New Cochin Owner..Question about breeding...

[chickenchickenbulkbulk]

I bought a set of Blue Cochin LG breed..I was told that I had to trim the feathers off the back of the rooster in order for him to breed the hen. IS THIS TRUE? I really don't want to trim his feathers. Please some one..tell me that isn't how it works..tell me he can perform with out me cutting his feathers!!!!!

 

[Three Cedars Silkies]

If you want to make sure that he is actually breeding the hens, then you do need to clip just around his vent and the hens vent.

I artificially inseminate my bantam cochins because I want to be sure of fertility. The roos are still in with the hens because I want them to have as natural a life as possible. The insemination is quick and is a "just for sure". I don't clip mine because we show a few of them. Technically they shouldn't be in a "breeding pen" as show birds, but we aren't that "show crazy" right now. It's just a lot of fun and a good way to meet chicken people and learn a LOT from the judges.

I am going to separate the roos from the hens this weekend because the hens have quit laying...so no use to keep them being bred.

 

[sandspoultry]

Quote:
They can mate without the trimming but your fertility % will go down depending on how fluffy they are. The trimming isn't really a big deal, use two people and a sharp pair is scissors.

Steve in NC

 

[chickenchickenbulkbulk]

Thanks for the information. I had never heard of clipping feathers to mate. Kinda threw me!! I was also told that the Blue Cochin are not true to their color...is this also true? I don't care either way, I just want to know. Have Cochins always been around..I didn't know that they existed until this year...where did they come from? Dj

 

[chickenlady]

I raise LF cochins and I have a great rooster who breeds naturally with all my girls without being cut back. I dont cut the girls back either. On the flip side, I have a couple other roosters that only hit the spot 50% of the time. And one that maybe gets 25% of the time, he is bad. I have tried artificial insemination but I just cannot master it. LOL. I try almost every day.

Just performing the act makes me crack up.

 

[chickenchickenbulkbulk]

Cochins are just a beautiful chicken!! I want to have a lot of the in all colors..I guess that I will have to watch him to see if he is capable or not..his hen shows no interest in him,still to young.. but there are a lot of hens he can practice on. How do you A.I. a chicken? I get the general idea, but how do you get his stuff?? If it is to in detail please pm me I don't want a child to read some thing that he/she shouldn't. I have already written to much for a child. DJ

 

[chickenchickenbulkbulk]

Quote:
JUST TO WATCH MY ROOSTER RUN CRACKS ME UP!

 

[chickenchickenbulkbulk]

Quote:
They can mate without the trimming but your fertility % will go down depending on how fluffy they are. The trimming isn't really a big deal, use two people and a sharp pair is scissors.

Steve in NC

sounds easy enough...THANKS!

 

[WestKnollAmy]

Fortunately I haven't had any problems with my Cochins breeding well but then I am not hatching many of their eggs and do not care to show them as the previous owner did.
Whenever they do go broody and hatch out the eggs they are a wonderful bunch but if I was raising them for show then I am sure the fertility would go down.
I have never trimmed them and could just imagine the looks they would give me! LOL
But I do remember the previous owner telling me he did trim them to try to get better fertility. I believe he hatched way more eggs than I ever will from this flock.

 

[chickenchickenbulkbulk]

Quote:
AREN'T CHICKENS GREAT ENTERTAINMENT!!! lol