Cochins International Online Cochin Show - Spring May, 2013
Entries for the Spring 2013 Show will be accepted beginning May 1, 2013. The ENTRY DEADLINE is Midnight, May 7, 2013 for both Entry Form (online) and Photo Submission (email).
JUDGE for the Spring 2013 Show will be William Post. Photos of all entries will be posted below as they are received. As with normal show Coop Tags, Exhibitor's names will be not shown. Click on the first photo of each entry - it will enlarge and allow you to scroll through all six pictures.
"First let me start with some general comments: I can’t help but notice that several of the birds pictured were not cleaned up prior to being photographed. This is particularly evident in foot feathering with many birds showing manure caked feathers. I think that many beginning exhibitors don’t fully understand the importance of preparing birds for show. A Poultry Show is first & foremost a beauty contest. Remember that condition is worth 10 points right off the top so a poorly prepared bird starts off with a lot to overcome.
Let me also say a few words about non-standard varieties. On the one hand I often hear people say “I don’t see why so many people are working on establishing new varieties when so many older breeds & varieties are disappearing”. I think there is merit to this position as we have, for all intents & purposes lost some old standard breeds. At the same time it is kind of exciting to watch new varieties being developed & admitted to the Standard. All breeds & varieties were once new & had to go through the acceptance process. The only caution I would offer to people working on new varieties is, don’t forget type! So as to not ruffle feathers here I won’t talk about Cochin breeders but rather will use Blue Laced Red Wyandottes as an example. I see a lot of pictures of these birds & hear lots of excited talk about the color but have seen very few pictures of Blue Laced Red Wyandottes that were of good Wyandotte type. Pretty birds yes, good Wyandottes no. For some reason new poultry enthusiasts seem drawn to non-standard varieties & I think their lack of experience makes it hard for them to understand the importance of type & to be able see past the color." ~William Post, Judge
JUDGE for the Spring 2013 Show will be William Post. Photos of all entries will be posted below as they are received. As with normal show Coop Tags, Exhibitor's names will be not shown. Click on the first photo of each entry - it will enlarge and allow you to scroll through all six pictures.
"First let me start with some general comments: I can’t help but notice that several of the birds pictured were not cleaned up prior to being photographed. This is particularly evident in foot feathering with many birds showing manure caked feathers. I think that many beginning exhibitors don’t fully understand the importance of preparing birds for show. A Poultry Show is first & foremost a beauty contest. Remember that condition is worth 10 points right off the top so a poorly prepared bird starts off with a lot to overcome.
Let me also say a few words about non-standard varieties. On the one hand I often hear people say “I don’t see why so many people are working on establishing new varieties when so many older breeds & varieties are disappearing”. I think there is merit to this position as we have, for all intents & purposes lost some old standard breeds. At the same time it is kind of exciting to watch new varieties being developed & admitted to the Standard. All breeds & varieties were once new & had to go through the acceptance process. The only caution I would offer to people working on new varieties is, don’t forget type! So as to not ruffle feathers here I won’t talk about Cochin breeders but rather will use Blue Laced Red Wyandottes as an example. I see a lot of pictures of these birds & hear lots of excited talk about the color but have seen very few pictures of Blue Laced Red Wyandottes that were of good Wyandotte type. Pretty birds yes, good Wyandottes no. For some reason new poultry enthusiasts seem drawn to non-standard varieties & I think their lack of experience makes it hard for them to understand the importance of type & to be able see past the color." ~William Post, Judge
Adult Division / Bantam Class:
Entry #1 - Black Cockerel: RESERVE CHAMPION OF SHOW, by Jason Mayeaux
"Over all a nice looking bird in good condition. Plenty of feather with the overall roundness of a good Cochin. Good foot color. Good head, short one point on the comb which is a very minor concern. However, he’s appears to be loose winged with the weak wing joint that occurs so often in the Black variety. Clean & well conditioned."
"Over all a nice looking bird in good condition. Plenty of feather with the overall roundness of a good Cochin. Good foot color. Good head, short one point on the comb which is a very minor concern. However, he’s appears to be loose winged with the weak wing joint that occurs so often in the Black variety. Clean & well conditioned."
Entry #5 - Blue Hen:
"Long & flat in the back with too little cushion. Poor coloration. A Blue bird should be an even shade of blue with each feather distinctly laced with black. This bird shows no lacing & a variety of blue feathers from light to dark. Head & beak are narrow. Not in show condition."
"Long & flat in the back with too little cushion. Poor coloration. A Blue bird should be an even shade of blue with each feather distinctly laced with black. This bird shows no lacing & a variety of blue feathers from light to dark. Head & beak are narrow. Not in show condition."
Entry #2 - Splash Cockerel (Non-Standard Variety):
"I bred Andalusians for several years & still have trouble thinking of Splash as anything other than a byproduct. That said, this is the kind of well spread color I like to see on a Splash. This bird’s head is weak & he’s loose winged. Cushion could be a bit fuller & his feet should have been cleaned up for show."
"I bred Andalusians for several years & still have trouble thinking of Splash as anything other than a byproduct. That said, this is the kind of well spread color I like to see on a Splash. This bird’s head is weak & he’s loose winged. Cushion could be a bit fuller & his feet should have been cleaned up for show."
Entry #3 - Splash Hen (Non-Standard Variety):
"Trim her beak, please. Good wing carriage. Seen from the top it’s easy to see her cushion is too small & she lacks the roundness you really want to see in a Cochin. Missing some wing feathers & not in show condition."
"Trim her beak, please. Good wing carriage. Seen from the top it’s easy to see her cushion is too small & she lacks the roundness you really want to see in a Cochin. Missing some wing feathers & not in show condition."
Entry #4 - Blue Mottled Cock (Non-Standard Variety):
"Clean & well conditioned. Looks good from the top but the side view is confusing. In the side view his tail looks to be carried low but that may just be the way he’s posed. I’d like to see the white more prominent in a Mottled bird. He’s more flecked than Mottled. Carries his wing too low."
"Clean & well conditioned. Looks good from the top but the side view is confusing. In the side view his tail looks to be carried low but that may just be the way he’s posed. I’d like to see the white more prominent in a Mottled bird. He’s more flecked than Mottled. Carries his wing too low."
Entry #7 - Blue Mottled Cockerel (Non-Standard Variety):
"Plenty of feather & overall type is good. Loose winged. Right wing missing secondary feather & looks as if it could be split-winged. Again, mottled color pattern without enough white. Not in show condition."
"Plenty of feather & overall type is good. Loose winged. Right wing missing secondary feather & looks as if it could be split-winged. Again, mottled color pattern without enough white. Not in show condition."
Entry #8 - Splash Cock (Non-Standard Variety):
"Trim his beak, please. In good feather. Good Splash color. Tail carriage could be higher-looks flat. Three point comb. Another loose winged bird. This is a common fault in Cochin bantams & one that breeders need to pay more attention to."
"Trim his beak, please. In good feather. Good Splash color. Tail carriage could be higher-looks flat. Three point comb. Another loose winged bird. This is a common fault in Cochin bantams & one that breeders need to pay more attention to."
Entry #9 - Blue Laced Red Cock (Non-Standard Variety):
"A pretty bird but with a long way to go to be a good Cochin or to have good color. Appears more Black than Blue. Very loose winged. Not in show condition: broken feathers, dirty feet & nails that need to be trimmed."
"A pretty bird but with a long way to go to be a good Cochin or to have good color. Appears more Black than Blue. Very loose winged. Not in show condition: broken feathers, dirty feet & nails that need to be trimmed."
Entry #10 - Splash Cockerel (Non-Standard Variety):
"Nice Splash color. In good feather. Type is pretty good but again a loose winged bird. Look for a horizontal wing carriage. Head looks good from the side but skull should be broader. Not prepared for show [dirty foot feathers]."
"Nice Splash color. In good feather. Type is pretty good but again a loose winged bird. Look for a horizontal wing carriage. Head looks good from the side but skull should be broader. Not prepared for show [dirty foot feathers]."
Entry #11 - Blue Laced Red Pullet (Non-Standard Variety):
" Another pretty little bird lacking in both type & color. This is a variety that’s years away from admission to the Standard. Perhaps the best wing carriage of any bird shown."
" Another pretty little bird lacking in both type & color. This is a variety that’s years away from admission to the Standard. Perhaps the best wing carriage of any bird shown."
Entry #12 - Blue Mottled Hen (Non-Standard Variety): CHAMPION OF SHOW, by Mandy Malin
"This is more like what Mottled color should look like. Good wing carriage. Tail needs to be carried higher-very flat on top. Head’s a bit narrow. Not prepared for show-trim her nails, please."
"This is more like what Mottled color should look like. Good wing carriage. Tail needs to be carried higher-very flat on top. Head’s a bit narrow. Not prepared for show-trim her nails, please."
Novice Division / Bantam Class:
Entry #6 - Black Cock:
"A well loved bird & the bird best prepared for show today. However, he’s showing his age & I’m afraid it’s time to retire him from his show career."
"A well loved bird & the bird best prepared for show today. However, he’s showing his age & I’m afraid it’s time to retire him from his show career."
