Cochin

The Cochin is a large feather-legged chicken breed developed from Chinese birds brought to Europe and North America in the nineteenth century, once known as Shanghai or Cochin-China fowl. Its abundant soft feathering, rounded body, and heavily feathered legs made it central to the poultry enthusiasm of that period. Modern Cochins are kept mainly for exhibition and ornamental flocks, though hens can lay tinted brown eggs and are often broody.

Cochins need housing that protects their feathered feet from mud, manure buildup, and persistent damp. Their loose plumage also means keepers should watch for external parasites and overheating in warm weather. They are not efficient meat or egg birds compared with modern production breeds, but their calm nature and mothering instinct make them useful in small flocks. Breeders should select for size, cushion, foot feathering, color, and sound movement, because excessive fluff without structure can create weak birds.

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