Mille Cochin Info

[Rare Feathers Farm]

Quote:
I'm getting a hen from Tom Roebuck. He has some of the nicest in the country...

 

[BluffCountryShepherdess]

Beautiful, young MFCs, Heather! I really like the pullet in the 4th picture. I have a white background pullet like your first photo and I absolutely love her coloring. Of course, I will breed her to a rooster with MORE color to try to give her chicks more mf color, but I really like her looks a lot. I'm thinking of using this young cockeral on my girls with too much black:

"SPLASH" bred by Josh Singleton

And this handsome brute for my girls with good color that need a little MORE black:

"TROUBLE" bred by Mike Vogan

Of course, I still have 4 pullets and two young roosters coming from Lynne and Ione, so nothing's set in stone...

;-)

 

[KinderKorner]

I'm so excited to have my chicks. Can't wait to see how they grow and feather out.

I'm getting mottled cochin eggs in the mail next week. And then I will begin phase 1 of my project. *Shifty Eyes* Can't wait to share. But it will be months yet. So maybe in the spring I will spill my secret.

 

[MrsChickendad]

Quote:
I had one very similar. Here she is at 2 months and 5 months:
She is from Lynne's eggs. Suggestions on how to breed her?

 

[Rare Feathers Farm]

I have two mille fleur project roos for sale...I will be in the Seattle area on the 14th of November and can meet somewhere with chickens!

Prices reduced to $20 EACH or both for $35 These photos were taken a month or more ago and they have both filled out & gotten even more gorgeous since then!

Rooster #1 (pretty full of himself, but not mean)

Rooster #2 very shy (hard to get a photo of!) and quiet

 

[onthespot]

I think it might be a good idea to remind ourselves that not every hen and roo that hatches should be part of a breeding program. I have seen quite a few birds in this thread that ought to be culled from a MF breeding program. I am not pointing out specific birds or breeders, just saying that if we use only the best marked, best conformed birds, we and our customers would be much better served.

 

[Rare Feathers Farm]

Quote:
That's why I'm selling my two. They are "project" birds--meaning they were from my own project...but I personally do not want to use them in my future breedings for the mille color.

I do not have the heart to kill them...so they are for sale. 99% of the people I sell my culls to just want them for pets, eggs or because they "need" a rooster. Once in a GREAT while, I'll get a 4-H or FFA kid that wants a new project...

 

[BluffCountryShepherdess]

I would be very interested to know if you think that any of the birds that I've posted photos of should be culled. I am new to this and admittedly learning as I go. I do have the "American Standard of Perfection" and think I have a fairly good idea of basic, good conformation but first learned about the MF color/pattern on here, quite recently. As I understand it, this is a work in progress and we may sometimes be breeding birds that do not, themselves, meet the standard, but may contribute to the MF project in one way or another.

I truly would like your opinion regarding my flock. That's why I post photos! I'm not promising I'll take all suggestions, but I WILL consider them...

onthespot wrote:
I think it might be a good idea to remind ourselves that not every hen and roo that hatches should be part of a breeding program. I have seen quite a few birds in this thread that ought to be culled from a MF breeding program. I am not pointing out specific birds or breeders, just saying that if we use only the best marked, best conformed birds, we and our customers would be much better served.​

 

[Msbear]

Buffcountry, if Im remembering correctly, I believe every picture you have posted, have been of some dynomite looking birds.

I think what Patty is talking about are those birds that are WAY too dark or don't have enough markings, etc. We all have to start somewhere... but if you have better, don't use what will take you backward.

 

[MrsChickendad]

The pullet I have I know is way too dark, but she is the only one to hatch from 19 MF eggs. So its a pretty slow start, but a couple of test breedings should tell if she has the genotype to produce something to work with. If not, that's the way it goes—she can still make breakfast!

Too bad it isn't practical to have a rooster "at stud" like we do with show dogs, horses, etc. You could get some nice line breeding established and cross out to pick up other characteristics. But chicken genetics seem WAY more complex than dogs are!