Large Fowl Cochin Thread

[CoopDeDoo]

Just wanted to share some pics - hatched 5 LF BBS cochins (and 11 Sal Fav) last week

I'm looking forward to growing these little ones out and seeing how they do with my Favs.

 

[Our Roost]

Am sure you will love both of these breeds very much. sooo enjoy my cochins! I am currently waiting until spring to mate the cochin hens with my belgian malines. Their progeny and demeanor should be worth the effort.

 

[Sambi89]

So I currently have one bantam SL cochin. I love her and I really want to expand my flock with some LF cochins. I was hoping I coud get pointed in the direction of some hatching eggs. Any advice or help is appreciated.

 

[Our Roost]

What exactly are your intentions? Hobby, meat, eggs, show quality, or all of those? Cochins are a fantastic family breed with great character. They lay small to medium sized eggs and most people don't raise them for their meat qualities yet they are a meaty bird. Very pleasant to have them. I personally would order live chicks verses hatching eggs if offered by a breeder. Do a simple search on the web and you will be surprised at the available options.

 

[Sambi89]

What exactly are your intentions? Hobby, meat, eggs, show quality, or all of those? Cochins are a fantastic family breed with great character. They lay small to medium sized eggs and most people don't raise them for their meat qualities yet they are a meaty bird. Very pleasant to have them. I personally would order live chicks verses hatching eggs if offered by a breeder. Do a simple search on the web and you will be surprised at the available options.

I mostly want them as pets. I can't imagine eating them and I live in the city (for now) so I can't have a rooster, so I can't breed them. I currently have a smallish flock and I just really want some pretty fluffy butts in there.

 

[CoopDeDoo]

Wing growth difference - I have 4 (hatched 5 and one is living with DS and his roommates) LF BBS cochins. One week and two days old. Two of them have "full" wing feathers and two have "nubby" wing feathers. Any indication of gender ( disclaimer - I will be growing them all out to several weeks old so this is just to satisfy my own curiosity

) Not the best photos but I think you can see the difference:

Nubby wings (above)


Full wings
Thanks! These sure are friendly and curious little ones. They are the first to be at the brooder door and attempting to explore everything

 

[Our Roost]

In that case, you are not pressured to do anything but enjoy some wonderful family pets, for now! I ordered some white cochins (4pullet chicks) from My pet chicken. I called them my golden girls. Maude, Rose, Sophia, and Dorothy! Small to medium sized eggs and truthfully, these birds are not lacking in size. So much easier to order live chicks than gamble on hatching eggs. But, that's another experience worth the effort if you choose to do so. Lots of colors to choose from so have fun.

 

[CoopDeDoo]

Quick question - at what age do vulture hocks show up? All four look to have them right now (at 2weeks old) - is that normal during this feathering out stage of growth?

Thanks!

 

[CoopDeDoo]

So I've added photos of what I am seeing -vulture hocks or normal chick feathers growing in? Two different chicks (both blues)
Thanks!

 

[Sambi89]

I'm no professional but from what I understand vulture hocks are stiffer feathers coming from the back of the knee. I don't think I would worry about their feather just yet.