Mille Cochin Info

[ki4got]

Quote: the difference between the varieties:
mille fleur = Columbian and mottled, sometimes also melanizing
partridge = pattern gene and mahogany
gold laced = pattern gene, Columbian, melanizing.



the bottom comment is maybe best for mille fleur.
the pattern gene, WITHOUT the melanizing gene (but with Columbian) results in spangling (black tip).
that spangling, plus mottling, is IMO what gives the best mille fleur results.

that's why I've been using the partridge girls in my lines. they have the pattern gene but not the melanizing.
my roo does have melanizing tho but only heterozygous, so some of his chicks get it some don't...
so far I've got 1 roo that I kept that does not have the melanizing, and has very nice pattern IMO. (and better type than his sire)

 

[NosiphoChooks]

Great info on the patterning and genes. Very useful if your colour spread is slightly lacking in black. I posted pic's of these two chucks one lemon millefleur and one blue and wanted opinions on if people think on their sex and feathering. Do they look right? Also put a pic of my 16wk old millefleur cockeral its not athe best photo. How is his colouring? Thanks everyone!

 

[WestKnollAmy]

If they do not have it by 4 months old they are not going to get it in my birds.
I do not like to use partridge in my birds though when I bred in the roo from Mike I know he had it as it showed up in his kids and I knew Mike used it but liked them well enough to go for it. I have others from Mike now and use them without too much trouble but I prefer to stay away from partridge and I would not use gold laced.
Mottleds are the best birds to use, imho. Breed those with buff or buff Columbians and work with those. It is always going to be advantageous to hatch a lot and cull ruthlessly. And by cull I mean getting rid of them by giving, selling or bartering, not necessarily putting them in the freezer, but have done that.

I am just offering my opinion from my experiences but it is always fun to try new things. I can't say that genetically it would work but I have found that what is in theory on paper doesn't always happen in nature.

 

[County Boy]

Rem- I can't seem to get a good pic of his cushion ever- it always appears less wide than it is.


Rafael-


Rem X Chipper-

 

[Fancy Feathers]

 

[Blarneyeggs]

Rem is gorgeous. I do keep thinking Rafael is a girl….that one pic that you posted of the wattle action really said Roo, but every time I see her uh him uhhhh. Well I guess time will tell. In any case, LOVING the nice roundy shape she/he has going on. Very nice!

Nancy! that Silkie in your avatar is amazing!

 

[Blarneyeggs]

I took their pictures, please bare with me, my chickens are not trained to stand still while being photoed. Perhaps Countryboy can come by and do portraits for me?

And now some babies coming up, These 3 guys have a May 20th hatch date:






And these 4 have a May 27th hatch date:




Two from the above pic:

 

[Blarneyeggs]

What do you all think of these very dark chicks? I have someone coming here to buy some chicks and even though they are not old enough to show 'type', I'm fairly certain who is a pullet and who a cockerel, so I'm going to sell them as pullets. What do you think? The last one in line in this pic:




And look what we have!! (4 healthy baby ND goats, one week old today)

 

[Fancy Feathers]

Thanks Martha, that's Greta Belle, my most beautiful & photogenic Silkie
Your little goat baby is Soooo adorable!
I agree the darker chick looks like a pullet. Great pics!

 

[NosiphoChooks]

Thanks Martha, that's Greta Belle, my most beautiful & photogenic Silkie
Your little goat baby is Soooo adorable!
I agree the darker chick looks like a pullet. Great pics!

I think the dark chick looks like a pullet too. and absolutely LOVE the baby goat so cute. Can no one help me with assessing the colour of the chooks in my post above?