Chicken breed
Cochin
Also called Buff Cochin, Partridge Cochin
Cochins are large, heavily feathered birds with feathered feet and a very gentle nature. They are modest layers but among the best broody hens and mothers. They handle cold well but suffer in heat.
At a glance
110–200eggs a year
4–6eggs a week
24–30weeks to first egg
8.5 lbhen weight
11 lbrooster weight
Mediumegg size
Traits
- Cold hardyhigh
- Heat tolerantlow
- Goes broodyhigh
- Fine in a small runhigh
- Egg colour
- brown
- Temperament
- friendly, docile, calm
- Good with kids
- Usually, yes
- Origin
- China / Asia (sources differ on exact region)
- Comb
- single
- Bantam size
- Available
- APA standard
- Recognized
- Conservation
- Recovering
- Purpose
- ornamental, pet, eggs
Good for
- families with children
- cold climates
- hatching chicks (including other poultry)
- small runs
Watch out for
- suffers in heat; needs shade
- muddy feathered feet can frostbite
- heavy hens can break thin-shelled eggs
- modest egg production
Looks and feathers
Profuse soft feathering down the legs and feet; many APA colors in large fowl and bantam.
Our drawing shows the most common US variety; colours vary.
Similar breeds
All breedsSources
- 1Buff Cochin Standard Chicks (product/breed profile)Cackle Hatchery
- 2Partridge Cochin Day Old Chicks (product/breed profile)Meyer Hatchery
- 3Cochin (breed page)My Pet Chicken
- 4Accepted Breeds & VarietiesAmerican Poultry Association
- 5Cochin Chicken (breed facts)The Livestock Conservancy
- 6Chicken Breeds & Varieties (A2880), incl. APA standard weightsUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension
- 7Which chicken breeds may need extra heat in winter?My Pet Chicken
Hatcheries often disagree on eggs a year; ranges span every source we read. How we check the facts.