Cochin Bantam

The Cochin Bantam is the small feather-legged form of the Cochin, widely kept as an ornamental and exhibition chicken. In some countries, closely related or equivalent birds may be called Pekin bantams, so registry context matters. The breed is rounded, soft-feathered, low to the ground, and produced in many color varieties, from black and buff to mottled, partridge, and pencilled patterns.

Owners often like Cochin Bantams because they fit small spaces better than large Cochins, but they still need careful footing and dry bedding. Mud, wet litter, and scaly leg mites can hide in the heavy foot feathering. Hens are often broody and may be useful sitters, though egg numbers are modest and eggs are small. Breeders should protect body shape, feather quality, color, and leg soundness, while avoiding birds so over-feathered that they cannot move, mate, or stay clean easily.

Colors: Barred, Birchen, Black, Black Tailed Red, Blue, Brown, Brown Red, Buff, Buff Columbian, Columbian, Crele, Cuckoo, Duckwing, Gold, Golden Laced, Gold Laced, Laced, Lavender, Lemon Blue, Mille Fleur, Mottled, Partridge, Penciled, Porcelain, Red, Self Blue, Silver, Silver Laced, Silver Penciled, Spangled, Splash, Wheaten, White, Zombie