Cochin Thread!!!

[chipmunkridge]

Quote:
Sorry for your loss. I always spend a good bit of time rehashing what I could have done differently to prevent the event every time something happens to one of my chickens. Once I've worked through that phase I begin pondering new chickens.

At least I think I've learned something to make me a better chicken owner if I can prevent future unfortunate deaths.

 

[lilcrow]

Quote:
Oh I'm so sorry about your girls, I understand that feeling of being sick over their loss and all the regret that goes with it. I've been going out and dunking mine in a bucket of water. They hate it at the time, but at least they get a break from panting and feeling so hot. I put down some fresh saw dust in the run and after getting soaked they just flop in the shavings and stretch out all over them. They LOOK more comfortable............don't know for sure if they are, but so far so good.
Up here they say that there's a slight break today and forward, only in the LOW 90's

I know you guys have got it worse than we do, if that's possible. At this point even a few degrees can make the difference for the birds, and I know the dew point affects them too.
Hummmmmm................global warming..........ain't it great.

 

[mjgigax]

I've lost 5 to this heat! I have been giving them chiller vegetables and misting down their pens, sometimes twice a day. They are all under shadecloth and I hase down the tops and the birds pert oup while the water drips thru. I can't wait for the heat to break. I am so nervous for my birds.
We have has more than 30 days over 100*. Even my dog, who loves to be outdoors, wants to go back in after 5 min. I try to do my outside chores in 10 min. blocks.

 

[Msbear]

It was 103 here yesterday with a heat index of 115. We had a storm front move in around 4pm yesterday and dropped temps to 78 in a matter of minutes. The birds came out from where they were hiding and were foraging and dusting and I thought all was well. It really was an eye opener for me. I saw another thread where someone was using a mister that you hook up to a hose and slowly releases water in a mist that the birds enjoy. I have too many pens to do that in every one. ...but, for some of you that just have a pen or two, that may be a nice option.

My husband and I are constructing a banty barn with multiple pens and a walkway isle. The southern side will have large open windows that will be under roof of the walk in runs but, after this, we are also installing ceiling fans inside. Luckily, I have a ton of eggs from the girls in the incubator and chicks on the ground.. It brings some relief.

mjg, sorry about your loss. That is terrible. If you guys can let yours run free, do it. I just have too many young roos that would harass the hens to exhaustion. ...Boys

 

[BigDaddy'sGurl]

Quote:
What a fascinating color on your #1 hen, it would be very interesting to know what her color genetic make up is. Usually if you want to capture a specific trait of a particular bird you pick their best offspring and breed them back. Do you want to focus only on the feathering, or work on color also. If you breed your "buff" and the blue I don't know what you'll get, most likely a buff with blue bleed through or vice versa. If color is not an issue you could go ahead with the birds that you have, but if you want to breed for a specific color, you may need to acquire some other stock.
Nancy

Thank you for your compliments on the color! I too thought she was rather intriguing but alas, color isn't something I am worried with replicating... so, if I want to get the good egg-laying with feather type I should breed the two hens' best offspring? So, I should try to keep a well-feathered boy from Duchess (1) and a good laying girl from Petra (2) and cross them? They would have the same dad, Charlie. Thanks again for your kindness and help!!! I may try to focus on color later...when I see some success with the first endeavor...don't want to get overwhelmed by a huge project...yet...lol

 

[cochinman2005]

Quote:
105 or so here yesterday, with heat index around 120+. Lost 16 birds. 14 Large, 2 Bantam, of the 16, 13 were adults. Not alot you can do about it sometimes. Since I was at work all day, I couldn't monitor the birds as closely. Best thing for them is to be out on the ground so they can get under something and lay down against the cooler ground. Surprised yours didn't migrate to the basement area of their pen. The Large Cochins don't take the heat well at all.

I've found the following tactics helpful...If you happen to find a bird that's in the middle of heat stress, the absolute best thing is to take them and soak them in a bucket of cold water. Leave them there for a few minutes. You'll be able to tell that their body temps are up when you pick them up so you'll notice a difference after a few minutes in the bucket. Let them drip dry and place them back in their pens wet. I do this with the Large Cochins alot when we have heat like we did yesterday and today. Some you can't save, some pull through.

 

[Cochin378]

Hello everyone, I have an interesting question for you. My best friend is planning on showing a buff barred bantam cochin at Fair this year for showmanship. The problem to me is that buff barred is not a recognized color variety in the standard of perfection. Can you show an unrecognized color variety? I would have thought you couldn't because the judge would have nothing to base his judgment off of. Please tell me what you guys think. Thanks in advance.

 

[Msbear]

so sorry. omg. that is a lot of loss... I thought the trees would be of some more help but, nothing can mess with 105 degrees. wicked

I am glad to have the rest of the columbians but, the two I lost were the nicest typed and had the strongest contrasting color on the hackle. I am still devastated.. really think I would have to just get in my car and drive if it had been 16 birds.

Thankfully, it's late in the breeding season and you probably have lots of offspring from them. ..terrible.

I have 30 columbian eggs in the bator and a few chicks on the ground... and a few more eggs on the shelf. I'm very thankful I had that incubating conversation with you a few days ago.

eta: Friday is supposed to be similar to yesterday so, mid-Atlantic.. be prepared.

 

[Majestic Lane Poultry]

I thought I was beating the odds, but alas, I go out to check on the birds and give cold water, only to find a lost the nicest type black cochin I had. Heat strikes again. Died in front of the box fan.

 

[ItsAZOO32]

I'm nervous reading all of this.. my birds free range in my yard and have a large shade tree. This is my first year with birds and I'm terrified to find one dead from heat. I try and give them chilled fruit and fresh water a lot. I notice they are scratching down deeper in the dirt under the shade tree. So far so good but my large white cochin mix has me very very nervous