Blue Cochins - Ages and stages...

I had a long hatching season for Cochins this year starting in early February and finishing in early May. So as a result I've now got quite a range of ages growing out! Here are a few of my favorite Blue Cochins so far this year:

At about 3 weeks old: They still have fuzzy down-heads!





And this one is about 6 weeks. A little cockerel, I think.:






Pretty pullet at about 3 months:

Those are so pretty! And the cage with the grass and flowers is a nice setting. I laughed at the poses the two in the first pic are posing. They must be tweens, those two, the way they're mugging for the camera. Chickens are so funny!

I think Cochins are so unique. I've never had any, but I've always admired them. Thanks for sharing your pictures.

They are sooooo cute! Thanks for posting the pics.

Good thing I have reached my limit of chickens at this stage or I might be on the hunt for some

They're so stunning Kathy. Given their beauty and sweet temperament I can see why you love them.

First off, loved the setup for the photoshoot, got me thinkin' some stuff for when I make photoshoots too of specific chicks. Geeeze, just something about the blues, eh? I have so many blues this year, mostly blues, a few splashes and a mere handful of blacks, very low numbers of blacks. Geeze, something about the blues, be they cochins, orpingtons, and of course, others come in blue too, but seems to me I like the big fluffy birds, , just like you KathyS.

So, gendering these little wonders are certainly a most interesting thing, now aren't they? First picture, the pair, of course, you probably know, left is pullet right is cockerel. Have you noticed this? If the neck has fluffy fuzzy pictures, as in the right hand chick, those are males? I have.

I find usually by the age of about 4 weeks gender is pretty much certain. although, don't totally believe that about pullets. I have always had ones that I think are pullets, by shape, feather, etc., stay as pullets. And there has certainly been more than once, that I thought that comb and wattle would indicate male, not so. I have found many a pullet that has rather larger comb and wattles than what the pullets of the same age had. Hence NEVER have gone by comb and wattles for gender ascertaining at young ages(same as the buff orpington, they can fool ya too). But as I said, if I see from looking that one looks pullet, it remains a pullet, one that I think might be a cockerel or a pullet, but not certain, usually turns out pullet, ones that CLEARLY are males, (i.e., more down that takes longer to feather out, especially on the neck and less feathering all over the body)and long legs, (females appear to have feathers all over without the bareish spots that still have down, as in how the males feather).

Your chicks look nice, KathyS, I wish that you would have given us more pictures to look at though. I love to see these beautiful shots of the little babes. But thanks for sharing, it was a nice thing to see, have an awesome day, CynthiaM.

I must say that my heart belongs to all chickens Buff and Blue. Beautiful birds and I love the attention you have paid to the setting for the photo shoot. It's lovely!

Thanks!
I'd been wanting to get some pics of this year's crop of Cochins and usually prefer to do it outside. But I didn't have a good spot set up so figured it would be easier to bring the outdoors in. Luckily I had just finished mowing so gathered up the clippings and then put in a couple of mini-roses for good measure.
Next photo shoot is for the Buffs - Orpingtons and Cochins!


Cynthia, I have never made a connection between neck fuzz and gender! What a great observation. I will definitely have to watch these 2 develop so I can follow along with your predictions!

Crop of cochins made me chuckle. lol They are lovely Kathy. Can't wait to see more of your beauties.