Mille Cochin Info

[Lacrystol]

Hi LaCrystol,
Here is a type standard: Bantam-sized Cochin cocks average 32 ounces and hens average 28 ounces. Underneath the feathers and fluff, the Cochin chickens have strong, broad bodies with short wings and well-rounded breasts. They have yellow skin, a medium-sized single comb, and profusely feathered legs and feet. 
As far as the MF pattern, dude #3 seems the best, and also the best type that I can see.

For MF you do not want white.  For Calico, then yes, but still #3 seems the best overall bird.  The wing set is very low in most of these birds/shots, which is not good.  Wing tips pointing so low to the ground is not desirable.
Dawn

Ahh I thought the wings had to point straight to the ground with chest out? Because most of mine definitely do that. They all have the yellow skin and foot feathers are very very nice lots of foot feathering.

So the white on papa is bad? Dang well that maybe a good thing since he's giving me all these boys!! I don't show mine but would like to have excellent quality birds. Now I have also read about the combs and they need to have at least four points? Is that true or not??

So for right now number three should be the keeper?? I like to keep at least two who should be choice number two??

 

[mindylee]

Wings need to be tucked and tail big and round. And the less white is best for the Millie pattern.

If your more concerned about type.... Then don't focus on color as much. Color should be on the back burner "to say" and quality/type for standards should be #1.

As much as I like the Millie pattern also. The white is very hard to get away from. Since I'm trying to better my type... I now have beautiful calicos everywhere with some with more Millie pattern but the type is improving amoung my birds.

Remember, folks out there have yrs and still working on getting the Millie pattern. But the type is their number 1 also. And also remember if someone claims they have Millie Cochin's... Look closely as its in most cases, a calico instead course they don't know the difference. Just like Cochin's being sold and when folks post pics here on the forum.... They are told they have mutts. Not pure.

It happens. Just keep learning and improving.

 

[Lacrystol]

Are you saying all six of my boys are MUTTS??

my original Cochin came from a Byc member on here.

 

[FoxholeFarm]

Are you saying all six of my boys are MUTTS??

my original Cochin came from a Byc member on here.

With the high tails and low wings, there's a good chance they were mixed with mille fleur duccles to get better plumage patterning, but it's what compromised the form. That said, as much as we talk about "pure" breeds, the fact is that ALL chickens are mutts. We achieve the plumage colors we want by interbreeding. For example, every breed that comes in blue was interbred with the blue andalusians at some point in its history.

 

[Lacrystol]

SO what your saying now is to try and work with all my mutts? I rather get rid of some of these boys since I have six and now Possibly a Seventh one. GRRR

I will keep My number 3 Since he does have the least amount of White and I think I will keep number 2 since he has the tan spots and is looking more Calico. I could use more calico's..

 

[FoxholeFarm]

Keep the best cockerel and keep breeding him to Cochins to improve on his plumage and shape. 3 also has the best shape so he is a good candidate for breeding mille fleurs.

 

[mindylee]

No
Your birds are pure not mutts. Lol
Sorry about that.
No, other folks here unfortunately have been misinformed about their birds, not you.
Matter of fact your boys look almost like mine. And there's nothing wrong with them. I also don't believe they are crossed either as they look all Cochin to me. If crossed they would look different. Not sure how to explain the difference until I see a cross/mutt.
Nope your birds are of pet/breeder quality in my opinion. However not show quality. Otherwise their nice but if want better type, you can work with them. I say take a look at Craig's birds (black Cochin bantam).
He has very typy birds that are of some today's top show quality that backyard breeders like me admire. If I can get his type on my birds I would be ecstatic. So that's what I'm trying to work on it vrs the Millie pattern. I'm pretty happy with the calico look as they are very pretty too.
So your on the right road with your birds. It just takes lots of work to get that "perfect" bird.

 

[FoxholeFarm]

I see why Mindylee disagrees about them being mutts, but it was this particular thread which I thought of when I mentioned the possibility of a d'uccle cross. The photo of the roo there is very close in type to several of the ones you shared photos of. I know that when breeding for pattern, many breeders cross they chickens to get the right plumage, with the risk of ruining the type. Mille Fleur genetics are very complex, enough so that I don't have a good grasp of them myself, and before I was better informed about type, I had though about breeding one of my cochin hens to a good mille fleur d'uccle roo just to get the colors right.

@mindylee so you know, I mean no disrespect and you do have a good point about these being pet/breeding quality(not for show) and that show birds can be bred out of lower quality through careful culling and selection. I also see that these could be pure cochins who simply arent typey.

 

[mindylee]

No disrespect taken. I was one of those who did cross the duccle and Cochin and had babies everywhere for about a year or so to see how they would turn out. And oh boy they was pretty but I could clearly see the duccle in them. That's y I'm saying they are pure. Just not show quality. I since have sold off all my crosses and kept only puree. I only have a couple of showy quality but for the most part all pet/ breeder quality. But I don't show so even tho I want better type and trying for it, i still love the ones that I breed that still have not so great type. But I keep trying and will achieve it someday. Lol

 

[FoxholeFarm]

No disrespect taken. I was one of those who did cross the duccle and Cochin and had babies everywhere for about a year or so to see how they would turn out. And oh boy they was pretty but I could clearly see the duccle in them. That's y I'm saying they are pure. Just not show quality. I since have sold off all my crosses and kept only puree. I only have a couple of showy quality but for the most part all pet/ breeder quality. But I don't show so even tho I want better type and trying for it, i still love the ones that I breed that still have not so great type. But I keep trying and will achieve it someday. Lol

Thanks for the perspective!