This has been a long-awaited Monday especially for us, at the typesofchicken.com team, because the breed we are going to write an article about today is one of those breeds that made us start to love keeping chickens.
The Cochin chickens were most of the chickens of my first flock and they are the ones that made me keep chickens as pets not only as means to get eggs and meat. The first chicken I named was a Cochin – Bucky.
So without any further ado, these are the Pros & Cons about keeping Cochin chickens.
Pros:
1. Cochin Chickens Are Great Pets
As I mentioned above, the Cochin chickens make very good pets.
Not only from the aspect that they like to be pet but also the way they express themselves is different from other chickens.
Their beauty is enough to make anyone understand that chicken keeping can be more than just a hobby but that you can be passionate about it.
2. Highly Adaptable
One of my friends listened to my advice for him to get a Cochin as an add-on to his flock.
We were slightly concerned that the chicken would have troubles adapting to the previously formed flock but the Cochin adapted quickly and managed to fit in almost perfectly in the pecking order.
This, however, does not mean that the Cochins don’t bully other birds, but we will talk more about that in the Cons part of this article.
3. Protective Mothers
Maybe not famous for their motherly instincts as the Silkie chickens, but they can still be good mothers.
What makes them be good mothers is that they are more protective with their eggs and chicks than many other breeds. Their behavior as a pet is also what makes them good mothers because they can teach their chicks to be better chickens.
Cons:
1. They Can Be Bullies
I said that they can adapt to a new flock but when it comes to younger birds expanding their flock, the Cochin might get a bit aggressive towards them.
Just for the reason that they want to show the pecking order and keep the previously formed flock hierarchy, they can get a little carried away.
To help with this make sure you show your Cochin that it cannot be replaced by giving it some treat as a sign of special attention.
2. They Don’t Do Well In The Summer
The Cochin are not the breed that responds well to hot weather.
If you plan on your Cochin surviving the summer you may want to keep them hydrated more than before.
This is not something to be taken lightly so if you have the Cochin in your flock you might want to prepare for the summer.
3. Small Eggs
Many chicken keepers I know complained about this issue so I had to put it here.
Agreeing with this con would not be fair because I have different breeds for the eggs in my flock and also I keep my chickens on a special diet so they can provide the best eggs that they can.
Do you agree with our Pros & Cons about keeping Cochin chickens?
Make sure that you share your opinion with us through the comment section or via e-mail support@typesofchicken.com
I’ve never had the standard size Cochins but the bantams little round ball of a tail is so cute and they are naturally friendlier than the other breeds, I think anyway.