Disappointed in Meyer Hatchery

[4-H chicken mom]

I am so bummed out. I found out that Meyer is not going to have bantam barred cochins this year.

We have a beautiful barred rooster that we hatched in March (the only one) and I wanted so badly to get some more this year in hopes of getting a mate for him. He is the only rooster I like, he doesn't crow. I have only heard him crow 3 times in six months. In fact, we thought he was a hen for the longest time. It wasn't until he started getting his hackle and saddle feathers in Aug., that we knew he was a him. He is in with our egg laying hens and they just seemed to love him. We have a bantam buff and a golden laced bantam rooster (that have their own hens) that crow all the time.
I have been on the phone and internet to other hatcheries and they either don't have any, poor quality, or you have to order 30 and they all have to be bantams. I have even gone so far as e-mailing cochins international hoping to find a breeder who might have some eggs. I am going to put an ad in our 4-H communicator to see if anyone wants to go in and place an order with me but like I said they all have to be bantam chicks. If anyone has any batam barred cochins eggs they would like to sell, please let me know. Thanks

 

[ksacres]

There's someone on this list that has barred bantam cochins, maybe they can sell you some hatching eggs or chicks in the spring.

 

[Frozen Feathers]

You could always try Ideal. I can't vouch for their Cochin quality, because I've never had Cochins, but they do have barred Cochins. I know my La Flech from Ideal are really great quality and my Yokohamas aren't that shabby either. They all arrived healthy and in good condition.

You would only need to purchase a minimum of $20 worth of chicks (so 8) but they are also sold straight run.
Of course they'd probably throw in a bunch of 'packing peanuts' if you ordered so few, but you could always order a whole bunch and pick and choose the best of the lot.


Good luck on your search!!

 

[luvzmybabz]

I think that country hatchery has them I will have to tackle the pile that isa my desk and see if I can find the catalog they have things in the paper catalog that is not on the website...will let you know or you can go to website and request a catalog from them very small father and sons type operation. They are located in OKlahoma.

Kasi

 

[Pinenot]

I just thought I would share this with you...doesn't really mean anything...This last year my bantum barred rock mated with a black cochin and we have 2 barred cochins from it. They do have some black feathers, but for the most part they look like barred cochins.

 

[4-H chicken mom]

My daughter asked me if we were to breed a standard barred rock hen if we might possibly get a smaller version. But, then I don't know if it would have feathers on its feet or not. I don't know who would have the stronger genes. Thanks

 

[Frozen Feathers]

I think you'd get feathered feet. I know that happens to me when I cross up Silkies and standards. I think if you wanted to breed a bantam barred rock, it'd be easier to start with something that had a similar body type, like Dutch or OEG. Cochins have that funny round body and it could be diffucult breeding that out, but fun.
You could always just get bantam barred rocks (they have them at Ideal and no I don't work for them...lol).

 

[ksacres]

better to buy poorer quality hatchery stock than try to make your own, I can promise you it will be a lot faster!

 

[ksacres]

Red_Raider_64 is the one with barred cochins

 

[4-H chicken mom]

You are right ksacres. Maybe not as much fun as it would be mixing but I don't want to wait yrs. either. I do have an e-mail out to red raider but have not heard anything yet but I only sent it this morning so will see.