The Cochin Large Fowl Male (Asiatic Class)
The Cochin Large Fowl Male (Asiatic Class)
Text of the Large Fowl Cochin Breed Standard is owned and copyrighted by the American Poultry Association (‘American Standard of Perfection’), and is used here solely for educational purposes with their permission.
SHAPE – MALE
The Chinese Shanghai fowl came to England and America in 1845. The name of this Asiatic breed was later changed to Cochin. The earliest Cochins were more or less buff in color. Its striking appearance, due to great size and profuse soft feathering, distinguished it from all other known breeds at that early period. Cochins created a sensation in England, resulting in a great boom for the “Cochin China” as it was called in the days of “Cochin Craze”.
At that time, four varieties were recognized; namely Buff, White, Black and Partridge, all being admitted to the Standard in 1874.
Both male and female are massive in appearance, with an extra-ordinary profusion of long, soft plumage and a great abundance of down fiber in the under-fluff, producing a rather bulky appearance, and conveying the idea of even greater weight than actually exists. Hard or closely fitting plumage is a very serious defect also specimens lacking greatly in size and cushion.
ECONOMIC QUALITIES
Although primarily bred for exhibition, the Cochin is capable of being bred as a meat type fowl. Color of skin, yellow; color of eggshells brown.
DISQUALIFICATIONS
Vulture hocks, shanks not feathered down the outer sides, outer toes not feathered to last joint, bare middle toes (See General Disqualifications and Cutting for Defects)
STANDARD WEIGHTS
Cock...............................11 lbs. Hen.......................................8 1/2 lbs.
Cockerel...........................9 lbs. Pullet..........................................7 lbs.
The Male Shape – as defined in the American Poultry Association, Standard of Perfection
COMB: Single; of medium size, set firmly on head, stout at base, straight from front to rear, low in front; serrations moderately deep, dividing comb into five regular points the middle one highest; free from wrinkles, fine in texture.
BEAK: Short, stout at base, curving to point.
FACE: Smooth, fine in texture.
EYES: Moderately large.
WATTLES: Rather long, well-rounded at lower edges, thin and fine in texture.
EAR LOBES: Smooth, well-defined, about two-thirds as long as wattles.
HEAD: Rather short, broad, deep, prominent over eyes; juncture with neck well defined.
NECK: Short, full, well-proportioned, well arched from rear of head to back.
Hackle -- very long and abundant, flowing well over shoulders and cape.
BACK: Short in appearance, very broad and well-rounded; shoulders, very broad, flat under hackle; saddle or cushion rising at base of hackle or cape, long; saddle feathers, flowing over tips of wings and mingling with fluff and under-plumage of tail.
TAIL: Main Tail -- short, well spread at base, filled underneath with profusion of soft feathers.
Main Tail Feathers -- broad and overlapping.
Sickles -- short, well-rounded and enveloped by coverts and lesser sickles, showing as little of the stiff feathers as possible; saddle and tail to have soft, round, bulky appearance.
WINGS: Small, carried well-up and well-folded; fronts embedded in plumage of breast; tips nicely tucked under saddle plumage.
Wing-Bows -- smooth and exceedingly well rounded.
Primaries and Secondaries -- broad and overlapping in natural order when wing is folded.
BREAST: Carried forward, very full, well rounded, of great breadth and depth.
BODY AND FLUFF: Body -- moderate in length, broad, deep, well-rounded from point of breast to abdomen, well let down between the legs, broad and well-rounded from breast bone to tail, depending more on length of feathers for fullness than on muscular development.
Fluff -- soft, full, abundant.
LEGS AND TOES: Legs, set well apart, straight when viewed from front.
Lower thighs -- medium length; large, straight; the more long, soft, outstanding plumage, extending well down the shanks and covering hack joints, the better, having the appearance of two great globes of feathers concealing the legs from view.
Hocks -- covered with flexible feathers, curving inward about the joints; free from vulture like feathering.
Shanks -- short, stout in bone; plumage, long beginning just below hocks and covering front and outer side of shanks, from which it should be outstanding, the upper part growing out from under thigh plumage and continuing into foot feathering. There should be no marked break in the outlines between the plumage of these sections; they should merge naturally into each other and blend together.
Toes -- four on each foot, straight, stout, well spread; middle and outer toes, heavily feathered to ends.
The Chinese Shanghai fowl came to England and America in 1845. The name of this Asiatic breed was later changed to Cochin. The earliest Cochins were more or less buff in color. Its striking appearance, due to great size and profuse soft feathering, distinguished it from all other known breeds at that early period. Cochins created a sensation in England, resulting in a great boom for the “Cochin China” as it was called in the days of “Cochin Craze”.
At that time, four varieties were recognized; namely Buff, White, Black and Partridge, all being admitted to the Standard in 1874.
Both male and female are massive in appearance, with an extra-ordinary profusion of long, soft plumage and a great abundance of down fiber in the under-fluff, producing a rather bulky appearance, and conveying the idea of even greater weight than actually exists. Hard or closely fitting plumage is a very serious defect also specimens lacking greatly in size and cushion.
ECONOMIC QUALITIES
Although primarily bred for exhibition, the Cochin is capable of being bred as a meat type fowl. Color of skin, yellow; color of eggshells brown.
DISQUALIFICATIONS
Vulture hocks, shanks not feathered down the outer sides, outer toes not feathered to last joint, bare middle toes (See General Disqualifications and Cutting for Defects)
STANDARD WEIGHTS
Cock...............................11 lbs. Hen.......................................8 1/2 lbs.
Cockerel...........................9 lbs. Pullet..........................................7 lbs.
The Male Shape – as defined in the American Poultry Association, Standard of Perfection
COMB: Single; of medium size, set firmly on head, stout at base, straight from front to rear, low in front; serrations moderately deep, dividing comb into five regular points the middle one highest; free from wrinkles, fine in texture.
BEAK: Short, stout at base, curving to point.
FACE: Smooth, fine in texture.
EYES: Moderately large.
WATTLES: Rather long, well-rounded at lower edges, thin and fine in texture.
EAR LOBES: Smooth, well-defined, about two-thirds as long as wattles.
HEAD: Rather short, broad, deep, prominent over eyes; juncture with neck well defined.
NECK: Short, full, well-proportioned, well arched from rear of head to back.
Hackle -- very long and abundant, flowing well over shoulders and cape.
BACK: Short in appearance, very broad and well-rounded; shoulders, very broad, flat under hackle; saddle or cushion rising at base of hackle or cape, long; saddle feathers, flowing over tips of wings and mingling with fluff and under-plumage of tail.
TAIL: Main Tail -- short, well spread at base, filled underneath with profusion of soft feathers.
Main Tail Feathers -- broad and overlapping.
Sickles -- short, well-rounded and enveloped by coverts and lesser sickles, showing as little of the stiff feathers as possible; saddle and tail to have soft, round, bulky appearance.
WINGS: Small, carried well-up and well-folded; fronts embedded in plumage of breast; tips nicely tucked under saddle plumage.
Wing-Bows -- smooth and exceedingly well rounded.
Primaries and Secondaries -- broad and overlapping in natural order when wing is folded.
BREAST: Carried forward, very full, well rounded, of great breadth and depth.
BODY AND FLUFF: Body -- moderate in length, broad, deep, well-rounded from point of breast to abdomen, well let down between the legs, broad and well-rounded from breast bone to tail, depending more on length of feathers for fullness than on muscular development.
Fluff -- soft, full, abundant.
LEGS AND TOES: Legs, set well apart, straight when viewed from front.
Lower thighs -- medium length; large, straight; the more long, soft, outstanding plumage, extending well down the shanks and covering hack joints, the better, having the appearance of two great globes of feathers concealing the legs from view.
Hocks -- covered with flexible feathers, curving inward about the joints; free from vulture like feathering.
Shanks -- short, stout in bone; plumage, long beginning just below hocks and covering front and outer side of shanks, from which it should be outstanding, the upper part growing out from under thigh plumage and continuing into foot feathering. There should be no marked break in the outlines between the plumage of these sections; they should merge naturally into each other and blend together.
Toes -- four on each foot, straight, stout, well spread; middle and outer toes, heavily feathered to ends.