Rate my Smooth and Frizzle Cochins

[KinderKorner]

Alright so I bought three Cochin chicks 3 weeks ago. I must say I'm in love! I am already plotting to pick up some more from the same breeder.

Anyway, I wanted some experts to take a look and tell me what they think. The Blue Pullet is stunning to me, fluffy and fuzzy. The little roo isn't feathering in near as quick but I'm sure he will be great once he is finished. And the other pullet is super slow growing. But is going to be uber amazing! lol To me anyway.

These first two are blue. But the roo has white wings, and a white belly. Does that mean he carries a mottled gene? Also the blues carry a frizzle gene but they are smoother feathered! So not only will I have blue cochin babies but frizzled ones too!

Bonnie. What a cutie. She is feathering out nicely!

Mr. Blue. He is slow going but I'm hopeful.

Here are the two of them together. You can see the white belly and wings of the roo.

Sorry they are so messy. It's rained a lot here.

The white frizzle was such a mess I decided to bath her a little. So I will add some pictures of her as soon as she dries off.

 

[PineBurrowPeeps]

To me they are just okay. Just being honest. I'd like to see more leg feathering on the insides of the legs. How old are they?

I'm not sure about your genetic question about your little roo. I think the pullet will be nicer than the roo.
Where is a pic of the third one?

They certainly are cute though.

 

[KinderKorner]

Thanks for being honest. They are 3 weeks old. So they still have lots of growing. And I agree with the pullet being nicer.

I am hoping their feet do feather quite a bit more, cause I love fuzzy. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that they grow up nicely and look a little better.

Also pictures are being uploaded now.

Give me a few minutes.

 

[georgialee]

They're only 3 weeks old? My 6 weekers are looking at about the same point in feathering! The roo's comb/wattles are huge for 3 weeks, too! I wonder how big it'll be in a few weeks - you'll have to post more pics!

I agree about the leg feathering - my cochins have a lot more feathering on their legs and feet (they're bantams though so I'm not sure if that makes a difference). I LOVE their color though!

 

[KinderKorner]

Here is my other one. Same age. I believe she is a black mottled. Could anyone confirm this for me. I have absolutely no knowledge of Cochins. But now that I have these ones, even if they aren't the best. I am aching for more already. lol

She has got an extremely long looking neck cause it barely has any feathers on it. It's looks so weird. Her belly and back are just now starting to feather in but the wait is worth it. Her frizzled feathers are so soft, and cute.

 

[KinderKorner]

Oops I just checked the calendar again. They are actually 4 weeks and a few days old. Silly me. Anyway. Yeah. I wish their feet feathering was better. But I am still overall pleased with them. I've always wanted cochins, and blue, and mottled, and frizzled. So I kind of got a lot of it at once. lol

I will post some more pictures once their feathering comes in more. Right now they look pretty funny.

 

[KinderKorner]

What does everyone think about the Mottled Cochin?

Is she mottled or am I seeing a different color? What is her quality?

 

[Bo Garrett]

The feathering on the toes looks to be a bit sparse, this would be a serious defect in a cochin. Cochins are supposed to be heavily feathered down the shank and both outer and middle toes. The little cockerel and the "mottled" pullet look to have very little feathering on the middle toe if any.
If you are raising them for pets they will suit your needs just fine but if you were expecting to be able to show them then you may be disappointed.
If you want to come in contact with cochin breeders of repute who can get you the nice round cochins most people strive for then I suggest going to www.cochinsrule.com and contacting some of those guys. They are more than willing to help and have excellent birds. My website is not posted there yet but you can get to it at www.garrettnest.com You will be able to see large and bantam cochins that have won large shows.
I have been in cochins for more than 20 years and have been showing for the past 9 years. We have large cochins in black, buff, brown red, blue and white; we also have bantam cochins in black and birchen.
I will try to post some pictures of foot feathering on my website but for now look at the member sites on cochinsrule.com and you'll see some excellent examples.

Bo

 

[19hhbelgian]

Hi - Whether they have sparse foot feathering or not, I think they are adorable! I want that little black and white one... Sorry I can't help with color, I'm still new at the whole chicken thing

 

[KinderKorner]

Even though their foot feathering isn't the best I still love them. I will be on the search from some heavier feathered cochins. I still think their colors is wonderful. Perhaps I might get some better SQ birds and mix them with these a few generations to breed both color and type.

I am hoping they get a little better as they get older. Only time will tell. But either way I am still happy with them. And perhaps with a little work and time I will have a better bird eventually.

I am not actually sure they are even suppose to be cochins they may be mixed. All i bought them as was frizzles. I just assumed they were cochins because of the foot feathering.