The Poultry Keeper

Wilt · Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2008 1:07 pm Post subject:

The black colouring is a recurring problem, with trying to get the buff as dark as possible. But other than the normal fluffy bum, fertility problems I haven't heard of real problems. The last two very poor summers have had some problems reported by the Cochin club.

The birds I have photoed on here, when I have been trying to increase the size of the Partridge colour. These birds have turned out to be huge! Some are virtually all buff. So I intend to put them back to another line of buffs in the new season. So I will undoubtedly get some smutty tails in that project.

I have no information or knowledge of toes going missing though

These to this are one of next years projects!!

Wilt · Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2008 1:22 pm Post subject:

These are the attempt at increasing the size of the partridge cochin. For the first cross they are show a surprising amount colouring. The size is also very encouraging. I would think. Breed these F1's back to each other, and we might have some decent pullets. Though I think it may well take another couple of seasons to get the cock birds fully coloured up. On a positive note there is no sign of the dreaded white foot feather on these selected birds. I can only hope it carries on.

Then one of the girls that might go back to buff. The form seams to be really good?

dangerbus · Joined: 08 Oct 2008 Posts: 6 Location: Leicestershire

I'm new to the forum so thought I should try and contribute...

Hopefully below is a photo of a couple of my cochins, I bought these at an auction back in late july as chicks and this is how they look today, great looking birds but I fear they are far from pure breed and as they all have very similar face furniture I am getting more and more concerned they are all boys! Doh!

ATB

K

Wilt · Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2008 2:19 pm Post subject:

I'm sorry to say they are both boys. But I'm also sorry to say the bad news doesn't end there Sad

They are both Brahmas. Nice looking Brahmas though.

All the best

Tim

dangerbus · Joined: 08 Oct 2008 Posts: 6 Location: Leicestershire

Hi Tim,

Thanks for the reply, I'm obviously new to this poultry business so what makes them Brahmas and not Cochins?

Thanks

K

JC · Joined: 24 Mar 2008 Posts: 1116 Location: Sussex

Yes unfortunatley the are both Brahmas and boys.

Brahmas have pea combs (i think thats what there called) and cochins have proper combs. Brahmas are also taller when fully crown, more leggy than cochins.

dangerbus · Joined: 08 Oct 2008 Posts: 6 Location: Leicestershire

Thanks JC,

Well i'm glad we finally confirmed what we bought all those months ago. We have been wondering if they were a cochin hybrid of some kind but would you say that they look a 'pure' breed brahma?

Thanks for the info

K

JC · Joined: 24 Mar 2008 Posts: 1116 Location: Sussex

yes, one looks like a Blue Partridge, the other normal Partridge.

Take a look here - http://www.brahma-cochin.com/

dangerbus · Joined: 08 Oct 2008 Posts: 6 Location: Leicestershire

Thanks again JC for the reply and the link.

I will have a look later.

Cheers

K

Wilt · Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2008 5:30 pm Post subject:

K,
I'm not sure where in Liecs you are but the President of the Cochin club Peter Heywood lives in the south of the county, I bet he would be pleased to help you out. He has the best buff and mottled cochins available.

If you compare your lads combs and stature to the latest of my pictures, they appear to be about the same age.

Keep it going

Tim

Wilt · Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2008 5:07 pm Post subject:

Work in progress but this lad is showing promise. I would say next season should see some nice barred Cochin's

Wilt · Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2008 9:01 am Post subject:

Some young uns from a mixed pen.

Pekinout · Joined: 29 Apr 2008 Posts: 1219 Location: Cornwall

Wilt, why have all your cochin hens got upright tails instead of the bustle? And why are they so leggy?

Are you concentrating more on colour than on body shape?

Wilt · Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2008 2:36 pm Post subject:

Yeh, I love pointy tails as you can see. Thanks for the Erudite question though. I don't think the tail is supposed to go inverted after the bustle pronouncement. Confused

Have a look at Fenwomans prize winning Partrige hen on page 1 then compare her with mine on page 2 Shocked

Which ones are leggy??????? Confused

http://www.thepoultrygarden.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=5408&p=70429#p70429

Pekinout · Joined: 29 Apr 2008 Posts: 1219 Location: Cornwall

Well when I used to breed and show Cochins they looked exactly like pekins only quite a lot larger obviously, and we used to win at shows regularly with them. Maybe they've changed the standard these days. But it was only 10yrs ago.

Ours looked like they had no legs, the body was rounded and the body feathers reached the ground, hiding the short feathered legs and feet. They were short in back and had the pekin type tilt. The hens had perfect bustles with no tail feathers sticking up, as that was then considered a major fault.

As I said, maybe they've changed the standard now.

I've taken a look Fenwomans and they're even worse! Too leggy, wrong body shape, plummage all wrong.

Sometimes people tend to concentrate on colour breeding so much they don't notice they're going away from the body shape.

Sorry dont mean to be rude, it's just that I do like a nice shaped Cochin. There are so many bad ones around these days and anyone who doesnt know what a good one should look like can be misled.

Cochins shouldn't have a tail like an Orpington, not sure who told you that, maybe someone who's bred orpington into the Cochins that are in the pics. Including Fenwomans. Orps are used to improve colour sometimes, but if anything hatches and throws back to orp rather than cochin it should be culled so these type of faults dont occur.

To be honest they look like orps crosses to me.

As for show winners, the only shows that really count are the big ones and the national, small county shows sometimes dont have the proper qualified or experienced judges who dont know the standard of each breed and just pick one cos they like it.

Have a look on here

http://www.cochinclub.co.uk/

Thats what they're supposed to look like, and the standard description explains it pretty well.

Unfortunately yours and Henwifes look more like Brahma's. Infact I'd say they were Brahmas.