Cochin Thread!!!

[Coopa Cabana]

There aren't very many Cochin pics submitted yet for the 2012 BYC Calendar:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...ictures-needed-for-the-byc-2013-calendar/0_20

So let's make sure at least one or two Cochins make the calendar! You can submit a max of 2 pics. And don't forget, once the submissions are closed, you will still have to vote!!

 

[a123andpoof]

You might want to try Duane Urch in Owatonna, MN. You can Google him for his phone # - there is no website. I believe he prefers to be phoned in the evenings.

Thanks!

 

[Coopa Cabana]

Quote:
Mandy, these pics really help me a lot. Mine aren't as old as yours, as all my hatching was throughtout July, but I'm seeing lots of good and bad. I've been trying to take pics of them every couple of weeks so I can track the pattern development, so I need to get new ones this weekend and then I'll post.

I had 2 separate breedings going this year - GL and BLR. The GL's went nowhere fast. They haven't layed (not a one!) in over a month. Most all of the first eggs were infertile. I had one make it to term and hatch, and then lost the chick after 7 days.

So my other focus has been on the BLR's, and I've hatched out 20, but lost 2. As you know, I've been traveling a slightly different road to BLR than you - but I'm seeing a lot of the same results as far as pattern - much better in the males than females.

The genetics has been interesting:
F1s: I started with my (very red) GL Cochin male on my Splash Cochin female. So basically, black x splash. Which means I got 100% (very dark) blue chicks, split to GL. I retained the 3 best hens.

F2s: Again, my (very red) GL male, now on the 3 F1 blue hens (split to GL). At hatch, it was easy to tell from the down color which would be solid blue/black and which would be laced, and it was an even 50% split - 10 of each. Of the 10 that are now feathering out with pattern, I can easily see that half are black and half are blue (looks more like a steel gray). Just a couple have willow legs, including some of the solids. I also have a laced cockerel with willow legs. In the solids, I have one that has a black comb! I moved 7 out to grow out pens last weekend - I am really excited about one of the black laced cockerels! The pullets, while younger than yours, look much the same. I'm still waiting on the rest in the brooder to feather in more.

So I'll get more pics this weekend and post so you all can help me figure out what I'm looking at. I still believe my flock is incomplete for the Columbian gene, which is why I'm working to secure a good pair of Buff Columbians this fall to cross in next Spring.

 

[tiki244]

Cute Plate!!

edit: I am too gabby :/

 

[tiki244]

 

[tiki244]

Been a while since I posted any pictures. 1st Picture is of some of this years Columbians

Next male is 1 year old that I was lucky enough to get from Tom. I need a faster camera because he was always turning and I didn't get a decent shot worthy of him.



Another male and a pic of eye color even though out of focus gives a good base line.

Beautiful !!!!! The columbians are stunning.! The black is beatiful! Thanks for the eye shot!! Good color base for me to measure~Thanks

 

[thecochincoop]

Mandy, these pics really help me a lot. Mine aren't as old as yours, as all my hatching was throughtout July, but I'm seeing lots of good and bad. I've been trying to take pics of them every couple of weeks so I can track the pattern development, so I need to get new ones this weekend and then I'll post.

I had 2 separate breedings going this year - GL and BLR. The GL's went nowhere fast. They haven't layed (not a one!) in over a month. Most all of the first eggs were infertile. I had one make it to term and hatch, and then lost the chick after 7 days.

So my other focus has been on the BLR's, and I've hatched out 20, but lost 2. As you know, I've been traveling a slightly different road to BLR than you - but I'm seeing a lot of the same results as far as pattern - much better in the males than females.

The genetics has been interesting:
F1s: I started with my (very red) GL Cochin male on my Splash Cochin female. So basically, black x splash. Which means I got 100% (very dark) blue chicks, split to GL. I retained the 3 best hens.

F2s: Again, my (very red) GL male, now on the 3 F1 blue hens (split to GL). At hatch, it was easy to tell from the down color which would be solid blue/black and which would be laced, and it was an even 50% split - 10 of each. Of the 10 that are now feathering out with pattern, I can easily see that half are black and half are blue (looks more like a steel gray). Just a couple have willow legs, including some of the solids. I also have a laced cockerel with willow legs. In the solids, I have one that has a black comb! I moved 7 out to grow out pens last weekend - I am really excited about one of the black laced cockerels! The pullets, while younger than yours, look much the same. I'm still waiting on the rest in the brooder to feather in more.

So I'll get more pics this weekend and post so you all can help me figure out what I'm looking at. I still believe my flock is incomplete for the Columbian gene, which is why I'm working to secure a good pair of Buff Columbians this fall to cross in next Spring.

I know what you mean with GL fertility. Mine have been few and far between and with VERY few eggs to even work with. Most of my babies this year have been from buff columbians. Do you have pics that you can share. I would love to see what you have come up with

 

[Coopa Cabana]

OK, a quick recap of my BLR (bantam) project:
1) My original GL cock and my original Splash hen:


2) All F1 birds were very dark blue - I retained the 3 best pullets:


3) The F1 dark blue pullets were bred back this year to the original GL sire, and these are the F2's (photos taken this morning). These all hatched the first couple of weeks in July, so are around 6 weeks old. These are pics of the 7 older ones that I have moved out of the brooder. It will give you a good idea of what I'm getting. As I said yesterday, 1/2 are solid, and 1/2 are laced. Of the laced, about 1/2 appear to be black laced, and 1/2 appear to be blue laced.

Green band - This little fella is probably my most promising at this point in time: Definitely black laced.



Lavender Band - I think this little pullet is black laced - compare the "shafting" on her wings to the lacing in the wings on the the cockerel above.



Pink Band - I think this pullet is Blue laced. Again, more shafting on the wings.



Yellow Band - this pullet also appears to be Blue laced - but very incomplete with her lacing genes:



Black Band - this cockerel I think is black laced, but again very incomplete. He also has willow legs. (All 4 of the above have yellow legs.)



One of the solids - note the black comb on this little pullet.




Another solid - this cockerel is showing a lot of white tipping.


Edited to Add a couple more pics. The below 2 are a couple of weeks younger than the above, and still in the brooder.

Blue Band: Cockerel; yellow legs; Black laced



White Band: Pullet; Yellow legs; Blue/Black??




Please feel free to comment and critique.

 

[Sunksschicken]

here is Cashmere couldn't get a good shot of the brown lacing and she wouldn't hold still lol..

 

[Sunksschicken]

put a picture of my Cochin for the calendar