Raising/ breeding large fowl Cochins

[ChristinaF]

Hey all! I have a question for any that care to help. =) My mom is looking into getting some large fowl Cochins (yay!), but we had heard somewhere that you need to clip the bird's feathers around the vent in order for the eggs to be fertilized. Is this true? We absolutely love everything about Cochins, but my mom is very busy and so doesn't want have to clip her birds, while it is important that we have broods of chicks every year or so. Thanks so much!

 

[LeBlackbird]

SQ bantams, yes. I kept mine for show because I didn't want to go through artificially inseminating everything.

LF, no my LF bred naturally just fine. My big ol' roo was a sweetheart. Whenever I washed him for show, he stood quietly on my toilet seat while I blow-dried him, haha!

 

[ChristinaF]

Thanks so much! That's encouraging! =)

 

[Bo Garrett]

If you want good fertility you'll clip them. Good show quality LF Cochin hens have too much fluff to get through and the male will need clipped as well. I've been raising these a long time, it is necessary.

Bo

 

[ChristinaF]

Thanks for the advice, Bo! I think we are going to go ahead and get some regardless since we love them so stinking much. =)

 

[roostersandhens]

Thanks for the advice, Bo! I think we are going to go ahead and get some regardless since we love them so stinking much. =)

Good choice they are very sweet chickens!

 

[LeBlackbird]

If you want good fertility you'll clip them. Good show quality LF Cochin hens have too much fluff to get through and the male will need clipped as well. I've been raising these a long time, it is necessary.

Bo

This man probably knows far better than me, would be wise to listen to him

I doubt my 2 year knowledge of cochin breeding is adequate enough to contradict Bo!
I got all my stock from Jamie Matts. Birds did decently in fair, were very sweet and layed surprisingly decently. Very gorgeous birds! Very fun project.

 

[Bo Garrett]

Yep, it is a chore clipping too many birds, I have somewhere around 100 breeders and clip them all and at the end of the day I feel as if I have sheared a flock of sheep! Some lines of birds can get a bit of fertility if they are not clipped but if you want to candle eggs and them all be fertile, clipping is the best way. Leave the feathers about 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch long to prevent any picking by the other birds.

Bo