Mille Cochin Info

[usschicago1]

Well i have a question guys. I have followed this thread closely and i have seen these cochins in Both great quality to poor. While they all are pretty. It seems like each generation there crossed with something else to make a certain characteristic better, but why not instead do this through rigorous selective breeding? I think you could get there shape, wich is at this point off, alot better as well as work with the colors in a slower but still very efficient manner.

Mark

 

[BluffCountryShepherdess]

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We don't think so. I've communicated with Sigrid Van Dorte, who is writing a book on Mottlling and she thinks the Calico is actually a "hysterical mottled" ~ similar to what is found in the Serama. Sig was thrilled to find out there was another breed displaying this trait as it was thought to only be present in Seramas. She may even use photos of a couple of my Calicos in her book! My Calicos have started out mostly white and developed varying amounts of colored flecks as they matured. According to Sigrid, there are two types of Hysterical Mottling: one that does whiten with age and one that doesn't. I hope to lock in the genetics for those that do not whiten (although I think an almost white would be pretty too. My goal is to breed Calicos with at least at least two other colors (besides white) present over most of the body and definitely on the cushoin, feet and wings. The overall appearance would be that of a mostly white cochin with colored specks. It is so early in this project that we haven't worried about a variety 'standard yet. We're just working on determining if they can be bred in such a matter to lock in the Hysterical mottling gene so that they breed true. Did you see the Calicos on my website?

Nancy

 

[BluffCountryShepherdess]

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That's a very good point, Mark. One thing that I am doing is using a "Flock Improvement Group" (a show quality black hen, buff columbian hen and black mottled hen) to cross with my Calicos. The offspring from the first cross will be bred back to the Flock Improvement Group (FIG). Then, I'll cross back to the best type Calico I've got. I (or someone else if it's after I'm gone!) will continue to do so until we get the Calico to LOOK like a Sparkling Cochin! I have a vision in my mind's eye of a show quality bantam Cochin with the beautiful Calico coloring and I think it will be absolutely breathtaking...

 

[Cocotte]

I just received two mille fleurs from Lynne today (Thank you Lynne!!)

What I saw when I opened the box

Settling in nicely

They are both very sweet and friendly, and they are SO soft! We're naming them Sugar and Sprinkles

edited to add: or maybe Candy and Sprinkles. Not sure yet..

 

[WestKnollAmy]

They look marvelous! Lucky you! Is that an olive in the box? I've never fed olives before, do they really eat them?

Mark,
I think we all have a different way of trying to achieve the MFC pattern with type. For some the pattern is coming along extremely well and type is slowly coming along with it. Others, like myself, seem to work on type and not have much pattern yet. Eventually we will all merge and have them all in one package looking like they are supposed to but the fun is getting there so far. I have a lot of projects but once they are perfected then what fun is it? LOL
So many breeders are working on selective breeding but it isn't as easy as it looks. My first generation is all over the place! Some are buff, some are Columbian, some are almost a MF pattern and some are mostly white. And that is just from one trio.
Now I am crossing with Mottleds for type and more color. Can't get the black in there without them and the type is another plus from them.

The pullet above needs more black.
The pullet below needs more white and orange, which she may develop when she gets older.

Both of those girls are out of the same mother. The first one had a MF/buff Columbian dad (full brother to the hen), the second one had a Mottled dad.
It is all a balancing act and hard to get just the right colors, pattern and type on the same bird so far.

Come on and join us in the quest for the perfect MFC! We would love to see another with their own ideas and accomplishments.

 

[Cocotte]

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Thank you! We're really happy with them! I think those are grapes in the box, I didn't inspect them too closely.

 

[Funky Feathers]

Feel free to check out my website (MFC page) to see how mine are coming along. I just updated it w/new pics.

 

[onthespot]

are these girls hysterical mottling?

 

[NellaBean]

Here are my mille chicks growing up nicely.

By far the "best" looking boy:

A very dark, but typey boy....his coloring is reversed

A light "calico" type boy.

A buff columbian looking boy. He has white feathers starting to sprinkle in now.

the most "correct" looking girl. She is just getting her good mille feathers starting to come in.

the lighter girl, also starting to get some white feathers in now

Plus my very young (maybe 6-8 weeks?) mille pullet, hatched from my own pair. She hasn't gotten any spectactular feathering in yet, but she is very young.

 

[BluffCountryShepherdess]

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They sure look like it to me! If they are young, I would definitely say they are. I do know that mottled cochins typically get lighter with each molt but I'm not sure if that extends beyond the tips of the feathers or just means more feathers get white tips...

In Hysterical mottling, the mottle gene forgets to 'turn off' after the white tip and continues the white up the feather shaft.