Cochin Thread!!!

[Mr. Ree]

My two MFCs didn't start laying until they were 10 months and a year old. Show lines take even longer I heard.

I have a show line and my birds started laying around 20 weeks, and havent stopped yet. They started laying in the middle on Jan and for 3 months I got 4-6 eggs a day from 6 birds. The issue with show lines usually arent how long it takes for birds to start laying, its birds that dont really lay well.


~Casey

 

[MsBagawkbagawk]

I had some hens that didn't start laying until they were 9 months old. All of my pullets from this year are starting, but we'll see how long it takes the cochins

 

[Black Cochin Bantams]

I have a show line and my birds started laying around 20 weeks, and havent stopped yet. They started laying in the middle on Jan and for 3 months I got 4-6 eggs a day from 6 birds. The issue with show lines usually arent how long it takes for birds to start laying, its birds that dont really lay well.


~Casey

You are so correct on that Casey. Some of the Blacks I used to have would only lay about 20-30 eggs a year. If you didn't catch the start there were few chicks out of that hen hatched. I have had 2 pullets not lay until almost 10 months when many started at 6-7 months.

 

[3LilBirds]

Quote:
or let her sit on them and candle after a week or so.

but if you're going to let her go broody i recommend taking the eggs away and give her fakes to sit on for a week or so and once eggs stop showing up then give them back. but mark them so you know which ones you let her have, in case other hens lay in the nest. otherwise you'll have hatching over a range of time and after the first chicks hatch they usually give up sitting to become momma mode within a day or so. so nearly ready eggs may die because she didn't wait for them.

If I take them away I have to put them in an incubator? If so I unfortunately do not have one. Hubby says NO lol but if she sits on them he wouldn't stop her. He is s sucker for Cinnamon. lol

 

[Reyvaughn]

I have a show line and my birds started laying around 20 weeks, and havent stopped yet. They started laying in the middle on Jan and for 3 months I got 4-6 eggs a day from 6 birds. The issue with show lines usually arent how long it takes for birds to start laying, its birds that dont really lay well.


~Casey

You are so correct on that Casey. Some of the Blacks I used to have would only lay about 20-30 eggs a year. If you didn't catch the start there were few chicks out of that hen hatched. I have had 2 pullets not lay until almost 10 months when many started at 6-7 months.

I said that's what I heard. Thanks for correcting that.
As for actually laying, every 2nd to 4th day it seems for them. They have been broody 3x this year as well. I can't collect enough to incubate a good batch of chicks. I am lucky to get 5 eggs a week from 2 girls. That is an overtime week, lol!


Candling at 3 days does not always show you anything - 5-7days is better. Even then you may have let your girl sit on eggs that weren't fertilized for nothing. I prefer to crack one open and see that bullseye. Then I know at least my boys are hitting their mark. Instant conformation and no waiting and guessing.

 

[wildwoodcochins]

I am near seminole and have some young red brown/lemon blue roos coming up from my first attempt at hatching out lemon blues from eggs...I have 4 young brown red/lemon blue roos available.

I sent you a PM

 

[wildwoodcochins]

Does anyone know where I can find information on the Crossroads show in Indianapolis?

 

[Black Cochin Bantams]

Does anyone know where I can find information on the Crossroads show in Indianapolis?

Do you mean the last one? There won't be another for a while if ever. It was 5 years between the last ones. There will be some good big shows in Ohio this year. Both Lucasville and Columbus will have good large shows. 1 is in Oct the other is in Nov.

http://www.cochinsint.com/show-calendar.html is a good place to look for upcoming shows. Hope to meet some of you at shows this fall

Craig

 

[Black Cochin Bantams]

I said that's what I heard. Thanks for correcting that.
As for actually laying, every 2nd to 4th day it seems for them. They have been broody 3x this year as well. I can't collect enough to incubate a good batch of chicks. I am lucky to get 5 eggs a week from 2 girls. That is an overtime week, lol!


Candling at 3 days does not always show you anything - 5-7days is better. Even then you may have let your girl sit on eggs that weren't fertilized for nothing. I prefer to crack one open and see that bullseye. Then I know at least my boys are hitting their mark. Instant conformation and no waiting and guessing.

I candle at 3 days and can tell fertile eggs very well. I take out bad eggs at 5 days. If I miss a fertile one so be it. At least this will hatch them all at the same time

Craig

 

[wildwoodcochins]

Do you mean the last one? There won't be another for a while if ever. It was 5 years between the last ones. There will be some good big shows in Ohio this year. Both Lucasville and Columbus will have good large shows. 1 is in Oct the other is in Nov.

http://www.cochinsint.com/show-calendar.html  is a good place to look for upcoming shows. Hope to meet some of you at shows this fall

Craig

Thanks Craig~ I was hoping that Crossroads was an annual show
Hopefully I can find something closer to home! Thanks for the info