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The origin of the Cochinchin chickens is not known for certain. In the Mekong Delta in the southwestern part of Vietnam is the Cochin Khin region, and one of the versions claims that the Cochin Chicken breed comes from this region, and only rich people kept chickens of this breed as a decoration of the yard.
Another version, referring to written sources, proves that the Cochins, especially the dwarf Cochins, appeared at the court of the Chinese emperor, and the Chinese courtiers loved to give them to foreign diplomats.
Perhaps both versions are true, and Cochinchins really appeared in Vietnam, and later, having got to China, the breed was further developed. Blue Cochinchins were bred in Shanghai and at one time were called "Shanghai Chickens". It is likely that dwarf Cochinchins were also bred in China.
In the first half of the 19th century, French diplomats brought Cochinchins to Europe, where chickens caused quite a stir. Europeans quickly appreciated not only the beautiful appearance of chickens, but also their delicious meat. Chickens came to Russia after fifty years.
Cochinchin chickens have one feature that was highly valued in pre-revolutionary Russia: the peak of egg production of this breed occurs in winter. In those days, buyers paid dearly for freshly laid winter eggs. After the end of oviposition, Cochinchins were usually either slaughtered or sold as hens in March-April, receiving a very significant amount for them at that time.
With the development of industrial poultry farming, Cochinchins have lost their importance and are now kept in the farmstead of amateurs and at breeding stations in order to preserve the livestock.
Description of the breed of chickens Cochinchin
Due to their lush plumage, covering even their paws, Cochinchins look like very massive birds. However, they are partly like that, since the weight of an adult rooster is 5 kg, and that of a chicken is 4. At 4 months, with proper feeding, a cochinchin can gain 2.7 kg. It is the weight of Cochinchin chickens that is the reason for the preservation of their gene pool at breeding stations: this is a breed suitable for breeding meat industrial 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 not earlier than Seven months.
Although Cochinchins are often confused with, apparently, a related breed, bred in approximately the same region - chickens of the Brama breed, also having plumage on their paws, although it will not be difficult for a trained eye to distinguish one breed of chickens from another.
Cochinchins are rather short-legged and resemble a feather ball, especially chickens. Brahmas are long-legged, legs clearly stand out under the body.
Cochinchin breed standard
Cochinchins are chickens 50 cm high in the back. The body is short and wide with a very wide chest. The transition from the neck to the shoulders is pronounced. The neck and legs are relatively short, which gives the Cochinchin the impression of a ball. This is especially true for layers, as their legs are shorter than those of a rooster.
The wings are set high, together with the back, creating a saddle-like 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. Single comb, simple shape.
The plumage is very lush. The short, wide tail of roosters resembles an arc because of the sickle-shaped feathers covering it.
Disadvantages of Cochin Chickens
There are disadvantages that are unacceptable for Cochinchin chickens, since they clearly indicate either degeneration or an admixture of another breed. These disadvantages are:
- poorly feathered metatarsus (most often a cross between);
- a narrow, long back (can be a sign of degeneration, which is much worse than a cross);
- narrow, shallow chest (a sign of degeneration);
- white lobes (most likely a cross between);
- large, coarse comb (cross);
- too bulging eyes.
When buying chickens for a tribe, special attention should be paid to these shortcomings.
Colors
Several colors are established by the breed standard for Cochinchins: black and white, partridge, blue, fawn, striped, pure black and pure white.
In Russia, the fawn color of the Cochinchin is most widespread, although it can be safely called red.
Black, white and fawn colors are monochromatic and do not need a description.
Fawn chicken.
Fawn rooster.
Cochin-khin fawn
Black Cochinchins.
Black cochinquin
White chicken.
White rooster.
The rest of the colors, although they do not differ in color overflow over the body of the bird, as, for example, in araucan or milfleur, but deserve more detailed consideration.
Partridge color
Partridge chicken.
Partridge cock.
This is, so to speak, the original color inherent in wild ancestors - bank chickens. And, perhaps, the only one where there are several colors passing into each other.
A chicken is "simpler" than a rooster. The main range of partridge color in chicken is brown. The head is covered with a red feather, which turns into a golden-black plumage on the neck. The back is brown, the chest is brownish-yellow, black and brown stripes alternate on each. 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 walking rooster is a red-red color. Although in fact his tail, chest and abdomen are black. The rooster has deep red wings. On the mane and lower back, the feather is yellow-orange. The head is red.
Striped color
In Russian, they would be called pies. Although this color is the same throughout the 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.
Chickens of the Cochinchin breed striped
Black and white color
Black and white chicken
Black and white rooster
Black and white color is also called marble. 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 intermittent stripes or colored areas within the same pen.
Cochin blue
Blue chicken
Blue rooster
To some extent, the blue color can already be called two-tone. The feather on the chicken's neck is darker than the main body color. The rooster has dark back, neck and wings. The belly, legs and chest are lighter.
In all colors of Cochinchins, the appearance of a white feather that is not provided for by the standard is a defect in which the bird is rejected from breeding. In turn, the yellow feather is a defect in white Cochinchins.
Chickens breed dwarf Cochinchin
This is not a miniature version of the Cochin Chin, it is an independent, parallel breed of smaller chickens bred in China. At the same time, dwarf cochinchins have some indulgences in plumage color. So, in the photo of a striped rooster, colored feathers on the chest and wings are clearly visible.
The dwarf cochinchins also have a silvery-maned fringed color.
There is a birch color.
But the most common color in this breed is golden.
In addition to small copies of a large variety of Cochinchin, breeders to date have bred dwarf Cochinchins with curly feathers, sometimes called chrysanthemums. The colors of these cochinchins are the same as those of ordinary dwarfs.
Young hens of dwarf curly cochinchin white color.
White curly rooster of a pygmy Cochinchin.
Black curly dwarf cochinchin.
Blue hen of a dwarf curly cochinchin.
Productive characteristics of dwarf cochinquins
The productivity of dwarf cochinquins is low. The weight of the chicken is 800 g, the rooster is 1 kg. Laying hens lay 80 eggs a year weighing up to 45 g. Eggs weighing at least 30 g should be laid for incubation. Smaller chicks will not work.
Black curly cochin
Features of keeping and feeding Cochinchins
Chickens of this breed have a calm disposition, are inactive and do not require much walking. If it is not possible to arrange an aviary for them, the Cochinchins can be kept simply in the barn. Chickens cannot fly: a clear confirmation of the saying “a hen is not a bird,” so there is no need for them to perch high. They will not jump. Chickens of this breed can be kept simply on the floor, on a bed of straw or large shavings.
They are fed like any other meat breed chicken. But it must be borne in mind that due to a sedentary lifestyle, Cochinchins are prone to obesity, and excess fat negatively affects the already not high egg production. If the chickens begin to fatten, it is necessary to transfer them to low-calorie feed.
Everything is like people. Excess weight? We go on a diet. It is only easier for chickens to follow a diet, because no one will offer them anything superfluous.
But in this case, it is almost impossible to balance all the vitamins, trace elements and nutrients they need in the diet.
With "dry" feeding, chickens are fed with ready-made complete feed. This method is more expensive, but relieves the owner of 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 chickens are determined per rooster. Cochin chin hens are good hens that have not lost their hatching instinct. After the chicks hatch, they show themselves to be caring mothers.
Chickens will fully acquire feathers only after a year, when they are already sexually mature birds.
