Mille Cochin Info

[WestKnollAmy]

Too cute! What neat photos.

My Cochins always want to see new babies. My Silkie pen is next to one of my MFC pens and the Silkie chicks are always over there. I swear one time I saw one of the MFC hens telling a story to the chicks. They were all gathered around her fluffy skirt and looking up at her. Never have my camera when I need one!

Cochins are so cool!

 

[mibirder]

Well, my "new" small flock of MFs have reached the six month point, so I thought I'd share the troops. These will be my breeding stock for next season - pairs to be determined down the road.

Roosters #1 - Ferdinand (Main roo needs comb work)

Rooster #2 - Aragon (Back up breeder)

Rooster #3 - Henry (needs some coloring, but workable)

The Girls
Isabel in front

Catalina (needs some Mh)

Bella (still molting in pattern)

Catherine (needs a bit of work)

Joanna (still molting in pattern)

Maria (needs breast pattern)

Hopefully, those still molting pattern/color will continue to improve before Spring!

Dave

 

[Nicki]

I didn't even know that there were Mille Fleur Cochins! They are all beautiful! What do y'all breed together to get the MF pattern? I'm guessing mottled is in there somewhere, right?

 

[thecochincoop]

Quote:
i'm not sure about all birds but the particular one that i raised appeared to be a gold laced mottled to create the pattern. he was definitely a mottled when young because he had the tuxedo pattern

 

[mibirder]

Nicki -

Genetically -

eb/eb,s+/s+,Db/Db, (Co/Co),Pg/Pg,Ml/Ml,mo/mo,Mh/Mh
eWh/eWhs,+/s+,Db/Db,Pg/Pg,Ml/Ml,mo/mo

Commonly -

Brown based, with gold, Dark Brown, (and/or Columbian), Pattern, Melanotic, Mottle, Mahogany
or Wheaten based, with gold, Dark Brown, Melanotic, Mottle

Many pioneer breeders start with Buff Columbian or Partridge with mottle added in, sometimes Mahogany, and then lots of culling!
The hardest part is getting genetically "known" birds to start. Most folks today, start with birds from some one else project rather than starting from scratch. The color is the easiest part - good quality type is a constant effort. Someday, this variety will hopefully be true breeding.

Dave

 

[Nicki]

Quote:
So it doesn't breed true yet? Do you get Partridge or Mottled from their offspring? Sorry, I'm not very good when it comes to genetics LOL

 

[mibirder]

Nicki -

Currently, as breeders continue their work on type and color, many "mismarked and/or poorly typed" offspring are produced. One, commonly known as Calico, is more or less a "party" colored variety with whole feathers of white, black, and gold often along with few mottled feathers.

Among other reasons, no standard currently is accepted (by ABA), as it takes a set number of breeders, producing consistent offspring, and shown in a set number of birds in order for a standard to be proposed. That will (likely) be sometime in the future. So for now, breeders are working to "prefect" the color, clean up the type and color genes for consistent breeding, and progressing along.

Dave

 

[Nicki]

Quote:
Gotcha...thanks for the info

 

[joanie_maine]

This is my ONE mille fleur pullet

She's almost 6 months old now - I'm hoping that her feather patterns get better when she molts. Any thoughts about what I should breed her to. I'm considering buying a cockerel.

 

[WestKnollAmy]

She has decent type so I would find a MF roo with the best pattern possible and very good type. Roos are a dime a dozen and everyone always has extras. You should be able to find a typy well patterned fella to go with her.

I have a young lady that looks a lot like that in color and pattern, too. I still have not decided which of my 8 roos to put her with. I need to go over her better to determine her specific flaws and then match her to a roo with those better qualities. It seems that is never the color I want to put the pullet with though! But I breed type to type and the genes usually work themselves out.

Good luck! You have a lovely lady there!