Cochin Thread!!!

[littledirtlanefarms]

Quote:
Most likely he is pure blue but he is brassy which is a serious defect. This could be due to one of two reasons, he either genetically posesses the brassy gene or he is sun burned which causes the feathers to yellow or in the case of blues turn brownish/rusty colored. His type is suspect as well and the tail carriage is too high. In looking at the responses I would have to say that breeding good blues is very difficult. I have been breeding them for 10 years and some years you may never get a blue chick due to the genetic combinations and if you begin to get brassy males or rusty colored females you need to cull them from the flock. When using blacks to cross onto your blues try to find blacks that appear to have a darker laced breast feather and also make sure they have feathers that are dull black and not beetle green sheen. If you want the true example of what blue should be look up Blue Andalusians and that is what the color should be. The females should have a dark head (nearer to black) the hackle should be very dark laced with leaden blue in the center; the remainder of the body feathers, wings included should be leaden blue with a dark lacing around the entire web of the feather. The male should be similar in the hackle although there should be a good amount of sheen this same dark blue/black color should be over the wing bows, back and saddle, with the back and saddle having a narrow strip of leaden blue in center of the feather running nearly the entire length of the feather shaft. The body should be like the female, leaden blue with dark lacing. Very beautiful when right and if combined with excellent type can compete with any black, white or buff. Not too many good ones left out there, my flock is in rebuilding status with 4 chicks hatched this year. We'll have to see how they turn out.

Bo

Thanks so much Bo! Based on what you have said my girls are pretty good. I have a couple with minor flaws...it is very possible that he could be sunburnt. Their pen they were in before I got them was not shaded at all...for now I am going to consider finding a black roo to integrate into the flock...

 

[Black Cochin Bantams]

Have many of you that follow this thread signed up for the new Cochin International forum? I saw a few people on there I recognized from BYC and a few that don't come on BYC.

 

[Coopa Cabana]

Quote:
OK, touchy subject, but I'll jump in.
1) Everyone should know that you do not need to be a member of CI to participate in the forum, but you do need to register, and the forums are moderated.

2) Of course, I highly recommend that all those interested in supporting and promoting the Cochin breed (both Large Fowl and Bantam) join Cochins International. (On a personal note, hopefully you'll find this year's CI Breeder's Directory worth the price of the membership alone!)

3) The ShowBirdBid Message Forum is home to the forum for several breed clubs, including CI. The name itself "ShowBird" should give you the general sense to whom the forums are geared toward - people who show, or want to show, their birds. There seems to be, in my opinion, a general lack of tolerance for "backyard" flocks. Here's a few more things I've learned in the past couple of months - Do NOT mention BYC, do not use the word "lockdown", do not use acronyms, etc., etc. etc. DO always preface with the fact the you are a paid member in good standing of your breed club, and that you own a copy of the SOP.

4) That being said, once you get your foot in the door, there are hundreds of experts with hundreds of combined years of showhall experience to help you.

5) That being said, there are also one or two that seem to take pleasure in reducing you to a pile of chicken poo if given the opportunity, and it is because of this that I am very hesitant to post, or ask questions. In the thread on the Mid Valley Show results, I have wanted to ask why everyone feels Tom's white is better than the black - especially regarding the wing carriage, I see that the wing carriage on the white is just slightly higher, but is there something else I'm missing? I'd like to learn more about these small details. But I don't know how to properly ask the question without being told to go buy a copy of the SOP.

6) I really like how Tom opened the forum, suggesting that we start threads for the different varieties. (Thank you, Craig, for starting one today on Columbians!) And so now, after a month, and with the inclusion of your new Columbian thread, there are a total of three dedicated variety threads: Golden Laced, Mottled and Columbian. Is that the best we can do?

7) I'm on there every day reading and learning as much as I can absorb - and I look at the members that have been logged in over the past 24 hours. I see a lot of (top) Cochin breeders, but they never post. Why is that? Some are regional CI directors - I want to hear what they have to say! I want to see pics of their birds! I want to learn from them! It seems that the apathy has followed us from the old forum to the new one.

8) There are a lot of things on the new forum that I really like - in particular it's super easy now to post pics! (If you already have pictures uploaded on BYC - you can copy & paste directly from your BYC uploads just as if you were posting a pic here on BYC.) And I like the "thread" format, like here on BYC - you can open a thread for a particular topic, without having to read thru tons of other posts. And of course no more spamming!

9) I am treading very cautiously in the new forum when I post, as I am still considered an outsider because my birds aren't in the showhalls. I am trying to participate and volunteer in CI as much as possible, and will be doing the Breeder's Directory this year. I am doing the best I can with what I have, focusing on improving my Golden Laced to the SOP so that maybe someday they will be show quality. I am studying as many books as I can about their genetics. But until that time when I can compete in the showhalls, I will always feel out of place on the forum.

10) I love BYC - it is a melting pot of backyard flocks to showhall winners, and everyone is accepted. When someone on BYC says "I have a dumb question" - we all politely reply "There is no such thing as a dumb question - we're all here to help each other". That is not the response you will get on the ShowBird forums.

11) I recognize and appreciate the need for the ShowBird forums - a place to focus on showing and breeding to the SOP. I just wish they would recognize and appreciate that not everyone is starting at the top with show winners.

12) I must say here that most, if not all, of the negativity I have encountered on ShowBird has NOT come from CI or BYC members. Anyone can post on any breed club thread they choose to - there just seem to be one or two that like to provoke if given the opportunity.

13) I hope I'm not discouraging anyone from participating in the Cochin forum on ShowBird - quite the opposite. I truly feel it will be better and stronger with more contributions and participation!

14) On a personal note - Thank you, Tom, for your excellent moderation! Sorry you had to do it.

 

[jossanne]

Just reading above about the personality oozing out of bantam cochins...

Yesterday I took my broody bantam cochin outside for the first time since her babies hatched 11 days ago, leaving the babies in the brooder. She was busily scratching around and enjoying the dirt when the silkie roo, Kung, started chasing her. She saw me sitting on the step and took off running straight for me, and jumped/flew to my shoulder to get away from the roo. She's so personable and friendly, and she knew Kung would never get her up there. After he seemed to lose interest, she jumped back down and got started on a dust bath. Kung took off after her again, and she again dashed straight for me and safety.

She is such a sweetheart, and I can't wait to have her separated with her little roo so the next time she's broody she can hatch out her own babies! They both are as sweet as chickens can get. I need more like 'em!

 

[Elinor's chicks]

I want more Cochin bantams!

They've got to be pullets, though. I have one that I love, a blue girl (and also a buff Brahma bantam hen), and now that I've had them for a while, I wonder why I waited so long! Chicken keeping is great, and they have such fun personalities.

I raise mine in a tiny space in town (that's why no roos) but now that my Cohin pullet is growing out, I see that I easily have room for 1 or 2 more.

I the meantime I will keep watching the threads, swaps, meets, etc. to see if something comes up that's do-able for me.

Is it the usual thing to hatch out chicks in the Spring, but not so much in the Summer? I would hate to think that I would have to wait until next year!

 

[Coopa Cabana]

Elinor's chicks :

I want more Cochin bantams!

They've got to be pullets, though. I have one that I love, a blue girl (and also a buff Brahma bantam hen), and now that I've had them for a while, I wonder why I waited so long! Chicken keeping is great, and they have such fun personalities.

I raise mine in a tiny space in town (that's why no roos) but now that my Cohin pullet is growing out, I see that I easily have room for 1 or 2 more.

I the meantime I will keep watching the threads, swaps, meets, etc. to see if something comes up that's do-able for me.

Is it the usual thing to hatch out chicks in the Spring, but not so much in the Summer? I would hate to think that I would have to wait until next year!

Hi Elinor, and welcome to the Cochin thread! I'm sure you won't have to wait until next spring to get yourself a couple of pullets. It sounds like you are just looking for pet quality right now, and don't want the expense of a shipped bird. There are lots of Cochin folks in KY, so maybe someone here on BYC can hook you up. If not, check the BYC swap thread and see what's coming up in your area. Or check your local CraigsList. But please remember to quarantine for 30 days any new birds you get - this should be your standard practice no matter which breeder you get your birds from, but especially important if you get them at a swap or from CL. Quarantining is easy - a dog crate in the garage for 30 days will suffice.

Most people hatch in the Spring for a couple of main reasons - so that birds are properly aged for the fall shows, and they don't want to overwinter young chicks. Ideally, birds should be old enough by fall to be out of the brooders and integrated into the adult flocks. Their molt cycles can also be affected by when they hatch.​

 

[HBuehler]

Elinor's chicks :

I want more Cochin bantams!

They've got to be pullets, though. I have one that I love, a blue girl (and also a buff Brahma bantam hen), and now that I've had them for a while, I wonder why I waited so long! Chicken keeping is great, and they have such fun personalities.

I raise mine in a tiny space in town (that's why no roos) but now that my Cohin pullet is growing out, I see that I easily have room for 1 or 2 more.

I the meantime I will keep watching the threads, swaps, meets, etc. to see if something comes up that's do-able for me.

Is it the usual thing to hatch out chicks in the Spring, but not so much in the Summer? I would hate to think that I would have to wait until next year!

Hi Almost neighbor!
I will have some pullets available by late Summer or sooner.. I have solid blue and black..so far only getting solid blue and Mottled/Blue Mottled in show quality and Mille Fleur which are just plain eye candy.I'm also getting ready to sell some of my hens...a nice quality not hatchery but not show either...black mottled and solid black.
I go up to Elizabeth City some so maybe we could meet somewhere if you want to get a few.There is just nothing like a bantam Cochin​

 

[Bo Garrett]

Quote:
OK, touchy subject, but I'll jump in.
1) Everyone should know that you do not need to be a member of CI to participate in the forum, but you do need to register, and the forums are moderated.

2) Of course, I highly recommend that all those interested in supporting and promoting the Cochin breed (both Large Fowl and Bantam) join Cochins International. (On a personal note, hopefully you'll find this year's CI Breeder's Directory worth the price of the membership alone!) Indeed, if we do not become members then we lose our voice. A single voice can't penetrate the forest but 10,000 voices can level it to prarie.

3) The ShowBirdBid Message Forum is home to the forum for several breed clubs, including CI. The name itself "ShowBird" should give you the general sense to whom the forums are geared toward - people who show, or want to show, their birds. There seems to be, in my opinion, a general lack of tolerance for "backyard" flocks. Here's a few more things I've learned in the past couple of months - Do NOT mention BYC, do not use the word "lockdown", do not use acronyms, etc., etc. etc. DO always preface with the fact the you are a paid member in good standing of your breed club, and that you own a copy of the SOP. Go ahead and use acronyms, big egos have little minds often times.

4) That being said, once you get your foot in the door, there are hundreds of experts with hundreds of combined years of showhall experience to help you. Yep, there are some on there who are master breeders in several breeds and varieties.

5) That being said, there are also one or two that seem to take pleasure in reducing you to a pile of chicken poo if given the opportunity, and it is because of this that I am very hesitant to post, or ask questions. In the thread on the Mid Valley Show results, I have wanted to ask why everyone feels Tom's white is better than the black - especially regarding the wing carriage, I see that the wing carriage on the white is just slightly higher, but is there something else I'm missing? I'd like to learn more about these small details. But I don't know how to properly ask the question without being told to go buy a copy of the SOP. I liked Tom's black male and he was the best of the two that day but I commented that the wing carriage on the white was outstanding because it was tucked up higher almost at a horizontal level which is what we should strive for in all cochins bantam and large. The bantams have lost much of the wing carriage whereas the large cochins typically have excellent wing carriage. If you want to see correct wing carriage look at some of Tom's birds on his website.

6) I really like how Tom opened the forum, suggesting that we start threads for the different varieties. (Thank you, Craig, for starting one today on Columbians!) And so now, after a month, and with the inclusion of your new Columbian thread, there are a total of three dedicated variety threads: Golden Laced, Mottled and Columbian. Is that the best we can do? I work with predominately large cochins and while I am working on three projects I don't like to post unless sucess has been seen, that is why I posted the mottled cochin thread. When the brown reds and browns show improvement I'll begin to post the inner workings of the breeding it took to get them there. Sure don't want to lead someone down the mistake path, so I post only proven results.

7) I'm on there every day reading and learning as much as I can absorb - and I look at the members that have been logged in over the past 24 hours. I see a lot of (top) Cochin breeders, but they never post. Why is that? Some are regional CI directors - I want to hear what they have to say! I want to see pics of their birds! I want to learn from them! It seems that the apathy has followed us from the old forum to the new one. Not so much apathy as observance. I am a reader and rarely post unless I can truly contribute to the discussion. If the discussion is not going in a direction I can lend information to, I continue to read only.

8) There are a lot of things on the new forum that I really like - in particular it's super easy now to post pics! (If you already have pictures uploaded on BYC - you can copy & paste directly from your BYC uploads just as if you were posting a pic here on BYC.) And I like the "thread" format, like here on BYC - you can open a thread for a particular topic, without having to read thru tons of other posts. And of course no more spamming!

9) I am treading very cautiously in the new forum when I post, as I am still considered an outsider because my birds aren't in the showhalls. I am trying to participate and volunteer in CI as much as possible, and will be doing the Breeder's Directory this year. I am doing the best I can with what I have, focusing on improving my Golden Laced to the SOP so that maybe someday they will be show quality. I am studying as many books as I can about their genetics. But until that time when I can compete in the showhalls, I will always feel out of place on the forum.

10) I love BYC - it is a melting pot of backyard flocks to showhall winners, and everyone is accepted. When someone on BYC says "I have a dumb question" - we all politely reply "There is no such thing as a dumb question - we're all here to help each other". That is not the response you will get on the ShowBird forums. A few people tend to be spoilers. Tom did a very good job of cleaning up the Mottled Cochin Thread and the problem hasn't returned since.

11) I recognize and appreciate the need for the ShowBird forums - a place to focus on showing and breeding to the SOP. I just wish they would recognize and appreciate that not everyone is starting at the top with show winners. We all have to learn as did I. Tom benefited from his father's vast experience but most of us have to gleen that information from other exhibitors. I would pray that all are willing to share some of their techniques in breeding, conditioning and showing so that all can carry on the hobby of exhibition poultry.

12) I must say here that most, if not all, of the negativity I have encountered on ShowBird has NOT come from CI or BYC members. Anyone can post on any breed club thread they choose to - there just seem to be one or two that like to provoke if given the opportunity. Don't let a couple of rotten eggs stink up the hen house. They'll soon learn that some moderators will not put up with that mess.

13) I hope I'm not discouraging anyone from participating in the Cochin forum on ShowBird - quite the opposite. I truly feel it will be better and stronger with more contributions and participation! Amen!

14) On a personal note - Thank you, Tom, for your excellent moderation! Sorry you had to do it. Yes, thanks Tom.

 

[mjgigax]

Quote:
I put 6 little, 6 week old Mille Fleurs out in my grow-out pen Thursday. I sat in there with them a while to see how everyone would get along. When a bigger/older bird got too close the youngsters jumped up on my knees and shoulders.
My neighbors must think I'm crazy - when they come out on their back porch they often see me sitting in the middle of the pen talking to chickens.

 

[mjgigax]

I also moved my oldest cockerel from the grow-out pen to the breeding pen with the Mille Fleur hens. He was very busy pestering the young pullets and the Giant Buff Cochin hen, my only LF, that is the "Head Mistress" of the grow-out pen. It was pretty funny seeing her gliding (if Cochins can glide) around the pen with him hanging on to her hackles. She hardly noticed!
When he got moved to the Hen's pen he was quickly put in his place and has much better manners now.