Wanting to show Cochins

[a123andpoof]

I am not sure if this is the right place, but I hope so. If not mods please move. I was at the MN state fair today and was of course looking at the chickens. I have been wanting to show for a while now, but upon hearing about the open class and seeing the beautiful cochins I decided I want to finally do it. I have a few questions of which I hope you can answer.

1. What is the best way of getting a good cochin. I am wanting a 2 hens and a rooster.
2. If of good quality would breeding be okay? And if so what are things I would need to look out for.
3. How do Cochins fair in the Minnesota weather?
4. How do I go about finding open class shows?
5. Are cochins able to be sexed as chicks, or not until a certain age?
6. Would I be better off with chicks or pullets?
7. Is there a good site for cochins?
8. Is there anything I need to know about showing chickens?
9. Would they need their own housing from my laying flock? ( I know they need to be quarentined when showing, but for like during the winter could they go into the main coop?)
10. If I were to get a cock would I need to keep him seperate from the hens?

As you can see I have no knowlege of showing, but am eager to learn as this is something I would love to do!

Thanks for any help!

 

[wildriverswolf90]

I don't much as about showing as I just started looking into it. I'm wanting to show cochins too.
I do know that they need to be kept in pens off the ground to keep their feet clean.
Its best to buy show quality stock from reputable and experinced breeders.
I would keep the hens and roo seperate except for when you want fertile eggs, as the roo can screw up the hens plumage.
And cochins are very cold hardy.
Maybe try to find a 4H club around you, they should be able to tell you about upcoming shows.

Hope this helps!

 

[wildriverswolf90]

O and cochins aren't sexable at birth, except through vent sexing.

 

[a123andpoof]

Thanks. Now I can let them free range and stuff to right? Obviously I would bathe them before shows and such. I am thinking about finding a rabbit cage or something to turn into a coop for the two hens. Still not sure about getting a rooster, but thinking about it.

 

[wildriverswolf90]

Yes you can let them free range, I think but maybe a month or more before the show you'd have to keep'em up, to make sure the foot feathers stay clean and look healthier.

 

[a123andpoof]

Well makes sense, or probably even like 2 weeks in advance when they are in quarentine. I mean you can wash foot feathers. I wish I would have talked to some of the cochin people there, but didnt see any by their cages.