The Old Folks Home

[ronott1]

Good question. Enquiring minds want to know.

Basic question. Bought a few birds from McMurray. Black cochins to play incubator. Among the three "black cochin", one of 3 males shows an area of brown feathers along his side. Other two do not. Trying to understand if this is a growth phase or a problem. No cochin SOP on BYC to ask.

Hi Arielle!

Are you going to breed to a standard? If so, build the house and then paint it.

Go for conformation and then feather color. If the one with the brown feather looks close to whatever standard being used, then keep him for breeding.

Depending on age, he may molt out the brown at the last juvenal molt. Often cockerels do not get final feathers and color until then

 

[getaclue]

Thank you Cap.

 

[CapricornFarm]

Thank you Cap.

I think they are less likely to fight if they have lots of space. Turkey run is huge.

 

[Arielle2]

Hi Arielle!

Are you going to breed to a standard? If so, build the house and then paint it.

Go for conformation and then feather color. If the one with the brown feather looks close to whatever standard being used, then keep him for breeding.

Depending on age, he may molt out the brown at the last juvenal molt. Often cockerels do not get final feathers and color until then

Right. Exactly right !

I just dont know if a few brown feathers is likely a normal thing for this breed.

My plan was to use black which McMurray says has bigger eggs on the blues which McMurray says lays a smaller egg. That is: crossing a black line with a blue line to increase egg size a bit. Perhaps using a male with brown would muddy the blues.

 

[ronott1]

Right. Exactly right !

I just dont know if a few brown feathers is likely a normal thing for this breed.

My plan was to use black which McMurray says has bigger eggs on the blues which McMurray says lays a smaller egg. That is: crossing a black line with a blue line to increase egg size a bit. Perhaps using a male with brown would muddy the blues.

Maybe!

Ask @nicalandia

 

[pennyJo1960]

Morning all yes my Blue giant cochin lays a small egg more banty than big bird
she is the only cochin here and broody again ... not a year old this is the second time ...
Headed to town 35 minutes from here need alight for my old white Sewing machine she was built in 1932 so praying I get a bulb taking it with

 

[Perris]

she was built in 1932

wow - they don't build them like that anymore! No built-in obsolescence in those days. Good luck finding a bulb for it.

 

[ronott1]

My Mom used a treadle sewing machine when I was growing up. It was an amazing thing!

 

[CapricornFarm]

wow - they don't build them like that anymore! No built-in obsolescence in those days. Good luck finding a bulb for it.

Mine is a singer, lightweight from 1955. Belonged to my Mom. I also have one that belonged to her mother, it is beautiful!

 

[ronott1]

Chickens are tough!