Cochin_(chicken)

Blue Cochin Bantam Rooster

The Cochin Chicken or Cochin China, was originally known as the Chinese Shanghai. The name Cochin came from its original Chinese name 九斤黄(in pinyin: jiujin huang, pronounced joo-chin hwong), meaning nine jin yellow, where jin is a traditional Chinese measurement of weight(see catty). This chicken was originally bred in China and later exported to Britain and America in the mid 19th century. As a very distinctive breed of chicken, it apparently created a bit of a craze among poultry lovers in the English-speaking world. Not only was this breed one of the largest seen, with cocks weighing up to 11 pounds (5 kg), but also the soft and plentiful plumage makes the bird quite conspicuous by exaggerating its already large size. Once in the United States, the breed underwent considerable development into its current state. A bantam form was also developed, which goes by the name of Pekin bantam (named after the city Beijing) outside of America, where it is simply known as the Cochin Bantam. There is also a bantam hen called Pekin Bantams which are actually different, although superficially similar.

Characteristics

As above, the most distinctive feature of the Cochin is the excessive plumage that covers leg and foot. The birds are therefore often kept penned on days of poor weather to avoid ruining their lower feathers (assuming they are kept for ornamental purposes, which is almost always the case). Apparently their thick feathering can even lead to problems with fertility due to sexual organs being literally buried in plumage (though this can be remedied by clipping back the feathers). The skin beneath the feathers is yellow and the egg colour is brown. Eggs are also medium in size. Standard weight is 11 pounds (5 kg) for a cock, 9 pounds (4 kg) for a cockerel, 8.5 pounds (3.9 kg) for a hen, and 7 pounds (3.2 kg) for a pullet. Colour varieties include buff, black, partridge, blue, silver laced, splash, golden laced, and white. Cochins also come in a variety called frizzled, in which the feathers are turned outword. Cochins are well known as good mothers, even as foster mothers for other breeds, and they can lay many eggs, but usually not for extended periods of time.

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Cochin

External links

• http://www.brahma-cochin.com/Breed history, pictures and different colours
• http://www.homegrownpoultry.com - Cochin pictures and information
• http://www.mypetchicken.com/Cochin-B30.aspx - Cochin pictures and information
• http://www.poultrymad.co.uk/chickens/cochin.shtml - Breed history, pictures
• http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/poultry/chickens/cochin/ - Illustrations and information on Cochins
• http://cochinsinternational.cochinsrule.com/ - Cochins International Home Page

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