Large Fowl Cochin Thread

[OleMissChic]

Check out the Cochins International website and look at the breeders directory you will be able to find your answers there and they'll be people that are working on breeding them to the Standard.

Blessings,

Bo

Thank you Bo!

 

[Coopa Cabana]

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT FOR COCHINS INTERNATIONAL MEMBERS ONLY!! The Summer (August) 2013 Online (Cochins Only) Show is fast approaching! Entries will be accepted between August 1st and August 7th; judging will take place between August 8th and August 14th.

I am very happy to announce that our Judge for the Summer show will be Donald Barger!

Plenty of time in the next 10 days for you to suds up those birds and take some great photos!

Please remember that this is the LAST show for 2013 - there will be no Fall show, as you should all be busy entering your local sanctioned shows!

Please refer to the "Online Show" tab on the website for complete rules and instructions. www.CochinsInt.com

 

[joanie_maine]

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT FOR COCHINS INTERNATIONAL MEMBERS ONLY!! The Summer (August) 2013 Online (Cochins Only) Show is fast approaching! Entries will be accepted between August 1st and August 7th; judging will take place between August 8th and August 14th.

I am very happy to announce that our Judge for the Summer show will be Donald Barger!

Plenty of time in the next 10 days for you to suds up those birds and take some great photos!

Please remember that this is the LAST show for 2013 - there will be no Fall show, as you should all be busy entering your local sanctioned shows!

Please refer to the "Online Show" tab on the website for complete rules and instructions. www.CochinsInt.com

Time to rent a forklift for this LF bath !!! lol

 

[CarolinaHen]

OleMissChic, I'm with you...I've only seen Bantam Frizzle Cochins.  I'd LOVE to get some LF Frizzles.  Anyone with them out there?

We have two. Both are black pullets and will be bred only if we can find a suitable rooster. If not, they will be available.

 

[muesky]

Hi All. I posted this on the Cochin thread but another member stated that since I have LF Cochins rather than bantam, that I might get better feedback here. For those of you who subscribe to both threads, please excuse the double post.

First of all let me apologize for the length of this post and the size of the pics...spent two hours trying to reduce them with no luck.

Secondly, I'll apologize because this is a "What sex is my chicken" post.

Long story short - I have the opportunity to purchase some excellent quality chicks and would like to know what I already have before I choose new chicks to add to my flock. I have 7 LF Cochins that are 8 weeks old. I am only sure of the sex of one of them. I have read the "how to tell..." Posts but what I read is conflicting with what I see. Six of the chicks feathered quickly and I have one late bloomer. Five of the quick to feather have red combs and wattles, a couple with yellow tips. The slow starter has a small yellow comb and no wattles. Any help you can give is appreciated! Okay, enough rambling here are the pics...

1. Minnie...the one I'm fairly certain is female

2. Eve...my first hatch

3. Bunny Blue...blue chick

4. Pearl...self blue?

5. Danny Boy (although I have no idea if this is a male)...black splash?

6. No name

7. And the ugly duckling

Again, any insight into sexing these guys will be appreciated greatly!!

Okay so several people have weighed in on sexing your chickens and I must say since I got LF cochins everything I knew about sexing birds had to be thrown out the window. The first two are definitely hens. The third on looks kind of roosterish but I had one that looked just like that when she was that age and is a hen, so you will know when he crows or she lays an egg . Number five is more then likely a rooster and there is a good chance that 7 (Ugly Duckling) is a roo but it is hard to tell. So I would say 4-5 out of 7 are pullets.
Here is also what I have experienced since getting into LF cochins is roosters are hard to come by. Of all that I have gotten, hatched and traded 90% have been hens. I am actually rooster poor at this time and need at least one white and one black rooster.
Your birds are going to be huge when they get finished growing which I am sure you know takes a while.

 

[Missyktsm]

 Okay so several people have weighed in on sexing your chickens and I must say since I got LF cochins everything I knew about sexing birds had to be thrown out the window. The first two are definitely hens. The third on looks kind of roosterish but I had one that looked just like that when she was that age and is a hen, so you will know when he crows or she lays an egg . Number five is more then likely a rooster and there is a good chance that 7 (Ugly Duckling) is a roo but it is hard to tell. So I would say 4-5 out of 7 are pullets.
Here is also what I have experienced since getting into LF cochins is roosters are hard to come by. Of all that I have gotten, hatched and traded 90% have been hens. I am actually rooster poor at this time and need at least one white and one black rooster.
Your birds are going to be huge when they get finished growing which I am sure you know takes a while.

Wow...thank you! You're the first person who believes I have mostly hens. I must say that truly gives me hope that I won't have to make decisions on which ones to keep. I mean, a flock of six roosters and one hen is not very productive - or easy on the poor hen. I had heard that roosters were a little scarce with this breed. I hope you find the ones you need. Thank you again for your assessment and for giving me hope. Now I'll just have to see who starts crowing lol.

 

[joanie_maine]

Quote: The great thing about LF cochins is that they are dual produce and very docile. You will know sooner than later who is a roo and who is a hen. By that time, the spare roosters will be more than ready to put in your freezer. Really good roosters are hard to find - keep the best and a spare!!!!

 

[minichic]

This is my first time hatching out LF Cochin chicks. Out of 8 chicks, I have one that is about 1/3 the size of its hatchmates. The feathers on the little guy are also doing something weird. About half way down the feather there is a little break in the feather and the last half of the feather then twists out from the body in all directions. I checked with the person I bought the hatching eggs from and she only has LF Cochins and has no idea where this little one came from. The chick is six weeks old.

I appreciate any and all feedback. Thanks.

 

[Knetiknrga]

Has anyone here processed any of their lf Cochins as meat birds? All mine are too pretty to eat. But for future reference... I've heard conflicting testimonies about their value on the table. And if we were ever going to process any, at what age since they mature so slowly? I've also considered the possibility of maybe crossing some with another dual purpose breed. Maybe marans or new Hampshire or Dorkings... to ad some bulkiness to an already delicious dual purpose breed. And it would save me needing to keep any roosters of those breeds if crossing with a cochin is worth it for meat. It's just a thought. I've never eaten a Cochin before and wouldn't eat any of the ones I currently have. Would it be worth it?

 

[BorderBrigade]

Has anyone here processed any of their lf Cochins as meat birds? All mine are too pretty to eat. But for future reference... I've heard conflicting testimonies about their value on the table. And if we were ever going to process any, at what age since they mature so slowly? I've also considered the possibility of maybe crossing some with another dual purpose breed. Maybe marans or new Hampshire or Dorkings... to ad some bulkiness to an already delicious dual purpose breed. And it would save me needing to keep any roosters of those breeds if crossing with a cochin is worth it for meat. It's just a thought. I've never eaten a Cochin before and wouldn't eat any of the ones I currently have. Would it be worth it?

I have but wait til they are about 6-8 months for a decent size in terms of meat.