Cochin
OrnamentalChinaBeginner friendly
The Cochin is an enormous ball of feathers right down to its toes, moving through the yard like a slow, contented cloud. It's among the most placid of all chickens, a devoted sitter that will happily hatch other hens' eggs, and its feathered legs make it a poor flyer and an easy keeper.
Eggs per year
150–180
Egg color
Brown
Egg size
Medium
Hen weight
8–9 lbs
Temperament
Exceptionally docile
Broodiness
Often broody
Did you know?
Cochins presented to Queen Victoria in the 1840s helped set off "hen fever," a full-blown Victorian craze in which fancy chickens sold for astonishing sums.
Cochin egg production
Expect roughly 150–180 brown eggs a year from a Cochin in her prime — about 3 a week, or 13–15 dozen over the course of a year. That's a moderate, steady output rather than a record-setting one. Production naturally dips during the annual molt and the short days of winter, and eases off as a hen ages past her second or third year. Most pullets lay their first egg somewhere between five and eight months old.
Temperament & handling
The Cochin is generally described as exceptionally docile. These are calm, people-oriented birds that tolerate handling well and settle into a backyard flock without much fuss — a big part of why they're such a common first breed.
Climate & care
Rated cold-hardy, the Cochin rides out hard winters well as long as the coop stays dry and draft-free — keep drinking water from freezing and watch combs and wattles for frostbite in a deep freeze. It can struggle in extreme heat, so prioritise deep shade, ventilation, and cool water through the hottest part of summer.
Broodiness & raising chicks
Cochinhens go broody often and make devoted mothers, so you can let one hatch a clutch the natural way. If you'd rather incubate, our incubation calculator maps out candling and hatch day.
Space & feeding
A Cochin hen is a heavyweight bird at 8–9 lbs. As a rule of thumb, a small flock of 6 would want around 24 sq ft of coop and 60 sq ft of run, with about 2 nest boxes and 5 ft of roost. Size it to your own flock with the coop size calculator, and estimate the monthly feed bill — and your real cost per egg — with the feed cost calculator.
Is the Cochin right for you?
A great fit if…
- You're new to chickens and want a forgiving bird
- You want a calm bird that's good around children
- You want a striking bird kept for looks and personality
- You get real winters and need a hardy bird
- You'd love hens that hatch and raise their own chicks
Think twice if…
- You're in an extreme-heat climate
- You want the absolute maximum egg output
- You only want eggs and would rather hens didn't go broody
Cochin FAQ
- How many eggs do Cochin chickens lay?
- A healthy Cochin hen lays about 150–180 brown eggs a year — roughly 3 a week, or 13–15 dozen over a year. Output drops during winter and the annual molt, and eases as a hen ages.
- What color eggs do Cochins lay?
- Cochins lay brown eggs, medium in size.
- How big do Cochin chickens get?
- A Cochin hen weighs roughly 8–9 lbs — a heavyweight bird — with roosters running a little heavier.
- Are Cochins cold-hardy?
- Yes. The Cochin is rated cold-hardy and rides out hard winters well, provided the coop stays dry and draft-free. Keep water from freezing and check combs and wattles for frostbite in a deep freeze.
- Are Cochins good for beginners?
- Yes. The Cochin is a forgiving, exceptionally docile breed that suits first-time keepers well.
- Do Cochin hens go broody?
- Often. Cochin hens are reliable setters and devoted mothers — ideal if you'd like to hatch chicks naturally, less so if you only want eggs.
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Keeping Cochins?
Give every bird a profile in PoultryPal — track their eggs, weight, and life events, and see who's really your best layer.
