Cochin Chicken Breed

Chicken Tractors

Chicken Tractors Chicken tractors give you some on the benefits of free ranging, without the drawbacks and dangers of full free range chickens. The chicken tractor is, in it’s simplest form, a More »

Raising Chickens When faced with listening to a 4am crowing alarm clock every morning, many people wonder, why raise chickens? Well, hopefully by the end of this article you’ll be asking yourself, More »

Choosing a Chicken Breed

Choosing a Chicken Breed Chickens come in all shapes, color, sizes … and purposes. Did you know that selecting the type of chicken breed to raise in your backyard depends on what More »

Dual Purpose Chickens

Dual Purpose Chickens Dual Purpose Chickens are the best egg laying hens combined with the best meat chickens. The truth of the matter is that there are plenty of chicken breeds that are good More »

Raising Chicks

Raising Chicks Chicks are cute little things. They are so cuddly that when you see them in a hatchery or a feed store, there is always that urge to raise chicks. Or, More »

August 11, 2012 Chicken Breeds 1 Comment

If you are interested in the joys of raising chickens, consider signing up for our E-mail updates. You will quickly learn all you need to know about raising healthy chickens in your backyard

Cochin Chicken History

The Cochin chicken breed is believed to originated from the Chinese town of Shanghai in the 1800’s and originally called Shanghais. There is some dispute of the actual origin of the chicken breed. The name of the breed was eventually changed to Cochin China, after beliefs that the breed originated in the Vietnam region call Cochin China.

The Cochin was exported from China, in 1845 when Queen Victoria received them as a gift, after the China War. The English thought the breed was gigantic as the Queen showed them off in her poultry yard and at poultry shows. Some called them “ostrich fowl” or thought that they were related to buzzards, due to their size. Due to writings of their long legs, it is believed that the Cochins of the time did not have the feathered legs that they do today.

A large amount of long feathers and down under fluff make Cochins apear round in shape. Bantam Cochin breeds are now popular in Australia and Great Britain as pets and show chickens, called Pekins. All breeds of Cochins are very friendly and make great brooders and mothers.