COCHIN BANTAM CHICKENS     

My favorite source of incubation is a Cochin chicken hen.  The same results can be obtained with standard or bantam size.  The bantam are my choice.  When the electricity goes out and the incubator is stopped the developing chicks are lost.  When a Cochin hen is THE incubator there are no interruptions.  She is persistant and dedicated to her job.   

Soldiers returning from China brought the first Cochin bantams to England in the 1860’s. They were known as "Pekin" bantams then and are still referred to as "Pekins" in many parts of Europe. Cochins are heavily feathered down the shanks and toes and appear to be much larger than they actually are. They are very gentle, excellent setters, require little space, and with their many color varieties are absolutely beautiful to look at. Cochins are the most popular of the feather legged bantams and one of the best setters.

On our little poultry oasis, Cochin are the main choice for incubation of eggs. When my juvenile pair of Silkies mature, then they may share this task. I own several incubators and will use them if sitting hen comes to an untimely end for whatever reason.

Many predators have a lusty appetite for poultry and their eggs. My experiences have only been with: wolves, raccoon, opposum, weasel, skunk, hawk, owl, bald eagle, fox and dogs. The dangers are year round, but my worst attacks came in the fall when the predator babies are hunting with mother and they are hungry and make they care not if it is a prized fowl, youngster or egg. In the wild, food is food.

My Cochin hens do not care what type of egg is placed under them. If she is broody, she will hatch any egg. My girls have been in service as surrogate mother to ducks, geese, turkeys and peafowl. Even though chickens hatch in 21 days, these dedicated little gals will peacefully sit the 28 to 35 days to hatch other fowl, such as Muscovies. Care must be taken though to take the hen off the nest to relieve herself and to seak nourishment and water. She can not go that long without replenishing her own body.

One year, a hen hatched out 12 Muscovy ducklings. While her back was turned unearthing the choicest bugs for her babies, they wandered off. They smelled water! Down to the pond they went. Swimming, diving and splashing oblivious to the concern of their chicken mama. She was stomping atop the pond grasses calling to her "chicks". She screamed how they would drown! None of the ducklings did heed poor mama hen. I "saw" her shove her feathered pantaloons above her knees as she waded in to save the kids! She was very destraught, screaching, screaming, scratching, stomping Cochin! My own kids dove in to gather up the disappointed ducklings. I don't think I will ever surrogate such a different species again. It was a lesson learned about nature and mothers in general!

This summer, the Cochin hen AND rooster shared a clutch of peafowl eggs. A yearling turkey and her tom hatched the other half of the clutch ~ more on this another time. Only the hen sat the eggs, but upon hatching, the rooster was right in there guarding, feeding and teaching "his" new kids. As cooler weather approached, Chickens, peafowl and turkeys roost side by side in the rafters of their barn. Barn yard comedy is the almost yearling peafowl trying to duck under the little 2# Cochin for the night.

This breed of chickens are a delight in every way. Besides being supurb mothers, they are good layers of quite large eatable eggs. They are friendly and fearless little birds. They cause no harm or stress to any of the other species of poultry they live with. In fact, the little Cochin rooster is a peace keeper. If there are squabbles amongst the yearling peacocks, he jumps in and ends the battle.

The crow of Lil Henry at dawn is a welcoming awakening call. Well, doesn't everybody get up for the day at 3 or 4am in the summer. As long as Henry is the ONLY rooster on the property, all is well.

Cochins come in standard size which is a heavy breed of bird, as well as the bantam size. The little birds are my personal preference. Both sizes are extremely enjoyable and comical in appearance and mannerisms.  They have very destinct but good personalities.

These fully feathered chickens appear to have pantaloons and footsies. This is a hardy breed and winter hardy in MN, the cold country.   My favorite pair of Cochins ~ Hannah & Henry.