3rd Generation Cochins

 This Spring's hatch are the 3rd generation of my Cochin family, a tiny milestone in the breeding world. 

From the book, "Start Where You Are With What You Have" by Ralph H. Sturgeon..

"This year marks the crucial test for whether or not your system is going to prove successful."

"You are getting the good, the bad, and indifferent qualities not only increasing in numbers now, but increasing variations."

"If you succeed in uncovering the gene pool you seek, this is the time for elation!" 

So..here's to determining by Fall if I'm on the right track and successful thus far lol. I have three girls in particular that I plan to single mate and then track their chicks all the way through to see if I get consistency, and also who's producing the best offspring.

The book mentioned is a gem by the way, I highly recommend it!

Satins, Sizzles, Frizzles????

 There's still a lot of confusion about the breed called "Satins " Formerly called Sizzles, and still not an APA accepted breed, the breed is still considered a project breed. 

Here's an explanation from Sheri Minkner, one of the original breeders of Satins/Sizzles for over 25 years:

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I understand that there is a lot of confusion about frizzle, Sizzle, Satin, Silkie, etc., so I'm not being critical & only want to try & straighten out a few things.

First, "frizzle" is a breed in other countries but in the US it is only a feather type and the word "frizzle" must be followed by the breed. So we have frizzled Cochins, frizzled Polish, etc.

Second, Satins & Silkies are 2 separate breeds, & both come in regular & frizzled varieties so there are Silkies & frizzled Silkies and also Satins & frizzled Satins. There is NO SUCH THING as a Silkie Satin or a Satin Silkie!

Third - Satins are still a project breed & have not yet been accepted by the poultry associations as a new breed. However, many of us are working toward that goal.

Fourth - It takes AT LEAST 10 generations of dedicated & knowledgeable breeding before a Satin is exhibiting all the required traits & is breeding true enough to actually be called a Satin. Just because you bred your Silkie to another breed it DOES NOT mean you created a Satin.

Fifth - Sizzle is the former name for Satins. They were bred & shown as "Sizzles" for years, but the name was not acceptable to the poultry associations so it has now been changed to Satins.

Sixth - The difference between frizzled Silkies & frizzled Satins is feather type. Frizzled Silkies have the same fur-like (barbless) feathers as regular Silkies but the feathers are curled backwards toward the head. Satins have regular (barbed) feathers like a Cochin, & with frizzled Satins the feathers are also curled backwards toward the head.

Pictures below show both breeds in both regular & frizzled feather types. If you click on it to enlarge it, you should be able to see the differences in the feathering.  Please feel free to use this picture to explain the differences between Silkies & Satins.

LF Cochins Size

 

One thing that I found out first hand years ago, and also hear quite often in person and online, is that the size of Standard Cochins has been diminishing.

That's a shame, and it's due to breeding harry-scary, not making careful selections or following the standard or a deliberate breeding program. 

Every year I will select for many traits, but size will be an important one. 

Hatcheries are mostly in the business of pumping out layers and meat birds as quickly as possible and in large numbers. 

I have no problem with hybrid layers or meat birds being produced that way, but the rare and heritage breeds are suffering in that breeding situation.

Keep that in mind when deciding to obtain birds from a hatchery, or from a private breeder. 

Cheryl

First Saturday Lime Review

 

2021 Third Generation Cochins

 

The first babies of the year have started hatching! Now I just have to wait for the girls who were broody over later Winter to start laying again. I've put the birds on specialized supplement to see how that may help vigor, hatchability, and good growth rates. The healthier your breeding birds are, the healthier the chicks as well. When I have a better idea about the results, I will share more about the supplement. 

I still have some chicks hatching out a partridge color. They will feather in mottled, their black being a little more matte than the others, and after the first molt, they may have just a little brownish color here and there, mainly the cushion/tail. The girl above hatched brown, and this is how she looks now at a year old.

I asked the others members on the Cochins International group if anyone had a clue about where the brown is coming from. One longtime breeder advised that he believes the original parent birds were crossed to pure black at some time, and the color is leakage from that cross. 

He said it's fine to keep and breed them if they are very good quality otherwise, but to only breed them to birds that do not have the brown leakage.