Breeds

Cochin Chickens: Feathered Feet, Large Fowl vs Bantam, Eggs and Broodiness

Field guide · Updated November 2, 2026 · about 8 min read

The Cochin is the large, round, feather-footed chicken that started the mid-1800s poultry craze known as "hen fever." Today it is kept mostly as an ornamental bird and a broody hen rather than for eggs or meat. Below: what the American Poultry Association (APA), The Livestock Conservancy, Oklahoma State University, Illinois Extension and other sources say about large fowl and bantam Cochins, their eggs, broodiness and care.

Quick facts

From Shanghai fowl to "hen fever"

Sources agree on the outline and differ on the details. Oklahoma State places the breed's origin in Shanghai province around 1840. The Livestock Conservancy says it was developed in Shantung Province, north of Shanghai, where it was called "Ju-chin," with import records from about 1846. Illinois Extension says the Shanghai fowl reached England and America in 1845 and was later renamed Cochin.

• 1843: Queen Victoria's collection received Cochin China fowl, according to Wright's Illustrated Book of Poultry as quoted by the Biodiversity Heritage Library; Hobby Farms says Captain Edward Belcher gave her five hens and two roosters that year.
• About 1845 to 1855: "hen fever" sweeps the United States (Biodiversity Heritage Library). Illinois Extension calls the English side of it the "Cochin craze." The 1853 Poultry Book called the birds Shanghais, but the public kept calling them Cochins.
• 1865: the Cochin appears in the first British Standard of Excellence in Exhibition Poultry, without bantams (Wikipedia, secondary).
• 1874: admitted to the APA Standard (Oklahoma State, The Livestock Conservancy). Illinois Extension dates the Buff, Partridge, White and Black varieties to that year.

The breed never paid its way commercially: The Livestock Conservancy cites an 1895 source calling it the least profitable American breed. Its blood lives on in others. Illinois Extension traces Cochin crosses into Partridge Plymouth Rocks, Partridge and Buff Wyandottes, Rhode Island Whites and the looser feathering of some early Orpington strains.

Large fowl and bantam varieties

A Delaware State University classification sheet counts 10 large fowl and 17 bantam varieties, so check the current APA list before buying for show. Its description of the Asiatic class fits the Cochin well: "large, heavy birds with feathers on their legs." The APA's bantam Feather Leg class, where Cochin bantams are shown, also lists the Belgian Bearded d'Uccle and the Booted bantam, each with a Mille Fleur variety; see breeding Mille Fleur bantams.

Bantam Cochins are not simply small copies with the same history. Illinois Extension says they originated in China, were first known as Pekins and are still called Pekins in England. Wikipedia (secondary) adds that the Poultry Club of Great Britain does not recognize Cochin bantams, while European standards treat the Pekin as the equivalent bird. Illinois Extension puts bantams in general at about one-fourth to one-fifth the weight of their large counterparts; Wikipedia gives about 900 g for a bantam male and 800 g for a female. The Livestock Conservancy notes that bantam Cochins are less mild than the large fowl.

Feathered shanks: what they mean for care

The leg feathering is a breed requirement, not a quirk, and it brings chores. Oklahoma State notes that feathers on the shanks collect dirt, especially in rain, so Cochins need a dry area. The Livestock Conservancy warns that feathered feet can get frostbitten when mud cakes on them, particularly in cold weather. Check the feet when you do a routine hen health check, and keep run and coop litter dry (see coop bedding and litter).

Eggs: how many, and when

The Cochin is not a production layer, and the figures sources give vary widely:

Two things pull the real number down. Broody spells stop laying (Hobby Farms), and pullets start late, at about 8 months (The Livestock Conservancy). The Livestock Conservancy also warns that overweight birds can stop laying and may die of liver disorders, and recommends a daily ration of green food. For what a hen of a given age is likely to lay, see how long hens keep laying; for shell shades across breeds, the egg color chart.

Broodiness: the Cochin's real job

Oregon State Extension calls Cochins and Silkies "champions at going broody." The Livestock Conservancy calls the Cochin one of the best broody breeds, "especially for turkeys and ducks," and says hens may hatch several batches a year. It adds two cautions: their size calls for care with thin-shelled eggs, and hens may wean chicks too early when they hatch in cold weather. Hobby Farms notes that hens will raise ducklings and turkey poults. If you want eggs rather than chicks, plan for regular broody spells; the broody hens guide covers both letting a hen sit and breaking the habit, and the incubator chart covers hatching without her.

Temperament

The Livestock Conservancy says Cochins "are noted for their extremely gentle dispositions": males rarely turn aggressive, birds tame easily, do not wander, scratch less than other breeds and stay inside a two-foot fence. Oklahoma State calls them calm, good in confined spaces and not known to fly. Hobby Farms describes them as affectionate even as chicks and suited to beginners and families. Being slow and heavy has a cost: Hobby Farms says they are easy targets for ground predators, so a secure run matters (see predators).

Cold yes, heat no

Thick, dense plumage protects Cochins in winter (Oklahoma State), and The Livestock Conservancy rates them best in cold climates. Heat is the problem. The Livestock Conservancy says they suffer in heat and need shade, and an Oklahoma State article on summer care lists "larger, heavier breeds with dark feathers and small combs like Wyandottes and Cochins" among those that may suffer more. Read heat stress before a Cochin's first summer and winter care for water and frostbite.

Keeping Cochins: checklist

1. Roost low. They are too heavy to fly well and need low roosts (The Livestock Conservancy; Hobby Farms).
2. Keep the ground dry. Muddy feet collect dirt and risk frostbite in cold weather.
3. Give big birds room. Size the coop for heavy breeds with the coop space calculator.
4. Provide shade and cool water through the summer.
5. Watch body condition. Overweight hens may stop laying (The Livestock Conservancy).
6. Expect broodiness and late first eggs, at about 8 months.
7. Choose large fowl or bantam on purpose. Bantams need less space but are less mild, according to The Livestock Conservancy.

Compare the Cochin with other breeds in the breed directory.