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Bantam Blue & Splash Cochin Chicks
Blue Cochin Bantams
The origin of our Blues is a bit of a legend in our barn. After a rabbit show in Missouri, I wandered a flea market (rare for me—biosecurity first, but this one was surprisingly clean) and met an older gentleman with some unforgettable silkies (they were very ugly, but cool to see). I told him I raise and show Cochins and that I was actually on the hunt for LF Buffs. He grinned, reached under the table, and slid out a small cage of juvenile Cochins—about five months old—three of the prettiest Blues I’d seen in a long time: small, balanced, and cleanly colored. “You don’t know me from Sam hill, but these are some really good show birds,” he said. I laughed and asked why his best birds were hiding under the table. “I was just waiting for the right person to come along and know what they were looking at.” Then he added, “I’m gonna have to charge you more because of how nice they are.” “How much?” “Eighty for the three.” Sold. I paid, boxed them up, and headed home—never caught his name, and when I went back a year later, he wasn’t there. We’d had very nice Blues from Eddie Wade in 2020 but lost that line; these “mystery Blues” became our new start. I often wonder who that old gentleman was; I always seem to find the most interesting things when I get the impulse to explore a random corner of the country. In fall 2024, we reinforced body type with a black cockerel from Tom Roebuck, and since then I’ve culled extremely hard for color and type—even birds folks thought I was crazy to let go. With 14 years in poultry (and nearly six focused on Cochins), we select for the classic rounded Cochin outline, calm, people-oriented temperament, feather quality, and a slate-blue surface with crisp clean lacing that shows beautifully. These are steady birds—great for first-time breeders who like a little bit of a challenge—and we offer started chicks at 3–4 weeks to give families a sturdier, easier start while feathering is underway.
Quick facts (standard & variety)
Class: Feather-Legged Bantam; Variety: Blue — recognized by both APA & ABA. (Splash is also a recognized Cochin bantam variety with both associations, standardized in 2014.) (AgriNat Resources)
Standard weights (ABA): Cock 30 oz, Hen 26 oz, Cockerel 26 oz, Pullet 24 oz.
Type details: Single comb; red face, wattles, and earlobes; heavy foot and shank feathering over yellow skin/soles; plumage slate-blue with crisp clean lacing (not black, not splash) with clear surface and minimal dark ticking.
Terminology note: We use “muffed” to mean heavily foot-feathered (APA/ABA term = “booted”).
Production & personality
Eggs: Small/tinted brown; typically ~150 eggs/year under good management (Cochins are a “fair” layer overall).
Broodiness: Excellent natural mothers; go broody readily.
Temperament: Exceptionally docile and easy to handle—great for showmanship and youth projects.
Care notes for new breeders & youth
Provide partial shade during bright months; blue plumage can fade/bronze with strong sun.
Keep birds clean and dry to protect muffed feet and maintain a smooth, laced surface.
Cochins mature on the slower side; pullets commonly begin laying around 5–6 months.
Color clarity, chicks, and “surprises”
Blue genetics are predictable but varied: a typical Blue × Blue hatch yields about 25% Black, 50% Blue, 25% Splash.
Order note: Some Splash may be included with your Blues. No request needed—we’ll always try to include more Blue than Splash. No Black will be included.
Juvenile Blues can deepen and even out after the first molt; a little edge ticking can clean up with age, but we breed toward an even, laced slate surface from the start.
Our program is culled hard for type and color uniformity; if you’re chasing show-ring Blue (or Splash), we’ll help you pick which youngsters to grow on.
What you’ll see in our pen
Compact, rounded bodies with abundant fluff; slate-blue with crisp clean lacing that holds its look with sensible shade; calm, steady temperaments that pose naturally. Our ongoing selection emphasizes correct weight, feather quality, carriage, uniform color, and easy handling for new exhibitors and breeders.
Blue Cochin Bantams
The origin of our Blues is a bit of a legend in our barn. After a rabbit show in Missouri, I wandered a flea market (rare for me—biosecurity first, but this one was surprisingly clean) and met an older gentleman with some unforgettable silkies (they were very ugly, but cool to see). I told him I raise and show Cochins and that I was actually on the hunt for LF Buffs. He grinned, reached under the table, and slid out a small cage of juvenile Cochins—about five months old—three of the prettiest Blues I’d seen in a long time: small, balanced, and cleanly colored. “You don’t know me from Sam hill, but these are some really good show birds,” he said. I laughed and asked why his best birds were hiding under the table. “I was just waiting for the right person to come along and know what they were looking at.” Then he added, “I’m gonna have to charge you more because of how nice they are.” “How much?” “Eighty for the three.” Sold. I paid, boxed them up, and headed home—never caught his name, and when I went back a year later, he wasn’t there. We’d had very nice Blues from Eddie Wade in 2020 but lost that line; these “mystery Blues” became our new start. I often wonder who that old gentleman was; I always seem to find the most interesting things when I get the impulse to explore a random corner of the country. In fall 2024, we reinforced body type with a black cockerel from Tom Roebuck, and since then I’ve culled extremely hard for color and type—even birds folks thought I was crazy to let go. With 14 years in poultry (and nearly six focused on Cochins), we select for the classic rounded Cochin outline, calm, people-oriented temperament, feather quality, and a slate-blue surface with crisp clean lacing that shows beautifully. These are steady birds—great for first-time breeders who like a little bit of a challenge—and we offer started chicks at 3–4 weeks to give families a sturdier, easier start while feathering is underway.
Quick facts (standard & variety)
Class: Feather-Legged Bantam; Variety: Blue — recognized by both APA & ABA. (Splash is also a recognized Cochin bantam variety with both associations, standardized in 2014.) (AgriNat Resources)
Standard weights (ABA): Cock 30 oz, Hen 26 oz, Cockerel 26 oz, Pullet 24 oz.
Type details: Single comb; red face, wattles, and earlobes; heavy foot and shank feathering over yellow skin/soles; plumage slate-blue with crisp clean lacing (not black, not splash) with clear surface and minimal dark ticking.
Terminology note: We use “muffed” to mean heavily foot-feathered (APA/ABA term = “booted”).
Production & personality
Eggs: Small/tinted brown; typically ~150 eggs/year under good management (Cochins are a “fair” layer overall).
Broodiness: Excellent natural mothers; go broody readily.
Temperament: Exceptionally docile and easy to handle—great for showmanship and youth projects.
Care notes for new breeders & youth
Provide partial shade during bright months; blue plumage can fade/bronze with strong sun.
Keep birds clean and dry to protect muffed feet and maintain a smooth, laced surface.
Cochins mature on the slower side; pullets commonly begin laying around 5–6 months.
Color clarity, chicks, and “surprises”
Blue genetics are predictable but varied: a typical Blue × Blue hatch yields about 25% Black, 50% Blue, 25% Splash.
Order note: Some Splash may be included with your Blues. No request needed—we’ll always try to include more Blue than Splash. No Black will be included.
Juvenile Blues can deepen and even out after the first molt; a little edge ticking can clean up with age, but we breed toward an even, laced slate surface from the start.
Our program is culled hard for type and color uniformity; if you’re chasing show-ring Blue (or Splash), we’ll help you pick which youngsters to grow on.
What you’ll see in our pen
Compact, rounded bodies with abundant fluff; slate-blue with crisp clean lacing that holds its look with sensible shade; calm, steady temperaments that pose naturally. Our ongoing selection emphasizes correct weight, feather quality, carriage, uniform color, and easy handling for new exhibitors and breeders.