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The origin of Cochin chickens is not known with certainty. In the Mekong River Delta in the southwestern part of Vietnam is the Cochin region, and one version claims that the Cochin chicken breed originates from this region, and only rich people kept chickens of this breed as a decoration for their yard.
Another version, citing written sources, proves that Cochins, especially dwarf Cochins, appeared at the court of the Chinese emperor, and Chinese courtiers liked to give them to foreign diplomats.
Perhaps both versions are true, and the Cochins really appeared in Vietnam, and later, once in China, the breed received further development. Blue-colored Cochins were bred in Shanghai and at one time were called “Shanghai chickens.” It is likely that dwarf Cochins were also bred in China.
In the first half of the 19th century, French diplomats brought Cochins to Europe, where the chickens caused quite a stir. Europeans quickly appreciated not only the beautiful appearance of chickens, but also their tasty meat. Chickens came to Russia fifty years later.
Cochin chickens have one feature that was highly valued in pre-revolutionary Russia: the peak egg production of this breed occurs in winter. In those days, buyers paid dearly for freshly laid winter eggs. After the end of egg-laying, Cochins were usually either slaughtered or sold as brood hens in March-April, receiving a very significant sum for them at that time.
With the development of industrial poultry farming, Cochins have lost their importance and are now kept in the backyards of hobbyists and at breeding stations in order to preserve the livestock.
Description of the Cochin chicken breed
Due to their lush plumage, which even covers their paws, Cochins look like very massive birds. However, in part they are, since the weight of an adult rooster is 5 kg, and that of a chicken is 4. At 4 months, with proper feeding, a Cochin can gain 2.7 kg. It is the weight of Cochin chickens that is the reason for preserving their gene pool at breeding stations: this is a breed suitable for breeding industrial meat crosses, since their egg-laying characteristics are low: up to 120 eggs per year with an average egg weight of 55 g. Chickens begin to lay eggs no earlier 7 months.
Although Cochins are often confused with an apparently related breed, bred in approximately the same region - chickens of the Brama breed, which also have feathering on their feet, although it will not be difficult for a trained eye to distinguish one breed of chicken from another.
Cochins are quite short-legged and resemble a ball of feathers, especially chickens. Brahmas are long-legged, the legs are clearly visible under the body.
Cochin breed standard
Cochins are chickens with a height of 50 cm at the back. The body is short and wide with a very broad chest.The transition from the neck to the shoulders is clearly defined. The neck and legs are relatively short, which is why Cochin gives the appearance of a ball. This is especially true for laying hens, since their legs are shorter than those of a rooster.
The wings are set high, together with the back creating a saddle-shaped topline.
A small head crowns a short powerful neck. The eyes are dark orange. The beak is short, depending on the color of the plumage, it can be yellow or black-yellow. The comb is single, simple in shape.
The plumage is very lush. The short, wide tail of roosters resembles an arc due to the sickle-shaped feathers covering it.
Disadvantages of Cochin chickens
There are shortcomings that are unacceptable for Cochin chickens, since they clearly indicate either degeneration or an admixture of another breed. These disadvantages are:
- poorly feathered metatarsals (most often a mixture);
- narrow, long back (may be a sign of degeneration, which is much worse than a crossbreed);
- narrow, shallow chest (a sign of degeneration);
- white lobes (most likely a cross);
- large, coarse comb (mix);
- too bulging eyes.
When purchasing chickens for breeding, special attention should be paid to these shortcomings.
Colors
The breed standard for Cochins has several colors: black and white, partridge, blue, fawn, striped, pure black and pure white.
In Russia, the most common fawn color of the Cochin is, although it can easily be called red.
Black, white and fawn colors are monochromatic and do not need description.
Fawn colored chicken.
Fawn colored rooster.
Cochin fawn
Black Cochins.
Black Cochin
White chicken.
White rooster.
The rest of the colors, although they do not differ in the iridescence of color across the body of the bird, as, for example, in Araucana or millefleur, but deserve more detailed consideration.
Partridge color
Partridge chicken.
Partridge rooster.
This, so to speak, is the original color inherent in the wild ancestors - banker chickens. And, perhaps, the only one where there are several colors that transform into each other.
A chicken is “simpler” than a rooster. The main range of partridge color in chickens is brown. The head is covered with a red feather, which turns into golden-black plumage on the neck. The back is brown, the chest is brownish-yellow, with black and brown stripes alternating on each feather. The guide feathers of the tail are black, the cover feather is brown.
The rooster is brighter in color than the hen. The general impression when looking at a rooster walking is that its color is red-red. Although in fact his tail, chest and belly are black. The rooster's wings are a rich red color. The feather on the mane and lower back is yellow-orange. The head is red.
Striped color
In Russian they would be called pestrushki. Although this color is the same throughout the entire body of the chicken, each feather is bordered by a dark stripe. Due to the alternation of white and black stripes on the feather, the overall impression of a motley chicken is created.
Striped Cochin chickens
Black and white color
Black and white chicken
Black and white rooster
Black and white color is also called marbled. The amount of black and white in this color can vary, but each feather has only one color: either white or black. There are no alternating stripes or multi-colored areas within one feather.
Cochin blue
Blue chicken
Blue rooster
The blue color can to some extent already be called two-tone.The feather on the chicken's neck is darker than the main color of the body. The rooster has a dark back, neck and wings. The belly, legs and chest are lighter.
In all colors of Cochins, the appearance of a white feather not provided for by the standard is a defect in which the bird is rejected from breeding. In turn, white Cochins have a yellow feather as a defect.
Dwarf Cochin chickens
This is not a miniature version of the Cochin, it is an independent breed of smaller chicken, developed in parallel in China. At the same time, dwarf Cochins have some relaxations in the color of their plumage. So, in the photo, the colored feathers on the chest and wings of a striped rooster are clearly visible.
Dwarf Cochins also have a silver-maned edged color.
There is a birch color.
But the most common color in this breed is golden.
In addition to small copies of the larger Cochin variety, breeders have now developed dwarf curly-feathered Cochins, sometimes called chrysanthemums. The colors of these Cochins are the same as those of ordinary dwarf cats.
Young hens of dwarf curly Cochin, white in color.
White curly-haired dwarf cochin rooster.
Black curly dwarf cochin.
Blue Dwarf Curly Cochin Chicken.
Productive characteristics of dwarf cochins
The productivity of dwarf cochins is low. The weight of the chicken is 800 g, the rooster is 1 kg. Laying hens lay 80 eggs per year weighing up to 45 g. Eggs weighing at least 30 g must be laid for incubation. Smaller chickens will not work.
Black Curly Cochin
Features of keeping and feeding Cochins
Chickens of this breed have a calm disposition, are sedentary and do not require special walking.If it is not possible to arrange an enclosure for them, Cochins can be kept simply in a barn. Chickens cannot fly: a clear confirmation of the saying “a chicken is not a bird,” so there is no need to give them high perches. They won't make it. Chickens of this breed can be kept simply on the floor, on a bedding of straw or large shavings.
They are fed like any other meat breed chicken. But we must take into account that due to a sedentary lifestyle, Cochins are prone to obesity, and excess fat negatively affects the already low egg production. If chickens start to get fat, it is necessary to switch them to low-calorie food.
Everything is like people. Excess weight? Let's go on a diet. But it’s easier for chickens to follow a diet, because no one will offer them anything extra.
But in this case, it is almost impossible to balance all the vitamins, microelements and nutrients they need in their diet.
With “dry” feeding, chickens are fed ready-made complete feed. This method is more expensive, but saves the owner from the hassle of calculating the diet. Dry food should always be in the feeders so that the chickens can eat as much as they need.
Breeding
When breeding, 5 hens are determined per rooster. Cochin hens are good hens that have not lost their brooding instinct. After the chicks hatch, they show themselves to be caring mothers.
The chickens will become fully feathered only after a year, when they are already sexually mature birds.
