Mille Cochin Info

[WestKnollAmy]

Wow! They have matured so well! I like them both a lot.

The combs and wattles need work in both of them so I would certainly pair them to birds with smaller, better combs and wattles.
They give you a lot to work with as far as conformation but I would find a wide hen for him to breed, too. One with a tighter wing carriage but you may find that a wider hen will have a bit better wing carriage anyhow. And he may certainly improve as time goes on but that is what I would look for right now. Color is good and will improve as you continue to breed.
I like the girl. She has a ton to offer and I am sure you have a very nice roo to pair her with and get some really nice offspring. Her wings, cushion, chest and head are very nice.

You have the color and pattern to work with in them. Now just finalize the type and you will be set. This is an on going project anyhow so you will have to show us those fabulous chicks that will be produced from these birds. Got my fingers crossed you never see side sprigs from any chicks, grand chicks, great grand chicks etc!

Thanks for sharing the photos! I always love to see what everyone has going on and we are all trying to get around to setting up our breeding pens for spring.

 

[Cadeau]

Thanks, Amy!

I'm going to try him and see how his first couple sets of offspring look.
The Marans people say "RUN, don't walk" from the sprigs.

The consensus was that, unless he's near perfect in every other way; don't use him and bring that into my program.

Do you think he's THAT nice?

I have to get pics of my other hen and roo and you guys can help me find the best matches for spring! (and if the other roo is still a keeper!)

The hen is coming out of a terrible molt.
I was just looking at her comb tonight - it is tiny!
You would think she's not laying yet, it is so short and tight to the head.
Is that more what we want?

Anyone have pics of what a desirable comb looks like for each gender?
I understand 5 points is preferred, but I need a pic to see what else.

Is it b/c his comb is so big and his wattles are HUGE and appear mismatched?


I have pics of a few of the babies coming up....but I'm not sure they're worth keeping...let me go find!

 

[Cadeau]

Anyone have some nice, typey, and hefty stock for sale (eggs, chicks, or otherwise??)



BTW Twinlights gets the credit for those two beauties I posted above!!


Amy - for the cockerel's wings - do they need to look more like the hen's?
Pointing more toward her vent, then her hock (or whatever it would be on a bird??)

 

[Rare Feathers Farm]

I just listed my last pair on the BST section here on BYC....I've decided to part with them to focus on other projects.

 

[Reyvaughn]

Since Mildred is giving me an egg faithfully every other day, I am going to put Milroy in with her. Hopefully I will have some of my own eggs to sit soon! It's be better if Millie was laying. She must be about a month or two behind Mildred.

 

[Cadeau]

My little pullet must have liked her review!

I got a little egg this morning!!

Now - need to get pics of my other roo and hen, so you guys can help me figure out how to pair them up (or a trio.)

 

[Cadeau]

Here are my first set of homebreds!

They are from my old roo and my other hen.
Old roo has gone to freezer camp, but I need to get some pics of the hen!!

Keepers or yard candy?? A couple of them look pretty long - ?? -
They are about 8 weeks old
#1


#1


#2


1,2,3


1,2,3


2,1


3


3 top, 2 bottom




This (girl?) is from my hen and current roo (still need pics...)
She's about 5-6 weeks old.

#4



What do you guys think??

 

[WestKnollAmy]

Quote:
No, I don't think he is that nice. If it were me, I would not do it but I have a lot more roos to work with. He is a good fella but not so much so that the sprigs could be over looked. His wattles are rather large for a young man but if all else were great I would over look that.

I like a rather small comb on my girls. It helps keep their son's a bit in check when they start growing their manly attributes.
I will read on further and see what else I can see of your pretty birds.

 

[WestKnollAmy]

Quote:
Yes, I prefer to see the wings up a bit higher and pointing toward the rear. Sometimes they just drop them down to show off a bit. Especially when you want to get a good photo.

 

[WestKnollAmy]

Quote:
I would not keep 1 or 2 but maybe give 3 a bit of time unless you do not need another roo. Then I would let him go, too. He is just the better of the 3, imho.

I would keep the pullet to see how she turns out and if she may be more useable with a roo that is very typy. She isn't fabulous but useable is always a plus with girls. You can cross to a lot of roos to see what is a good combination. I have kept some long back pullets that turned out to be good producers with the right roo. And they lay so much better than my short backed hens. A great hen doesn't do much good if she can't produce.