out to be?

I don't know, but I think they will get some white as they get older. I sold them before I could find out. I'm sure they are pretty. They are a work in progress.

oh ok, I was hoping you had grown some out so I could see what they looked like. I have some that have the exact same pattern on them

 

[WestKnollAmy]

One of my buff Mottled girls that is growing up.

I want more white to show up and know as she gets older it probably will. This is where good breeding records come in to play. Knowing who her mom and dad are has been a big help so I know what hens to use with my white roo. And what roo I might can use with my white hens. The problem is locking in the Mottling.

 

[Sweetfolly]

I love winter, I really do, but I hate having single-comb roosters in the Wisconsin cold!

My more valuable birds are enjoying heated accomodations this winter, but here's one of the Columbians I hatched this spring showing off his lovely frostbite - there's only so much vaseline and 4 solid walls can do when the temperatures drop to the negative teens!

And, while I'm at it, here's his pretty sister - I'm slowly working on getting new pictures of all the birds I'm keeping!

Oh, Nadine - your Buff Mottleds...

 

[dak]

I feel you pain re. the frostbite. One of my black boy's forgot he had a heat lamp available. NOT a pretty site. The good new is it didn't affect fertility in the least.

 

[Sweetfolly]

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I have another Columbian boy who's even worse - but, that's because I let all the cockerels outside to free range for a few hours while I went to the movies without checking the weather forcast.

Came home in a snowstorm and didn't find two of the boys for three whole days! Thought for sure they'd frozen in the snow, but I found them both cuddled up behind some plywood next to the garage, safe and sound - but frostbitten.

 

[WestKnollAmy]

Ewww, that frostbite can be such a pain! And not just in looks!
My Cochins don't seem to have the problem down here but my Marans with those big combs are certainly hating it and they despise me putting vaseline on the combs so most of the time they go without. Even in the dark of night before I go inside they hate for me to touch their combs. Heathens!
I thought about doing the Cochins but I can't reach back into the tractors once they g to roost and haven't time before dark.

I feel for you guys way up north. Bitterly cold!