Cochin Thread!!!

[Sanna]

I know nothing good or bad about Lucky Pickens except her Silver Laced are maybe
as good as you can find for sale. I would like to think I have as good of Columbians as anyone in the USA. On the east coast I would recommend Msbear. Her Columbians came from the same breeder mine did. Jamie Matts is closer to you and he has some good Columbians also.
Blue Calico is not a variety but a made up name for attractive culls from some other Cochin breeding project. I may get some disagreement on that but that is my opinion.
Craig

I don't know much about the cochin bantams yet but I figured the blue calico must be a new color project. They are pretty, that's why I wanted one.

Yes, I fell for the pretty. But for the columbians, I want to make sure I get something good. I will have to try to remember all these names for spring and look around for some eggs.
Thank you Craig.

 

[Coopa Cabana]

Quote: LOL - I'm just a gluten for punishment.



I know that it is not an easy road trying to have any variety other than the solid colors. It really is worth it and I will need you to remind me of that from time to time. Do you have any pictures left from when you had Columbians? I hope you continue to work on the tough ones.
Craig


Craig, you have that backwards!! You will need to remind ME of that from time to time!! Over the next couple of months, I will have to think long and hard about working with the BLR as a side project to the GL's. They are a nice complement to each other, but I'd really like to perfect the GL's before proceeding. If you don't have great GL's, then you are not going to have great BLR's. If I had more coop space, it would be an easier decision to keep both. I'm really looking forward to crossing in the Buff Columbians to the GL's next spring - I think it will greatly improve the lacing (as well as the type). I will most likely lose a lot of lacing the first year, but it will be well worth the wait.

Does anyone follow the Australian Pekin Club website? I am always amazed at, not only all the different Varieties, but that the TYPE on the colored and patterned Varieties is just as good as the type on the Blacks and Whites. And the patterned Varieties are just as popular as the blacks and whites.
In Australia, there is a big focus on the "forward tilt" of the birds, which we don't do here. And there is also focus on what they call a proper "skirt". And for some colors, such as Partridge, the females can be shown as pullet breeders or cockerel breeders.
What I really like is that once the Variety winners are chosen, they not only move on to Best of Breed, but there is also a "Best Colored". I'd love to see that here in the States.

(There is a link to the Australian Pekin Club on the CI website if anyone is interested.)

 

[Coopa Cabana]

Quote:
You might consider joining Cochins International - you'll get the Breeder's Directory and Newsletters. Then you won't have to remember all the breeders names for next Spring!

 

[Coopa Cabana]

My black male is starting to get orange/red splotches...just in random small spots at the moment. What's up with that? Are more going to come up?

That is a hard question to answer without more specifics. How old is the male? Where did you get him from? Knowing his age and genetic lineage are the keys to knowing what's going on with him. And where are these small random spots located on him - neck, wings, tail, breast? Pictures would also help.

 

[Scifisarah]

That is a hard question to answer without more specifics. How old is the male? Where did you get him from? Knowing his age and genetic lineage are the keys to knowing what's going on with him. And where are these small random spots located on him - neck, wings, tail, breast? Pictures would also help.

Is there a certain book you would recommend for someone new to poultry, breeding, colors and genetics? I have a degree in wildlife biology, so I am not completely unaware of the principles of genetics, but don't know much about the specifics when it comes to poultry.

 

[ki4got]

For next year, I want to order some hatching eggs and have NICE Cochin bantams. Right now I have 3 that really don't look like much of anything. That's ok. They were my first 3 Cochins and I love them dearly. Especially my partridge girl Lucille.

I like the birds Lucky Pickens Farm has. Found her on Facebook. I like the Columbians and her Blue Calicos. Has anyone done business with her and what is the quality of her birds? Hopefully I'm not throwing anyone under the bus here (possibly myself) or insulting anyone!?
I would die to have a nice Columbian for sure! But if I'm going to invest my time and money in more hatching eggs, I want to know I'm getting GOOD ones. Or at least, I want to know I have a good chance of getting good ones. I got some nice Silkies growing. Next on list are the Cochins for next year.

Are there any other Columbian and Blue Calico breeders around that you Cochin enthusiasts would recommend?

Yes, I've dealt with Roslyn (Luckypickens) several times. she packages her eggs well, and i've had good hatch rates each time... this time around she sent 41 eggs, i've got 20 developing, hatch is due Wednesday (the 24th). my mille fleur rooster is one of hers, I have 3 blacks split for self blue (for sale), and i loved the silver laced i had, but someone made an offer i couldn't refuse (and kicked myself later) so i've got 6 silver laced still cooking, plus 1 blue/splash, and the rest split between partridge, red & buff barred.

as for quality, the type isn't bad, tho i have seen better in some varieties than others. her blacks were by far my best typed. but i need to make room for other varieties and decided i preferred regular blue to self blue, so my self blue pen is going to swap tomorrow with 2 self blue chicks and a couple other breeds i have taking up room.

 

[Coopa Cabana]

Quote:
Before buying, you might want to start with some of the free information on the web. Two of the best websites that are all-inclusive for poultry genetics are on the CI website on the Resources Link tab: http://www.cochinsint.com/links-to-resources.html

 

[debir1966]

Hello! I would love to read this whole thread LOL but for now just wanted to share pics of my 3 standard cochins that I got from Ideal Poultry. I got them to be broodies for future fostering as well as hatching out some of my own chicks. They are just over 12 weeks old.

Here is the Partridge. Her leg feathers are not as full as the other two.


My Blue Cochin, she has lovely leg feathers and a beautiful glistening color!


A slightly younger picture of the White cochin - her leg feathers are fuller than they look in this picture.

 

[Black Cochin Bantams]

Quote: LOL - I'm just a gluten for punishment.



I know that it is not an easy road trying to have any variety other than the solid colors. It really is worth it and I will need you to remind me of that from time to time. Do you have any pictures left from when you had Columbians? I hope you continue to work on the tough ones.
Craig


Craig, you have that backwards!! You will need to remind ME of that from time to time!! Over the next couple of months, I will have to think long and hard about working with the BLR as a side project to the GL's. They are a nice complement to each other, but I'd really like to perfect the GL's before proceeding. If you don't have great GL's, then you are not going to have great BLR's. If I had more coop space, it would be an easier decision to keep both. I'm really looking forward to crossing in the Buff Columbians to the GL's next spring - I think it will greatly improve the lacing (as well as the type). I will most likely lose a lot of lacing the first year, but it will be well worth the wait.

Does anyone follow the Australian Pekin Club website? I am always amazed at, not only all the different Varieties, but that the TYPE on the colored and patterned Varieties is just as good as the type on the Blacks and Whites. And the patterned Varieties are just as popular as the blacks and whites.
In Australia, there is a big focus on the "forward tilt" of the birds, which we don't do here. And there is also focus on what they call a proper "skirt". And for some colors, such as Partridge, the females can be shown as pullet breeders or cockerel breeders.
What I really like is that once the Variety winners are chosen, they not only move on to Best of Breed, but there is also a "Best Colored". I'd love to see that here in the States.

(There is a link to the Australian Pekin Club on the CI website if anyone is interested.)

Gail

If needed I have an extra Buff Columbian male you can use for your project. He is a good one that I have shown a few times. I know you are getting one from Tom also but if needed he is available. Too good to sell but not better than my other one and I am still growing out chicks at this time.

Gail I follow 2 different Australian sites on facebook that are interesting also." Pekin Bantam lovers and breeders" and the" Australian National Pekin Club".As you say the forward tilt is a big thing and also many of the male birds have what I would describe as over sized combs where we try for "medium" comb on our males. I wonder if they don't care or if the climate is the cause of the comb size.

I really find the European birds to be more my preference than the Aussie birds in general. Some great ones posted from Sweden, Serbia, Romania, Germany on several sites Casey showed me.. They would do quite well here. My jaw drops at the Silver Penciled I see over there with great penciling and color. I have seen several male SP that have no red leakage. So I know it is possible to do now all I have to do is find out how. Oh to have a pair of those to start with here. It would save years of work to start with something that good.

Craig

 

[Sanna]

Yes, I've dealt with Roslyn (Luckypickens) several times. she packages her eggs well, and i've had good hatch rates each time... this time around she sent 41 eggs, i've got 20 developing, hatch is due Wednesday (the 24th). my mille fleur rooster is one of hers, I have 3 blacks split for self blue (for sale), and i loved the silver laced i had, but someone made an offer i couldn't refuse (and kicked myself later) so i've got 6 silver laced still cooking, plus 1 blue/splash, and the rest split between partridge, red & buff barred.

as for quality, the type isn't bad, tho i have seen better in some varieties than others. her blacks were by far my best typed. but i need to make room for other varieties and decided i preferred regular blue to self blue, so my self blue pen is going to swap tomorrow with 2 self blue chicks and a couple other breeds i have taking up room.

Would you have any pictures to share?