The Cochin Chicken was once known as the Chinese Shanghai. They are primarily an ornamental bird, but are also used as foster mothers, layers and meat birds.

Primarily used as ornamental fowl, Cochins are also well known for their excellent mothering skills. Cochins are often used as foster mothers for other breeds or species. Cochins can produce a huge amount of eggs in a short period, and then may not lay again for months. They can be very persistent brooders.

The most amazing characteristic of the Cochin and that characteristic that makes it so highly valued as an ornamental bird, is its abundant plumage. At first glance, the Cochin appears to be little more than a huge ball of feathers. They have lots of feathers on their feet and legs, which makes it necessary to confine the birds in rainy weather so they do not get bogged down by the mud accumulating in their plumage. Because the Cochin is rather large even underneath the feathers, their plumage makes them appear quite impressive. Cochins have yellow skin and appear in several color varieties, including, buff (golden color), black, white, blue (deep blue colored with more dark than light feathers), silver (light blue, almost a light grey color), silver Laced (very pretty, light silver plumage with each feather laced in black) and partridge (mix of reds, rusts, blacks and burnt gold colors). They may also be seen in White Frizzle, Red Frizzle, Black Frizzle, Buff Frizzle and Blue Frizzle. In addition to these colors, the bantam Cochin may be seen in up to 14 color variations, though many of these are 'unofficial', since they are not yet all recognized in the show ring. The eggs of the Cochin are usually brown in color.

The Cochin was originally bred in China and exported to England and America in 1845. They did not become popular until about 1886, when the English and Germans started breeding the Cochin quite a bit, in a period of time known as the "Cochin Craze". Today, the Cochin is popular as a pet and ornamental bird, although it is sometimes used for meat.

Young chicks require greater heat than the adults do because they do not have the impressive plumage the adults do. Until they are fully feathered, the young should be kept at temperatures of between 99 and 107 degrees Fahrenheit. As the feather grow, the temperature should be gradually decreased. Young Cochin chicks do well on a diet of mashed hard-boiled eggs. Cochin chicks are easy to sex because the males have larger wattles and combs.

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