Soft leg feathering is different from vulture hocks

The same American description calls for four toes and substantial feathering on the shanks, middle and outer toes. It distinguishes soft, flexible feathering around the hocks from the stiff projecting vulture-hock feature found in some other feather-footed breeds. Thus, 'heavily feathered legs' is not a complete standard description. Different feather structures have different meanings, and a Cochin should not be identified by fluff alone.