Mille Cochin Info

[rodriguezpoultry]

No D'Uccles were used in the making of our Milles

I won't argue the point but I do know that several breeders have used Mille Fleur D'uccles. Perhaps not in the time you have had your birds or in the original birds you began with but many breeders have used the D'Uccle to begin their Mille Fleur Cochin projects.

 

[WestKnollAmy]

Quote:
Definitely not in mine. I started basically from scratch with only bantam Cochins. I know some people may have used d'Uccles in some of theirs to catch the pattern gene but I can assure you mine have been only bantam Cochin for the 3 1/2 years I have been working on them. They were just buff colored from the start. My humble beginnings are on my website for all to see how I got started.

 

[wwmicasa1]

I won't argue the point but I do know that several breeders have used Mille Fleur D'uccles. Perhaps not in the time you have had your birds or in the original birds you began with but many breeders have used the D'Uccle to begin their Mille Fleur Cochin projects.

I have been working on this project for 5 years. I started with 2 Buff Columbians & a MFC roo from England (via Tennessee). I have a closed flock & have never introduced anyone MFC's into my stock. This year I will be adding the Mottled (to improve type & chevrons) from the eggs I hatched last Dec. from Amy. It may "seem" like MF D'uccle is the way to go but those of us that have worked steadly on this project for years know that once those stiff feathers are introduced, it takes decades to breed them out. As for the wing carriage, you will find many Cochins that have that problem. It is not indicative of using D'uccle. What breeders in particular are you concerned about?

 

[Reyvaughn]

What breeders in particular are you concerned about?

I'd like to know so I can stay away from them. Getting the type into my birds has been hard enough - that task alone has forced me to keep the nastiest rooster known to man. As far as I know, all of mine are 100% bantam Cochin. My stock is from Erin, Amy & Katelyn (via Amy & Twyla... not sure of any others). I am pretty sure none of them have used or using birds with D'uccle lineage.

 

[wwmicasa1]

I'd like to know so I can stay away from them. Getting the type into my birds has been hard enough - that task alone has forced me to keep the nastiest rooster known to man. As far as I know, all of mine are 100% bantam Cochin. My stock is from Erin, Amy & Katelyn (via Amy & Twyla... not sure of any others). I am pretty sure none of them have used or using birds with D'uccle lineage.

Hopefully those breeders who have introduced D'uccle will step forward and alleviate your fears regarding your flock. I was under the impression from your original post-

I won't argue the point but I do know that several breeders have used Mille Fleur D'uccles. Perhaps not in the time you have had your birds or in the original birds you began with but many breeders have used the D'Uccle to begin their Mille Fleur Cochin projects.

that you were familiar with those breeders.

 

[wwmicasa1]

Reyvaughn please understand that I was NOT challenging YOU on this point. I apologize for reading your post too quickly & assuming it was from Rodriguez.

 

[WestKnollAmy]

I have heard of people breeding in d'Uccle but I do not know the names of the breeders.
I still get a kick out of folks thinking Mille Fleur is a breed.

A lot of folks that come to my farm, friends or strangers, tell me I need to show mine because they are so beautiful. They really do not realize that I may have some type and some pattern going but they are not near to being close to show them. I do not stick birds into a show willy nilly as it would probably confuse some spectators with something that still needs a lot of work. When I enter one, it will be something that is going to be a great representation of the breed and the variety.

I have put a lot of time and effort into producing some really nice birds but I still have a long way to go. I really need to cull more harshly than I do but each one seems to have something nice about it that do wind up keeping for the breeding pen. I wish I could get down to about 30 but just realized the other day I need to combine more breeding pens because again, I have a lot of lovely girls that have been laying and the egg size is large enough I can hatch from them.

 

[Blarneyeggs]

I have been working on this project for 5 years. I started with 2 Buff Columbians & a MFC roo from England (via Tennessee). I have a closed flock & have never introduced anyone MFC's into my stock. This year I will be adding the Mottled (to improve type & chevrons) from the eggs I hatched last Dec. from Amy. It may "seem" like MF D'uccle is the way to go but those of us that have worked steadly on this project for years know that once those stiff feathers are introduced, it takes decades to breed them out. As for the wing carriage, you will find many Cochins that have that problem. It is not indicative of using D'uccle. What breeders in particular are you concerned about?

Can you tell me more about 'stiff feathers'? Where are on the body am I looking for them? Would 'Vulture Hocks' be included with 'stiff feathers'?

Amy.... getting DOWN to 30? hee hee and I'm assuming you mean 30 MFs...probably have all kinda other birds. We have 1 cockerel and 3 pullets right now. but 12 in the bator!!! and the few I've candled all look good. YAY!!

 

[WestKnollAmy]

Yes, I do not even want to count how many birds I have now. I am going to sell out a lot this spring though. I am tired of so many wanting birds but do not want to pay for them.
I hatch, raise deworm and keep my birds up to around 6-9 months and then have locals want to pay $10 for a POL pullet. That is just crazy. I decided to let them figure it out. It costs much more than that and I am not going to be their cheap spot.
I like my breeder birds and can eat any eggs that don't sell. I can eat my roosters that don't sell and can keep my extra pullets and hens until they do sell because they lay eggs to help me provide to the food pantry for the poor. All these extra egg layers that I don't breed can be sold out.

However, I love my bantam Cochins so they stay. I sell the roos pretty good along with some 3rd string girls I know I should not keep for breeding. The roos I posted on here a few weeks ago have been sold except for one. I am still looking at him. I don't really need him but I worry I may loser something and then be stuck without.

Hard feathers are to me, feathers that are tight to the body, not fluffy like Cochins should be, they do not fall over like those soft feathers on Cochins or Orps.
Maybe this link will help.....
http://www.ruleworks.co.uk/poultry/hard-feather-breeds.htm

You definitely do not want to see vulture hocks on your Cochins. That is why the stiff feathers from the d'Uccle are so difficult to breed out. As I said, you have to be plenty good to breed out d'Uccle traits from Cochins. The stiff feathers from the tail, hocks and body in general would be a major challenge.

 

[wwmicasa1]

Yes, I do not even want to count how many birds I have now. I am going to sell out a lot this spring though. I am tired of so many wanting birds but do not want to pay for them.
I hatch, raise deworm and keep my birds up to around 6-9 months and then have locals want to pay $10 for a POL pullet. That is just crazy. I decided to let them figure it out. It costs much more than that and I am not going to be their cheap spot.
I like my breeder birds and can eat any eggs that don't sell. I can eat my roosters that don't sell and can keep my extra pullets and hens until they do sell because they lay eggs to help me provide to the food pantry for the poor. All these extra egg layers that I don't breed can be sold out.

However, I love my bantam Cochins so they stay. I sell the roos pretty good along with some 3rd string girls I know I should not keep for breeding. The roos I posted on here a few weeks ago have been sold except for one. I am still looking at him. I don't really need him but I worry I may loser something and then be stuck without.

Hard feathers are to me, feathers that are tight to the body, not fluffy like Cochins should be, they do not fall over like those soft feathers on Cochins or Orps.
Maybe this link will help.....
http://www.ruleworks.co.uk/poultry/hard-feather-breeds.htm

You definitely do not want to see vulture hocks on your Cochins. That is why the stiff feathers from the d'Uccle are so difficult to breed out. As I said, you have to be plenty good to breed out d'Uccle traits from Cochins. The stiff feathers from the tail, hocks and body in general would be a major challenge.

Amy, you have stated perfectly what I meant by "stiff feathers". Thank you.