Cochins
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 the time. Cochins created a sensation in England, resulting in a great boom
for the "Cochin China," as it was called in the days of the "Cochin craze."
Currently, the American Poultry Association recognizes Buff, Partridge, White, Black, Silver-laced, Golden-laced, Blue,
Brown and Barred varieties of the Cochin.
Both male and female are massive in appearance, with an extraordinary 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.
Primarily bred for exhibition, the Cochin is capable of being bred as a meat type fowl. The skin color is yellow and the
egg shells are brown.