Standard Cochin Colours
A standardised colour, is a feather pattern that has been agreed by the breed club in conjunction with the Poultry Club of Great Britain (PCGB) A set type and range of acceptable shades of that particular feather pattern/colour that have been layed down, and a range of judging scoring points set out as a guide for Judges to judge to and breeders to try to achieve as best they can.
I will add notes on how colours should be best kept and achieved from Lewis Wright, who initially set out standard for each colour still stands, even in the latest 6th Edition of the British Poultry Standards. Then my own ideas and views of the genetic make up of each colour. A working knowledge of this is very advantageous when breeding and trying to improve lines of colours and breeds. Cochin lovers will find this sort of information and useful tips, very very hard to come by, as I have over the years
I will add notes on how colours should be best kept and achieved from Lewis Wright, who initially set out standard for each colour still stands, even in the latest 6th Edition of the British Poultry Standards. Then my own ideas and views of the genetic make up of each colour. A working knowledge of this is very advantageous when breeding and trying to improve lines of colours and breeds. Cochin lovers will find this sort of information and useful tips, very very hard to come by, as I have over the years
BLACK COCHIN
The Black male and female plumage.
Rich black, well glossed, free from golden or reddish feathers.
In both sexes; the beak should be yellow or horn or black is permissible.
The comb face and ear lobes and wattles should be bright red.
Eyes should be bright red,dark red, hazel or nearly black.
Legs should be yellow, dusky yellow or lizard.
Genetically, the black can on any Allele other than 'eWh' wheaten, though tends to be usually 'E' allele which is extended black, all birds will have two copies i.e. E/E to make a very deep black Melatonic (Ml) and 'rb' which is Recessive black. 'Ar+' Autosomal red is added to give the black that deep bottle green sheen, it's abscence will often result in the fowl having a purple duller sheen to it's feathers. So the ideal gene sequence for a very good black cochin would be;
E/E Ml/Ml rb/rb Ar+/Ar+. "Ml", is for melatonic, which gives the black the deepness of black and stops the lightening or browning of the older birds Pantaloon's and fluff. "rb" is for Recessive Black. Speaking in general terms, it's absence in a fowl is shown by feathers with a purple rather than bottle green sheen to them. "rb" assists "Ml" in giving the fowl that deep deep black look. Ar+ is the genetic code for Autosomal Red, which again is used as a black enhancer, to give that bottle green sheen a reel lustre. However it's inclusion in the fowl can often give disappointment, when a very promising looking male growers starts to show red stipples in it's hackles (Both neck and saddle) This problem rarely effects the females, but shows itself in the sex linked areas of the bird, which on the males are larger longer wider and more showy than the females. When black is used in conjunction with "Bl" blue gene, to create blue cochins. "Ar+" can manifest itself as the dreaded sandiness, rust or bronze/copper look in the same sex linked areas, only this sandiness also shows through in the female.
Rich black, well glossed, free from golden or reddish feathers.
In both sexes; the beak should be yellow or horn or black is permissible.
The comb face and ear lobes and wattles should be bright red.
Eyes should be bright red,dark red, hazel or nearly black.
Legs should be yellow, dusky yellow or lizard.
Genetically, the black can on any Allele other than 'eWh' wheaten, though tends to be usually 'E' allele which is extended black, all birds will have two copies i.e. E/E to make a very deep black Melatonic (Ml) and 'rb' which is Recessive black. 'Ar+' Autosomal red is added to give the black that deep bottle green sheen, it's abscence will often result in the fowl having a purple duller sheen to it's feathers. So the ideal gene sequence for a very good black cochin would be;
E/E Ml/Ml rb/rb Ar+/Ar+. "Ml", is for melatonic, which gives the black the deepness of black and stops the lightening or browning of the older birds Pantaloon's and fluff. "rb" is for Recessive Black. Speaking in general terms, it's absence in a fowl is shown by feathers with a purple rather than bottle green sheen to them. "rb" assists "Ml" in giving the fowl that deep deep black look. Ar+ is the genetic code for Autosomal Red, which again is used as a black enhancer, to give that bottle green sheen a reel lustre. However it's inclusion in the fowl can often give disappointment, when a very promising looking male growers starts to show red stipples in it's hackles (Both neck and saddle) This problem rarely effects the females, but shows itself in the sex linked areas of the bird, which on the males are larger longer wider and more showy than the females. When black is used in conjunction with "Bl" blue gene, to create blue cochins. "Ar+" can manifest itself as the dreaded sandiness, rust or bronze/copper look in the same sex linked areas, only this sandiness also shows through in the female.
BLUE COCHIN.Male Plumage. The hackles (both neck and saddle), back and and tail, should be a level shade of rich dark blue free from rust, sandiness or bronze. The remainder should be an even shade of blue. Free from lacing on the breast, thighs or fluff and free from rust, sandiness or bronze.
In both sexes Beak yellow, horn or yellow slightly marked with horn. Comb, face, ear-lobes and wattles bright red. Eyes dark. Legs and feet, blue with yellow tinge in the pads.  |
Female Plumage. One even shade of blue free from lacing and from rust, sandiness or bronze.Pigeon blue prefered.
 The genetic make up for an ideal Blue Cochin would be like the Black on any allele other than "EWh". And the use of "e+" is difficult and undesirable. Once again "E" is the usual and most used allele unless the blue is part of a pattern fowl such as blue partridge or blue laced.
The blue in Blue Cochins is often called "Self Blue" and there are a number of discussions as to how the best and most consistent blue cochin is best bred. |
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BUFF COCHIN
Male Plumage. Breast and underparts any shade of lemon, silver buff or cinnamon provided it is even and free from mottling. Head. hackles, back, shoulders, wings, saddle and tail may be any shade of deeper and richer colour which harmonises well- lemon, gold, orange or cinnamon- wings to be perfectly sound and free from mealiness. White in tail is very objectionable.
 Coming now to the varieties of Cochins, at the head of them all stands the class of colours now all known as Buffs. As already observed, at an early date the buff colours were much sub-divided, ranging from Cochins. the lightest silver-buffs and silver-cinnamons, through lemons and buffs, to the deep-coloured cinnamons, which would now be called almost red. The lightest of these colours were very pretty, the breasts being so pale as to be almost a French grey, while the hackles and top plumage of the cockerels were much darker. The propensity for uniform colour all over displaced these variegated colours, and then for some years the classes were headed "cinnamon and buff." The colour of many birds was still lacking in uniformity, and for several years cockerels occasionally won, which would now be called " tri-coloured," the breast being lemon or orange buff, the hackles and saddle much darker, and the wing darker still, even a red. Such birds did not breed well, besides their variegated appearance, and would not now be tolerated in any decent competition. It may be statedl broadly that the chief thing now now desired isUniformity : of colour all over in buff cochins. Of course the hackle, from it’s different texture, has a somewhat different appearance, and more solid, if not deeper tint than the body colour, but the tone of the whole is desired as uniform as possible
The following valuable remarks upon mating and breeding buff Caching are kindly contributed by that well-known exhibitor, Mr. George H. Procter, Flash House, Durham :— " A good buff Cochin should be as large as possible, and should look bigger than it really is, owing to the plumage being so loose, fluffy, and soft. A tight-feathered bird I dislike very much, and consider such far from the true type. "The head should be neat and nicely curved, and free from coarseness. The comb should not be very large, but evenly serrated, and free from thumb-mark and side sprigs. It should be of fine texture, and, as with the wattles and ear-lobe, a bright red. White in the lobe is a very common defect, and |
 Female Plumage. Body, all over an even shade, free from mottled appearance. Hackle of deeper colour to harmonise. Free from black pencilling or cloudiness, cloudy hackles being especially objectionable. Tail free from black.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- though close confinement aggravates the fault, it comes with age. The eye should be yellow or orange, though pearl is not objectionable. The beak must be short, strong, curved, and of a bright yellow. "The neck must be short, nicely curved, and covered with long flowing hackle. The back should be very broad, the saddle or cushion rising towards the tail, with an arch in the hen; in the cock the saddle hackle is very long, reaching well over the wing points. The wing must be short, the tips well tucked up, and, as have said before, buried under the saddle hackle or cushion, but not carried too close to the body, as this does away with the loose feathery look a Cochin should always have. A slip or loose wing is a most serious fault, and the most certain to appear in the next generation. The tail of the cock should not be carried too high, but rather obliquely, with full, flowing, soft, ribbon-like feathers. Some birds are shown minus part of their stiff tail feathers, which I consider a great mistake, as, instead of improving their appearance in the eyes of a breeder (who can see at a glance the unnatural moult), it spoils the outline. The breast must be very full and broad, the feathers on the under side soft and curly. "The thighs should be covered with long, soft fluff, and on the front curly feathers. The fluff must stand well out, and not cling to the sides, else, however good the bird might be, I should hesitate to use it in a breeding pen. There has been much written in days gone by about vulture-hocks, but I have always allowed a good deal of latitude in this point, and would rather have a stiff hock than a lightly covered Joint, as this with scant shank- and foot-feather generally goes hand in hand. At the same time CUCKOO COCHIN
Male and Female plumage:
Dark blue-grey bars or pencilling(across the feather) on blue-grey ground, the male hackles free from golden or red tinge, and his tail free from black or white feathers. In both sexes; Beak rich bright yellow, but horn permissible. Comb, face, ear-lobes and wattles as in the black, bright red. Eyes bright red, legs brilliant yellow. |
PARTRIDGE and GROUSE COCHIN
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Male Plumage:
Male Plumage: Neck and saddle hackles should be rich bright red or orange red each feather with a dense black stripe. Back, shoulder coverts and wing bow rich red of a more decided and darker shade then the neck.. Wing coverts green black. Primaries very dark bay outside and dark inside. Saddle, rich red or orange-red the same colour as the neck or one shade lighter. Remainder glossy black, as intense as possible. White in tail objectionable.  |
Female Plumage:
Female Plumage: Neck bright gold, rich gold or orange gold with a broad black stripe in the centre of each feather.. The markings should extend well over the crown of the head. Remainder (including leg feathering) Brown distinctly pencilled in crescent form with rich dark brown or black. The pencilling being perfect and solid up to the throat.
In both sexes; Beak yellow or horn. Comb, face, ear-lobes and wattles bright red. Eyes, bright red. Legs, yellow. that may be of dusky shade.  |
WHITE COCHIN
Male and Female Plumage; Pure white. Free from any straw or red shade.
In Both Sexes; Beak, rich bright yellow. Comb, face, ear-lobes and wattles bright red, as in the black cochin. Eyes pearl or bright red. Legs, brilliant yellow.
In Both Sexes; Beak, rich bright yellow. Comb, face, ear-lobes and wattles bright red, as in the black cochin. Eyes pearl or bright red. Legs, brilliant yellow.
