Cochin Thread!!!

[Elinor's chicks]

Beth G. :

The dam of this chicken suffers from an immunospressed syndrome. The dam has had a chronic illness somewhere in its breeding line that has caused damage to the melanocytes in her genetic make up. Which means in layman's terms. Her offspring could pop up with irregluar shaped feathering due to her genetics. You can read up on this online I believe.

I have a friend who went to Cornell for Poulrty Science and has taught me alot over the years on how to cull for breeding. This is one thing he showed me on a bird at a show in RI. I just called him to have him explain it again. He said he would not breed your cochin b/c her genetics will cause the same defects in feather. He's seen this alot in chickens who have contracted Mycoplasma gallisepticum. He said it's a delayed amelanatic (sp) line in the Galla. That's all he could elaborate on b/c he had to go.

Hope this helps!

Edited**** ps he said you could call your state tester and have them come out and do a blood test for M.G. That way you can know for sure if you really are curious and want to know. He said M.G. is spread from chicken to the egg.

Elinor's chicks :

I only have one cochin in my tiny mixed flock, a pullet that I got from a breeder here on BYC. I bought her as a pet and that's what I got. I don't have any illusions about her quality, I'm just curious. Compared to a lot of the photos I'm seeing here, her feathers are narrow. The feathers I see here - especally on the tail - are much wider. She is nice and round, with the usual cochin fluffy cushion, it's just the individual feathers that are narrow.

Is that just a flaw? Are wide tail feathers something you all breed for? Or can I expect a change after her first molt? (yes, I'm sure she is a she - she started laying a couple of weeks ago)

Oh for more room......for more cochins!!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/41928_91011_004.jpg
​

Oh my gosh!! This is scary! I did google some of the terms you mention, especially Mycoplasma gallisepticum, and I think I understand - my pullet is the product of a disease her dam had at one time? Also, half of her toenails turn up, like pixie toes, instead of curving down. Now I assume that is also a manafestation of the genetic defect? No, I had not planned to breed her, and now I really won't.

But my girl is otherwise healthy herself, right?

She is the picture of health - none of the swollen eyes or respiratory distress that I read about.
- Is she safe to have, and handle?
- Safe to have around the other birds?
- Is it safe to eat her eggs? Those were the things I was not clear about as I read.

Wow! And to think this came from a casual question about what I thought was a cosmetic problem!!!! Thank you for your information.​

 

[Elinor's chicks]

Quote:
Surely the hen the chick was under is the Mom, huh? Or do you think she stole an egg to sit on? Why not just put her in a quiet private place and let her raise the chick?

 

[Beth G.]

Hi,

I didn't mean to scare you, I'm sorry. He said the best thing to do is have her tested. I say this b/c this is only input from my friend. He said the only way to know is to get the test done and see if it is in her blood. If it is he said it is best to ask your State Vet about handling birds with MG. Believe it or not MG is spread mostly through enviroment and to free range chickens. It could be from the hen or the hen's parents, passed from chicken to egg. Once a carrier always a carrier. But, the way he describe it is the shape of her feathers are non-typical for a cochin hen or pullet. When a chicken is a carrier of a disease like MG that affects genetic make up of the feathering. He's much better at explaining and that is why hear this second hand he and I both suggest you test her for concrete evidence. Then have a professional in your area explain how to handle a flock that has exposure to MG. Most time chickens can be a carrier and never show signs unless put under an huge amount of stress.

Some state's test for free and others charge a dollar a bird. Don't be worried about a postive test. People will tell you not to do it in fear of the State will make you put the bird down. That is not true. Worst case scenerio is they make you close your flock and not sell birds etc.. And not all state do that. Every state is different. He also suggested calling a state college in your area that may specialize in Ag Science? Here in CT we can call Uconn and get tons of information over the phone with the professors and vets for free. They can help you with questions you may have.

Best Wishes and

to you!!

Beth

Elinor's chicks :

Beth G. :

The dam of this chicken suffers from an immunospressed syndrome. The dam has had a chronic illness somewhere in its breeding line that has caused damage to the melanocytes in her genetic make up. Which means in layman's terms. Her offspring could pop up with irregluar shaped feathering due to her genetics. You can read up on this online I believe.

I have a friend who went to Cornell for Poulrty Science and has taught me alot over the years on how to cull for breeding. This is one thing he showed me on a bird at a show in RI. I just called him to have him explain it again. He said he would not breed your cochin b/c her genetics will cause the same defects in feather. He's seen this alot in chickens who have contracted Mycoplasma gallisepticum. He said it's a delayed amelanatic (sp) line in the Galla. That's all he could elaborate on b/c he had to go.

Hope this helps!

Edited**** ps he said you could call your state tester and have them come out and do a blood test for M.G. That way you can know for sure if you really are curious and want to know. He said M.G. is spread from chicken to the egg.

Elinor's chicks :

I only have one cochin in my tiny mixed flock, a pullet that I got from a breeder here on BYC. I bought her as a pet and that's what I got. I don't have any illusions about her quality, I'm just curious. Compared to a lot of the photos I'm seeing here, her feathers are narrow. The feathers I see here - especally on the tail - are much wider. She is nice and round, with the usual cochin fluffy cushion, it's just the individual feathers that are narrow.

Is that just a flaw? Are wide tail feathers something you all breed for? Or can I expect a change after her first molt? (yes, I'm sure she is a she - she started laying a couple of weeks ago)

Oh for more room......for more cochins!!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/41928_91011_004.jpg


Oh my gosh!! This is scary! I did google some of the terms you mention, especially Mycoplasma gallisepticum, and I think I understand - my pullet is the product of a disease her dam had at one time? Also, half of her toenails turn up, like pixie toes, instead of curving down. Now I assume that is also a manafestation of the genetic defect? No, I had not planned to breed her, and now I really won't.

But my girl is otherwise healthy herself, right?

She is the picture of health - none of the swollen eyes or respiratory distress that I read about.
- Is she safe to have, and handle?
- Safe to have around the other birds?
- Is it safe to eat her eggs? Those were the things I was not clear about as I read.

Wow! And to think this came from a casual question about what I thought was a cosmetic problem!!!! Thank you for your information.​

 

[lilcrow]

Elinor's chicks :

Quote:
Surely the hen the chick was under is the Mom, huh? Or do you think she stole an egg to sit on? Why not just put her in a quiet private place and let her raise the chick?

I personally don't care for broody raised chicks, they NEVER settle down, and if Gail's set up is anything like mine, even in a "pure" pen with only one variety in it, the egg could still have come from ANY hen that is in that run/pen/coop or whatever. I don't think broodies care what egg they are sitting on as long as they get to set. I've also had hens that I KNOW came in the coop and set with the broody and left her egg right there where the broody could work it in under herself. Kind of like leaving an orphan at the door step.​

 

[ziL]

I'll add my bantam barred cochin pullet, Princess. She's cute, but she got her name for her "Royal Pain" attitude.

I'll be breeding her to frizzles, first a black, then a red. (but the cockerals aren't cochins)

 

[wildwoodcochins]

Elinor's chicks :

Beth G. :

The dam of this chicken suffers from an immunospressed syndrome. The dam has had a chronic illness somewhere in its breeding line that has caused damage to the melanocytes in her genetic make up. Which means in layman's terms. Her offspring could pop up with irregluar shaped feathering due to her genetics. You can read up on this online I believe.

I have a friend who went to Cornell for Poulrty Science and has taught me alot over the years on how to cull for breeding. This is one thing he showed me on a bird at a show in RI. I just called him to have him explain it again. He said he would not breed your cochin b/c her genetics will cause the same defects in feather. He's seen this alot in chickens who have contracted Mycoplasma gallisepticum. He said it's a delayed amelanatic (sp) line in the Galla. That's all he could elaborate on b/c he had to go.

Hope this helps!

Edited**** ps he said you could call your state tester and have them come out and do a blood test for M.G. That way you can know for sure if you really are curious and want to know. He said M.G. is spread from chicken to the egg.

Elinor's chicks :

I only have one cochin in my tiny mixed flock, a pullet that I got from a breeder here on BYC. I bought her as a pet and that's what I got. I don't have any illusions about her quality, I'm just curious. Compared to a lot of the photos I'm seeing here, her feathers are narrow. The feathers I see here - especally on the tail - are much wider. She is nice and round, with the usual cochin fluffy cushion, it's just the individual feathers that are narrow.

Is that just a flaw? Are wide tail feathers something you all breed for? Or can I expect a change after her first molt? (yes, I'm sure she is a she - she started laying a couple of weeks ago)

Oh for more room......for more cochins!!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/41928_91011_004.jpg


Oh my gosh!! This is scary! I did google some of the terms you mention, especially Mycoplasma gallisepticum, and I think I understand - my pullet is the product of a disease her dam had at one time? Also, half of her toenails turn up, like pixie toes, instead of curving down. Now I assume that is also a manafestation of the genetic defect? No, I had not planned to breed her, and now I really won't.

But my girl is otherwise healthy herself, right?

She is the picture of health - none of the swollen eyes or respiratory distress that I read about.
- Is she safe to have, and handle?
- Safe to have around the other birds?
- Is it safe to eat her eggs? Those were the things I was not clear about as I read.

Wow! And to think this came from a casual question about what I thought was a cosmetic problem!!!! Thank you for your information.​

Okay, so I've tried to find information Mycoplasma gallisepticum. From everything I am finding; this seems to be a bacterial disease, not a gentetic disease. I have raised several chicks from this hen, all have been absolutely beautiful and healthy. All my birds are kept in a clean, healthy enviroment. I work very hard to raise excellent quality birds, have spent a ton of money to make my breeding program as top notch as I can.
I am questioning as to how it is only the dam that can pass on this disease? Also, nothing I have found on the internet mentions the odd feathering.
Does anyone else have any ideas on what the problem might be with this hen? I have never seen anything like it and now I feel terrible that I have bred this bird. The hen has always been in perfect health, is perfectly feathered, has had several beautiful babies that have always been normal. All my eggs are incubated, not set under a broody hen.
I would never sell anyone a chick that I felt was not healthy or abnormal in any way~ Also; I have had the hen since she was just a few months old, she has never been sick in ANY way. She is just a year and a half now.​

 

[thecochincoop]

Quote:
Oh my gosh!! This is scary! I did google some of the terms you mention, especially Mycoplasma gallisepticum, and I think I understand - my pullet is the product of a disease her dam had at one time? Also, half of her toenails turn up, like pixie toes, instead of curving down. Now I assume that is also a manafestation of the genetic defect? No, I had not planned to breed her, and now I really won't.

But my girl is otherwise healthy herself, right?

She is the picture of health - none of the swollen eyes or respiratory distress that I read about.
- Is she safe to have, and handle?
- Safe to have around the other birds?
- Is it safe to eat her eggs? Those were the things I was not clear about as I read.

Wow! And to think this came from a casual question about what I thought was a problem!!!! Thank you for your information.

Okay, so I've tried to find information Mycoplasma gallisepticum. From everything I am finding; this seems to be a bacterial disease, not a gentetic disease. I have raised several chicks from this hen, all have been absolutely beautiful and healthy. All my birds are kept in a clean, healthy enviroment. I work very hard to raise excellent quality birds, have spent a ton of money to make my breeding program as top notch as I can.
I am questioning as to how it is only the dam that can pass on this disease? Also, nothing I have found on the internet mentions the odd feathering.
Does anyone else have any ideas on what the problem might be with this hen? I have never seen anything like it and now I feel terrible that I have bred this bird. The hen has always been in perfect health, is perfectly feathered, has had several beautiful babies that have always been normal. All my eggs are incubated, not set under a broody hen.
I would never sell anyone a chick that I felt was not healthy or abnormal in any way~ Also; I have had the hen since she was just a few months old, she has never been sick in ANY way. She is just a year and a half now.

perhaps it's just a defect in her feathering. I have heard of narrow feathering in cochins and am pretty sure it's a dq, don't hold me to that though it's just something that i was told

 

[Beth G.]

Bacterial and viral infections can cause damage to the feather follicles and growing cells of the bird. These bacterial and viral infections can be passed from the generation to generation (chicken to the egg) and give the offspring of the infected bird an immunosuppressed syndrome that can cause progressive feather malformation and necrosis. Every bird is affected differently and if the parent stock contracts a bacterial or viral infection such as mycoplasma gallisepticum also known as CRD this can affect the genetic make-up of the offspring. Mycoplasma infections may destroy a cell line walls, which in return also includes feather follicles. Remember that Doctors and Vets use Greek and Latin words/terms when referring to medical science whether in chickens or in humans. The Word Mycoplasma means: mykes (fungus) and plasma (formed). This type of affect is often related to auto-immune disorders in humans. Many people come from different backgrounds of life. I myself have a genetic autoimmune disorder that did not present itself until I contracted Viral Meningitis.
The only other thing that can cause this type of feather malformation is if the Cochin is not pure and has been crossed with another type of breed which would make it a project bird. Although, highly unlikely since most pullets and hens do not have pointed elongated feathering like the bird in question. Usually it is shorter and rounded more. If the bird in your picture is the dam indeed I can also see pointiness to her feathering also.

This has been copied and pasted from my friends email to explain it better than I can.

Like My friend Stu and I stated before the best way to know if this is the cause is to get a blood sample taken from the bird or the parent stock and have it tested.

Quote:
Oh my gosh!! This is scary! I did google some of the terms you mention, especially Mycoplasma gallisepticum, and I think I understand - my pullet is the product of a disease her dam had at one time? Also, half of her toenails turn up, like pixie toes, instead of curving down. Now I assume that is also a manafestation of the genetic defect? No, I had not planned to breed her, and now I really won't.

But my girl is otherwise healthy herself, right?

She is the picture of health - none of the swollen eyes or respiratory distress that I read about.
- Is she safe to have, and handle?
- Safe to have around the other birds?
- Is it safe to eat her eggs? Those were the things I was not clear about as I read.

Wow! And to think this came from a casual question about what I thought was a cosmetic problem!!!! Thank you for your information.

Okay, so I've tried to find information Mycoplasma gallisepticum. From everything I am finding; this seems to be a bacterial disease, not a gentetic disease. I have raised several chicks from this hen, all have been absolutely beautiful and healthy. All my birds are kept in a clean, healthy enviroment. I work very hard to raise excellent quality birds, have spent a ton of money to make my breeding program as top notch as I can.
I am questioning as to how it is only the dam that can pass on this disease? Also, nothing I have found on the internet mentions the odd feathering.
Does anyone else have any ideas on what the problem might be with this hen? I have never seen anything like it and now I feel terrible that I have bred this bird. The hen has always been in perfect health, is perfectly feathered, has had several beautiful babies that have always been normal. All my eggs are incubated, not set under a broody hen.
I would never sell anyone a chick that I felt was not healthy or abnormal in any way~ Also; I have had the hen since she was just a few months old, she has never been sick in ANY way. She is just a year and a half now.

 

[thecochincoop]

Beth G. :

Bacterial and viral infections can cause damage to the feather follicles and growing cells of the bird. These bacterial and viral infections can be passed from the generation to generation (chicken to the egg) and give the offspring of the infected bird an immunosuppressed syndrome that can cause progressive feather malformation and necrosis. Every bird is affected differently and if the parent stock contracts a bacterial or viral infection such as mycoplasma gallisepticum also known as CRD this can affect the genetic make-up of the offspring. Mycoplasma infections may destroy a cell line walls, which in return also includes feather follicles. Remember that Doctors and Vets use Greek and Latin words/terms when referring to medical science whether in chickens or in humans. The Word Mycoplasma means: mykes (fungus) and plasma (formed). This type of affect is often related to auto-immune disorders in humans. Many people come from different backgrounds of life. I myself have a genetic autoimmune disorder that did not present itself until I contracted Viral Meningitis.
The only other thing that can cause this type of feather malformation is if the Cochin is not pure and has been crossed with another type of breed which would make it a project bird. Although, highly unlikely since most pullets and hens do not have pointed elongated feathering like the bird in question. Usually it is shorter and rounded more. If the bird in your picture is the dam indeed I can also see pointiness to her feathering also.

This has been copied and pasted from my friends email to explain it better than I can.

Like My friend Stu and I stated before the best way to know if this is the cause is to get a blood sample taken from the bird or the parent stock and have it tested.

Quote:
Okay, so I've tried to find information Mycoplasma gallisepticum. From everything I am finding; this seems to be a bacterial disease, not a gentetic disease. I have raised several chicks from this hen, all have been absolutely beautiful and healthy. All my birds are kept in a clean, healthy enviroment. I work very hard to raise excellent quality birds, have spent a ton of money to make my breeding program as top notch as I can.
I am questioning as to how it is only the dam that can pass on this disease? Also, nothing I have found on the internet mentions the odd feathering.
Does anyone else have any ideas on what the problem might be with this hen? I have never seen anything like it and now I feel terrible that I have bred this bird. The hen has always been in perfect health, is perfectly feathered, has had several beautiful babies that have always been normal. All my eggs are incubated, not set under a broody hen.
I would never sell anyone a chick that I felt was not healthy or abnormal in any way~ Also; I have had the hen since she was just a few months old, she has never been sick in ANY way. She is just a year and a half now.
​

very interesting

things that a lot of people think are just genetic defects that crop up being formed from an illness. never thought of it that way but it makes sense. i know that some predisposition to sickness can be genetic. I purchased a bird from a well known breeder and this particular bird was sick a lot with none of my others ever showing a sign. unfortunately this particular bird never got completely better and had to be put down

 

[Beth G.]

Yeah he is soo good with this stuff. He's not easy to talk to and very um, ecentric if ya know what I mean

But, going to a show with him you will learn sooo much! He was brought up on a poultry farm his whole life and went to Cornell and has his Doctrine in Poultry science. Anytime I have an issue I pick up the phone and ask

Half the time I am lost with all the big words but, after he explains it to me 3x I get it half of the time. But, going to that particular show he pointed out the DQ in that bird and went to explain it. I'm a hands on kinda gal and to see it made me remember it and always look at feathering after that

Quote:

very interesting

things that a lot of people think are just genetic defects that crop up being formed from an illness. never thought of it that way but it makes sense. i know that some predisposition to sickness can be genetic. I purchased a bird from a well known breeder and this particular bird was sick a lot with none of my others ever showing a sign. unfortunately this particular bird never got completely better and had to be put down