How many toes does a standard cochin normally have?

[technodoll]

That "breeder" is such an idiot, I never want to go near him again - selling me sick birds like that, he should be ashamed that he lets animals get into such conditions in the first place!

Both cochins have pale skin and pale slate legs and feet, as you can see in the photos...

And one of them has 5 toes on each foot!

It's a mystery?

 

[hinkjc]

You can tell if the skin is yellow by looking at the bottom of the feet. I can't tell by the pics, but they do appear light. Blue shanks is normal on a blue bird. I don't know about the cross, but 5 toes is an indication something's not right.

 

[technodoll]

The bottom of the feet are very pale, I don't see any yellow...

So weird about the toes, what a mystery!!

 

[NYREDS]

In all sorts of animal breeding there are "breeders" & there are breeders. Too many so-called "breeders" think that putting a male & a female together makes one a breeder. It doesn't, there's a lot more to it than that. This applies to many who post & sell on this sight. I can't tell you how many times I've seen someone post that they just bought 10 [fill in the blank] chicks & they'll have hatching eggs to sell from them as soon as they start laying. Haven't seen the adult birds yet but they just know they'll be worth reproducing & they consider themselves a "breeder".
A real breeder knows their breed & strain well. They know what compliments what in the breeding pen. They will have worked with their breed/strain for several generations. That constitutes being a responsible breeder, not just a "breeder".

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

I agree with NYREDS entirely. I do htink the 5-toed bird is probably crossed with silkie--I would guess that breeder either allowed birds to mix, or was working on sizzles--there are a lot of F1 sizzles (frizzled cochin X silkie) that end up with a very similar appearance. If it was a deliberate cross, $20 may be in the ballpark on price, but I personally think it should show more silkie traits than 5 toes and dark skin, and it should have been sold with the correct label.

As to selling a sick bird, that is just wrong.

 

[technodoll]

I'm chalking this up to a hard learning experience... everything that happens makes me a little smarter and more wary now.

In any case I love my new girls, it's not their fault they come from a crappy background and had health issues - they're in a loving forever home now, getting better by the day and they truly are sweeties.

Next girls I'm getting will come from the ONLY real breeder around here, who shows his birds and puts multiple titles on them and doesn't just sell to anyone - I'm going to visit him soon to see his setup, ask questions and learn, learn, learn!

 

[tadkerson]

Why not discuss the matter with the person you bought the birds from? Ask for some of your money back or all of your money back and return the birds.

Tim

 

[Chris09]

Quote:
Yes Blue shanks is somewhat normal But in some breeds like with the Blue Plymouth Rock it is a Disqualification.

Chris

 

[technodoll]

Why not discuss the matter with the person you bought the birds from? Ask for some of your money back or all of your money back and return the birds.

No way I could ever bring those poor girls back to that filthy hellhole - I took them in and they're my responsibility now (luck them, LOL!)

I'm not breeding them, they're just pets so it doesn't matter if they aren't perfect.

Am just mad at myself for not doing my homework properly before going to that place...

"Buyer beware", right?​

 

[Hattie the Hen]

technodoll,

I have Dorkings here in the UK but I have never seen any with fused feet like your one. It also appears in the photo to be very far round to the inside which looks very odd (it may, of course be the angle of your photo). On mine the extra toe is further to the back....!

Oh how I wish my camera was working....!! I'm sure it is an abnormality. Some so-called breeders are such s...s I'm afraid!

However I hope you are having a great Thanksgiving Holiday.

Hattie