- Nov 15, 2007
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Hi,
I am just getting in to raising some cochins and think I might have chosen a weak type of chicken.
After having "mutt" chickens running about that were given to me by a friend at our horse stable, I decided to get something "purebred". I purchased some std cochin eggs on ebay and hatched 3 out of 12. Two died for different reasons and we found my big girl dead this morning.
Now I also have 15 young blue giant cochin chicks still in the house and am worried about their sturdieness.
We think Big Mamma may have died from the cold. Here in Bakersfield it doesn't snow but does get down into the 30's or so in the winter. Last night it was cold enough to leave frost on the ground. My husband found her out in the run in the wide open (but secure from predators). Her regular chicken buddies were out there around her but she didn't have a mark on her.
At night, she is always in the coop but by herself on the ground. Her buddies sleep up on the perch away from the cold breeze.
First of all, do cochins roost? Or are they too big to get up there??
Are some colors of cochins more hardy than others? Big Mamma was brown.
We spent the day covering up more of the coop so we could put a heat lamp in there at night when it gets cold when it's time to release the growing chicks.
Any help and info would be greatly appreciated!! I just need to know if I picked too weak of a chicken to try and raise.
Thanks!
I am just getting in to raising some cochins and think I might have chosen a weak type of chicken.
After having "mutt" chickens running about that were given to me by a friend at our horse stable, I decided to get something "purebred". I purchased some std cochin eggs on ebay and hatched 3 out of 12. Two died for different reasons and we found my big girl dead this morning.

Now I also have 15 young blue giant cochin chicks still in the house and am worried about their sturdieness.
We think Big Mamma may have died from the cold. Here in Bakersfield it doesn't snow but does get down into the 30's or so in the winter. Last night it was cold enough to leave frost on the ground. My husband found her out in the run in the wide open (but secure from predators). Her regular chicken buddies were out there around her but she didn't have a mark on her.
At night, she is always in the coop but by herself on the ground. Her buddies sleep up on the perch away from the cold breeze.
First of all, do cochins roost? Or are they too big to get up there??
Are some colors of cochins more hardy than others? Big Mamma was brown.
We spent the day covering up more of the coop so we could put a heat lamp in there at night when it gets cold when it's time to release the growing chicks.
Any help and info would be greatly appreciated!! I just need to know if I picked too weak of a chicken to try and raise.
Thanks!