Mille Cochin Info

[Coopa Cabana]

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I believe it (hen-feathered roo) is a dis-qualification if you are showing your birds. I'm not sure how dominant the gene is to be passed on to offspring - hopefully someone else can tackle that one.

 

[Coopa Cabana]

Here's a thread that discusses the Hen-feathered gene:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=231135&p=1

 

[usschicago1]

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That's a very good point, Mark. One thing that I am doing is using a "Flock Improvement Group" (a show quality black hen, buff columbian hen and black mottled hen) to cross with my Calicos. The offspring from the first cross will be bred back to the Flock Improvement Group (FIG). Then, I'll cross back to the best type Calico I've got. I (or someone else if it's after I'm gone!) will continue to do so until we get the Calico to LOOK like a Sparkling Cochin! I have a vision in my mind's eye of a show quality bantam Cochin with the beautiful Calico coloring and I think it will be absolutely breathtaking...

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Thanks Guys For replying
Its good to know that type is being worked on too, since thats equally as important as right coloring. If is often forgotten (especially bye me!!) that these projects take a longggg time to complete. And you guys are right you want it to be fun too, since poultry keeping is a hobby for the showing side, which is what we do. So The birds look great so far, ive just seen so many hatching eggs ext for sale i wasnt sure if people were working with them or they thought they had a complete millie fluer cochin. Great job keep up the good work

 

[Sugar Sand Farm]

Hi been going back over this thread and have a question how long have these project birds been in the making. I was at an auction a week ago and they had a dozen mille fluer cochin eggs up for bid. The only reason I bid was I saw the seller and knew he had been working with cochins for over 10 years. I did not realize these were a new color. I have LF cochins but do not have many banties except for silkies. I have 7 developing eggs in the bator. What do I look for in the chicks that would meet with the colors you all are trying to accomplish Thanks Micki

 

[onthespot]

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They sure look like it to me! If they are young, I would definitely say they are. I do know that mottled cochins typically get lighter with each molt but I'm not sure if that extends beyond the tips of the feathers or just means more feathers get white tips...

In Hysterical mottling, the mottle gene forgets to 'turn off' after the white tip and continues the white up the feather shaft.

They are not that old. They looked like that pretty much at six months. The possible mothers all had "normal' mottling. All the F1's had BIG spots on their feathers. I'm guessing it came from the Mille side of the tracks.

 

[cochinGurl]

I Love Cochins!!!!

 

[WestKnollAmy]

Sugar Sand Farm,
Good luck on your hatching!

I have seen photos of chicks that were partridge and eventually colored up really well to the point you would never believe they were hatched anything else. And I have seen chicks hatched pure yellow and grow up with a great pattern. There are many colors they can hatch out and it won't give you any clue as to what they will mature out as. Not everyone uses the same formula to start their breeding base.
Most of us keep our chicks around for as long as 6 months just to see what we will have for breeding. Hate to say it but you will need to hang on to those babies a long time to see what color and pattern you will get, as well as type. This is probably the only project I have had that I had to wait so long to see what my choices were for future improvement.
I can usually tell if I have the right conformation and type by 3 months but that is nothing without the correct genes to carry on what I need in color and pattern. Space is an issue for some, others, like me, require the money to feed the buggers until it is known what to keep.

I hope you get some really cute chicks and gorgeous MFC birds from your hatch! Welcome to the wild and wacky world of MFC breeding. It really is a lot of fun and you can't beat the exceptional personality of the bantam Cochins.

 

[NellaBean]

On the hen-feathering.....are you guys going off the coloring or the shape of the feathers itself? He is young and still getting his "big boy" feathers in....But does have pointed shiny hackle feathers starting in... not sure on his saddle/sickle feathers yet...didn't have time to get a good luck at him yesterday.

 

[WestKnollAmy]

I tried looking at a few of my boys yesterday to get an idea. Squirmy little things. They all seem to have somewhat pointed hackle feathers. The younger they were the harder time I had seeing them. But I have all ages so I was trying to get an idea when they were the most noticeable.
It is interesting to keep delving deeper and deeper into tiny details of the chickens to try and make them perfect.

 

[xyresicchick]

opinion! i ordered frizzle eggs from fay @ frizzled feathers and some of my chicks have wacky colorations! fay mentioned they look like milles, and now i am wondering if they really do or not! they're 3.5 weeks old now so i don't know how well you'll be able to tell, but here are some photos.


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chick in front is a slw

thanks for any input!