Cochin Thread!!!

[AndyCap]

You have 2 Cockerels they won't be roosters until they are 1 year old but will start crowing at 3-4 months of age.They may start crowing within a month.

i am amazed you can tell the difference, please tell me how you know that is a cockerel, as he looks the same as my pullet below.

 

[ki4got]

<first pic>



i am amazed you can tell the difference, please tell me how you know that is a cockerel, as he looks the same as my pullet below.

it's the color and wattle development... pullets don't turn red or get much in the way of wattles until they're close to laying.

 

[mjgigax]

Hey guys, you'll never guess what I have! A 6 day old chick that is practicing his baby crow!

I have my itty bitty babies in my living room.............yes you heard me, it's true, anyway I had just come out of the bedroom this AM and was checking the kids and no more than stepped away and I heard the distinctive baby crow that we all enjoy hearing from our young boys as they first try out their vocal cords, only this was a VERY tiny crow. At first I thought it must be from one of the adolescents outside, but that didn't compute as I hadn't even been out to let them out. So, I stood there for a few minutes and heard it several more times. I began to track it down and sure enough it was a little teeny weeny Birchen baby boy just crowing/screeching his little head off.

I've never seen such a thing, of course maybe some of you that have been breeding longer than me may have, but it's a first for me. I've seen 'um at 3 or 4 wks, but NEVER THIS little.
Just thought I'd share my morning laugh. Ahhhh, how can anyone be in a bad mood around chickens.

I have never heard it that early but their activities give them away pretty early. Their personalities, boys and girls, show up fast.

 

[AndyCap]

it's the color and wattle development... pullets don't turn red or get much in the way of wattles until they're close to laying.

I see thanks. I was worried about one of my black cochins, as she is a bit bigger and "redder" in the face then the other girl, but maybe she is just closer to laying. She is 3-4 months old now, would i have seen something significant from her is she was actually a "he". Crowing or something like that?

i do apologize for all the questions, and if they are in the wrong forum please let me know and i will move them!

 

[Black Cochin Bantams]

I discovered this morning that I must not have actually latched the door to my shop when I closed it last night. EVERY one of my Black, Partridge,Silver Penciled chicks were killed last night. All of my birds under 5 weeks old. Also 5 good young Columbians and 3 Buff Columbians. I do have older Columbians and Buff Columbians in another place.

That coon will find out tonight that a mad old man with a good rifle is a deadly combo to mess with.

Now I have to hope the Blacks will lay again. The rest are laying well . I still have 60-70 older Columbians and 9 older Buff Columbians. Now I have to hatch later into the summer than I hoped to.
Craig

 

[wwmicasa1]

I discovered this morning that I must not have actually latched the door to my shop when I closed it last night. EVERY one of my Black, Partridge,Silver Penciled chicks were killed last night. All of my birds under 5 weeks old. Also 5 good young Columbians and 3 Buff Columbians. I do have older Columbians and Buff Columbians in another place.

That coon will find out tonight that a mad old man with a good rifle is a deadly combo to mess with.

Now I have to hope the Blacks will lay again. The rest are laying well . I still have 60-70 older Columbians and 9 older Buff Columbians. Now I have to hatch later into the summer than I hoped to.
Craig

Oh, Craig.....my heart goes out to you.

 

[ki4got]

Quote:

I discovered this morning that I must not have actually latched the door to my shop when I closed it last night. EVERY one of my Black, Partridge,Silver Penciled chicks were killed last night. All of my birds under 5 weeks old. Also 5 good young Columbians and 3 Buff Columbians. I do have older Columbians and Buff Columbians in another place.

That coon will find out tonight that a mad old man with a good rifle is a deadly combo to mess with.

Now I have to hope the Blacks will lay again. The rest are laying well . I still have 60-70 older Columbians and 9 older Buff Columbians. Now I have to hatch later into the summer than I hoped to.
Craig

oh man, sorry to hear that...

i lost a couple birds over the last week, but tracked that down to a possum. the dogs managed to corner her under the horse trailer/coop and i popped her. so

you get the culprit and don't have any more problems.

 

[Red Barn Farms]

Are cochins very alert chickens? When they free range are they alert and sharp in watching out for predators? I like to free range my standard size flock so I have to wonder if cochins are just as alert. I always leave the coop open during the day and mine have run access. Will they run back to the coop during the day hours if needed. We are lucky in that we don't have many predators in our area. The only predators I've seen are foxes but they are a couple miles or so away and rarely venture into the valley we live in. The only predator I worry about are hawks. I never let any of my chicken free range unless I am home and outside.

 

[plantcityhomestead]

Are cochins very alert chickens? When they free range are they alert and sharp in watching out for predators? I like to free range my standard size flock so I have to wonder if cochins are just as alert. I always leave the coop open during the day and mine have run access. Will they run back to the coop during the day hours if needed. We are lucky in that we don't have many predators in our area. The only predators I've seen are foxes but they are a couple miles or so away and rarely venture into the valley we live in. The only predator I worry about are hawks. I never let any of my chicken free range unless I am home and outside.

My bantam cochins free range with my large fowl daily. The cochin roosters are much better at protecting the flock than the large fowl roosters.

 

[Coopa Cabana]

OMG Craig . . .

I am at a loss for words . . . I am so sorry.

I discovered this morning that I must not have actually latched the door to my shop when I closed it last night. EVERY one of my Black, Partridge,Silver Penciled chicks were killed last night. All of my birds under 5 weeks old. Also 5 good young Columbians and 3 Buff Columbians. I do have older Columbians and Buff Columbians in another place.

That coon will find out tonight that a mad old man with a good rifle is a deadly combo to mess with.

Now I have to hope the Blacks will lay again. The rest are laying well . I still have 60-70 older Columbians and 9 older Buff Columbians. Now I have to hatch later into the summer than I hoped to.
Craig