COCHIN FEMALE SHAPE. 



Criticisms of Foremost Judges and Cochin Breeders on a Composite Ideal, From Live Models, Drawn 



by Franklane L. Sewell-A Collection of Opinions That Are in Themselves 



Authority on the Ideal Shape of a Standard Female Cochin. 



From the Reliable Poultry Journal. 



THE wide difference of opinion expressed by judges and 

 breeders, in criticising the work of our foremost 

 poultry artist, is ample proof of the urgent need of 

 exactly such work as is being done along this line. 

 If we are to attain a greater uniformity of judging and 

 breeding, it must come through efforts of this kind. The 

 judge or breeder who is in earnest in his desire to progress 

 will not fail to give careful attention to these sketches and 

 criticisms. 



George O. Brown, Maryland, judge and breeder: "The 

 female appears squatty. Shape makes her appear as if walk- 

 ing down-grade instead of standing on the level. Head car- 

 ried too low for the size of the cushion-^which is a trifle too 

 high, anyway. Oomb does not go far enough back on head. 

 Trifle short in neck in comparison with size of figure." 



P. H. Shellabarger, Iowa, judge and breeder: "The 

 Cochin female is much the better of the two, yet her neck 

 should be a trifle longer, with the head increased in size to 

 harmonize with the rest of the drawing. The Standard 

 calls for a short neck on a Cochin compared with that of a 

 Brahma or Langshan, but it does not want to look like a 

 mud turtle on a fish line, nor to have a head so small that 

 it looks like the eye of a rhinoceros compared to the size of 

 the body." 



George H. Northup, New York, judge and breeder: "The 

 female is just my idea of a Cochin hen, the embodiment of 

 my ideal when I was breeding them." 



D. T. Heimlich, Illinois, judge and breeder: "The Buff 

 Cochin female is too short in the neck. The back breaks too 

 albruptly into the cushion. She does not show depth of 

 breast in proportion to general size. As a whole she repre- 

 sents well the fad now in vogue, without the practical feat- 

 ures so desirable in an utility fowl." 



S, L. Roberts, California, judge and breeder: "The bird 

 appears to be taking a walk toward her keeper, evidently 

 looking for something to eat at his hands. Comb is too 

 small. Too great a sinus between cushion and joint of 

 hackle, and not enough at juncture of tail with cushion. Cut 

 breast away at center thereof a trifle, throw the head for- 

 ward some, and with the foregoing alterations I should con- 

 sider the study a good one." 



Theo. Hewes, Indiana, judge and breeder: "The female 

 is overdrawn. The head should be pulled up a little and 

 some of the cushion taken away. I will not say a word aibout 

 this bird below the wings. She is elegant. But the cushion 

 runs too far forward. We do not want to call for something 



that we cannot get. Modify it just a little and raise the tail 

 a sixteenth of an inch." 



W. S. Russell, Iowa, judge and breeder: "The female 

 is good with the exception of back, which is too short, and 

 the convex sweep is too abrupt. I should prefer to see sweep 

 rise more gently." 



H. S. BaJbcock, Rhode Island, judge and breeder: "The 

 cushion rises too abruptly from back and too near neck. A 

 very good cut, otherwise." 



H. B. Savage, Texas, judge and breeder: "The female, 

 like the male, is a cracker-jack. I should prefer the head 

 just a little larger, breast a little deeper and just a trifle 

 more distance between the hackle and the rise of the cush- 

 ion.'' 



A. B. Shaner, Illinois, breeder of Buff Cochins: "The 

 head shows ' coarseness. Beak is a trifle long. The cushion 

 is too large, and rises too sharply. Lower breast is not full 

 enough, and the tail is carried a trifle low." 



C. H. Rhodes, Kansas, breeder of Black Cochins: "The 

 sfeetch of the female Would suit me better if the breast were 

 carried lower and were fuller in outline. The position may 

 have something to do with it. Otherwise it suits me." 



S. A. Rigg, Illinois, breeder of Buff Cochins: "In the 

 female I make some objections. The cushion is a little too 

 abrupt in start from the back. The body seems not well 

 balanced — too much behind for what there is in front — looks 

 as if she were standing by muscular effort rather than an 

 easy equilibrium. Take her a section at a time and she is 

 faultless, but those fellows who are always rawhiding about 

 the symmetry cut can find use for it on this bird. These 

 drawings are great educators and are worth fifty times the 

 cost of a year's subscription to the breeder who wants to 

 keep 'up to snuff.' " 



0. E. Skinner, Kansas, breeder of Buff and Partridge 

 Cochins: See page forty-six for criticism. Mr. Skinner 

 thinks birds of this type cannot be brought to Standard 

 weights for adults. 



W. A. Ryon, Missouri, breeder of Buff Cochins: 

 fault to find with the female." 



"No 



J. H. Parrish, Illinois, breeder of Partridge Cochins: 

 "The Cochin female cut I think could be improved a little 

 in cushion. It is most too long from rise to the point of tail. 

 Very good all over." 



