What to choose?

[AngBantamLuv]

Any ideas for a plan B in case i can't get d'uccles?
Must be:

• VERY FRIENDLY
• Bantam
• Easy to find
• Not skittish

@AngBantamLuv how are Cochins? Are they friendly?

Wellllll.... cochins are supposed to be the sweetest.. but i had the worst itty bitty that had to go even at 6 weeks. And she was a blue, frizzle, and a SHE! And i love Elsa.. shes not going anywhere.. but she is so moody and grumpy.. shes a splash, so from that line as well. Right now the D'uccles are keeping their distance from her. I can still pick her up and hold her, pet her, but seems once a week she gets in a mood and charges me!! So i have to gently hold her down.. that stops it.. for a few days.

But i have another chicken person friend who had the same issue with their blacks and blues.. so i think this might be one of those breeds where temperament might be bred into color. But not sure.

But i also don't want always broody birds.. and even laying eggs, she sits on hers alllllll day, hogging the designated egg spot, and scoots the D'uccles eggs under her. She's only actually been broody broody once, and was easy to break.. but this semi broody mood is annoying.. can't clean the coop or reach in until she's decided she's done.. im talking like 6+ hours a day.

Sooo... thats why I'm not sure if i want to do it again. I might try a fancy color like mille fleur or mottled, or maybe a buff or red.. but it would only be to give her a cochin buddy.. otherwise, I'd much prefer the guarantee of a happy friendly bird.

A plus is she is QUIET!! She only rarely does an egg song, but her all day chatter reminds me of a dove cooing. And gorgeous.. another reason she's not going anywhere. Ultimately, I'm bonded with her, and her with me..

 

[Fluffy Lambs]

I only have one Cochin, (bantam and its a frizzle) but she runs right up to me every time I come in the pen and will sit in my lap forever. Get some frizzle Cochins to if you can!

 

[AngBantamLuv]

She loves one on one time with me, she will sit on my lap endlessly.. and loves to make nests with towels



This is a good size comparison.. she is slightly heavier than the D'uccles, but not much.. but her feathers just take up more area.. and she does NOT like anyone touching them accidentally!

 

[EmmaRainboe]

How sweet are they? I'm thinking of having a cochin/pekin as my plan B since they are all over ebay.
How big are they? I know they are bantams but some are bigger than others and I'm lookimg for one one the smaller side.
Any photos would help, thanks

Extremely sweet. Evertime I begin walking in the run both mine will start flapping and land on both my shoulders. I don't know how they do it but they always succeed.

They're around 2lbs. Mine are slightly more as they are 1/4 brahma and only 3/4 BC. So the brahma pumps up their size slighty.

A lot are slightly less, some are slightly more. Hatchery ones seem to be bigger than good quality breeder lines.

 

[HappyClucker7]

I only have one Cochin, (bantam and its a frizzle) but she runs right up to me every time I come in the pen and will sit in my lap forever. Get some frizzle Cochins to if you can!

Frizzle cochins are so cute. That's what my little rooster is. He always makes me laugh when he goes running through the garden, his feathers bouncing around with every step.

 

[AngBantamLuv]

Any ideas for a plan B in case i can't get d'uccles?
Must be:

• VERY FRIENDLY
• Bantam
• Easy to find
• Not skittish

@AngBantamLuv how are Cochins? Are they friendly?

Another idea, and so sweet, and very similar in temperaments to the D'uccles, are other Dutch breeds.. the D'Anver is so tiny and cute, even chunkier litlle neck feathers.. clean footed, but so sweet like D'uccles... D'uccles are very popular though, doubt you'll have trouble finding them. I had gotten one in the same batch as when i got Elsa.. but my setup wasnt big enough and I'm evidently very good at picking females from the bantam bin, so i had too many! (No clue w polish though.. taking pics tomorrow for you).

 

[HappyClucker7]

I'm evidently very good at picking females from the bantam bin

Remind me to call you next time I get chicks.

 

[AngBantamLuv]

Remind me to call you next time I get chicks.

Seriously... tell me a date and time.. then post pics.. i know everyone says you can't tell, and then im overflowing in female chicks!!

 

[PippinTheChicken]

Seriously... tell me a date and time.. then post pics.. i know everyone says you can't tell, and then im overflowing in female chicks!!

You are... The chosen one?

 

[PippinTheChicken]

Cochins look like fluffy footballs lol I think they will be my plan B. They are a slightly smaller size to Kiwi.
Can they fly well? I kinda want a parrot chicken since my silkies can't get onto my shoulders.