Are you searching for the perfect new addition to your farm flock? Have you ever considered the Golden Comet chickens, a breed known for their robust health, prolific egg-laying abilities, and docile temperament? Well, if you haven’t, it’s high time you did!
These beautiful chickens add beauty to your farm and are also hard workers, laying more eggs than you’d think possible for their size.
As a seasoned farmer, I’ve come to appreciate the Golden Comets for these reasons – but there’s so much more to them.
What is a golden comet?
A Golden Comet is a hybrid chicken breed due to crossing a White Rock hen with a New Hampshire Red rooster. It’s not a true breed and won’t breed true to type. Golden Comets are excellent egg layers, not typically used for meat but can serve as dual-purpose chickens. They are versatile and robust and make great additions to any backyard flock.
With a gentle disposition and an ability to adapt to various farming conditions, Golden Comets are the ideal fit for seasoned farmers and first-time chicken keepers. They perfectly embody what it means to be a farm animal: resilient, productive, and delightful.
Table of Content for Golden Comet Chickens
Let’s find out more about this chicken breed!
Golden Comet Chickens: Facts About This Hybrid Chicken Breed
Golden Comet Chickens is an intriguing hybrid breed with various names. Known in some circles as ‘Cinnamon Queens,’ they aren’t rare chickens but are popular among backyard farmers.
1. Golden Comets Can Be Either A Rooster Or Hen
A Golden Comet can be either a rooster or a hen. However, farmers typically keep hens for their exceptional egg-laying prowess and docile nature.
The roosters, too, can be quite calm and make good flock protectors.
A Golden Comet chicken grows relatively fast compared to some pure breeds. They start laying eggs as early as 16-20 weeks, which is quite impressive for a chicken breed.
2. Comet Chickens Aren’t Exactly Meat Chickens
Golden Comets are relatively medium-sized chickens. Hens typically weigh around 4-6 pounds, while roosters can reach 6-8 pounds.
Their size is one of the reasons they are not typically considered meat chickens.
Despite their medium size, Comet Chickens are robust and hardy. They have a strong constitution which, coupled with their size, makes them resilient in different farming conditions.
3. Golden Comet Breed Are Red-Gold Colored Chickens
Golden Comet breed chickens are typically golden-red. However, they can have white patches, especially on their tail feathers.
But a fully white Golden Comet is highly unlikely due to its specific hybrid nature. They also have a single comb, bright yellow beak and legs, and striking red wattles and earlobes, making them a visual delight in any flock.
4. Chicken Golden Comet Chicks Cost $3-$5
The cost of Golden Comet chickens can vary based on factors like age and location. On average, you could expect to pay around $3 to $5 for a day-old chick and higher for mature chickens.
Raising Golden Comets is straightforward. They require basic poultry care—access to clean water, balanced feed, safe housing, and room to roam.
Regular health checks and deworming are also crucial.
5. Golden Comet Chicken Breed Can Live Up To 10 Years
Chicken Golden Comet can live up to 5-10 years with good care. This lifespan can, however, vary based on factors such as diet, housing, and overall health.
Golden Comets are adaptable chickens, comfortable in a range of climates.
Whether you live in a region with hot summers or chilly winters, these chickens can thrive— thus, they also live longer.
These chickens are also hardy and can handle winter conditions well. They also continue laying eggs throughout the winter, although the rate might decrease slightly due to shorter daylight hours.
Golden Comet Chickens Egg Production: Can They Lay Eggs?
Golden Comet chickens are renowned for their exceptional egg-laying abilities. Not only do they lay eggs, but they also earn their keep as some of the best layers in the poultry world.
They Can Lay Up To 300 Eggs A Year
A Golden Comet chicken is celebrated as having prolific egg layers, often laying an impressive count of around 250-300 eggs annually.
In a week, they can produce from 5-7 eggs, or an average of one egg daily. This steadfast production sets them apart from other breeds, making them a sought-after choice for backyard flocks and commercial operations.
There could be several reasons why your Golden Comet chicken isn’t laying eggs.
Stress, poor diet, insufficient daylight, aging, or health issues can all impact egg production. It’s important to monitor their behavior and conditions closely.
Chicken Golden Comet Starts Laying Eggs Around 16 Weeks of Age
Golden Comets start laying at 16-20 weeks old and continue for several years. The duration depends on the hen’s health, diet, and living conditions, but it’s not uncommon for them to lay well into their third or fourth year.
Technically, you can hatch Golden Comet eggs. However, being a hybrid breed, the offspring won’t breed true to the parent stock. You’ll likely get a mix of traits from the original parent breeds.
Golden Comet Egg Is Brown, Not White
Golden Comets lay brown eggs, but not white eggs. The eggs are typically medium to large in size and have a good yolk-to-white ratio. The shade can vary from light to medium brown, adding a beautiful variety to your egg basket.
At the same time, the size can vary slightly depending on the hen’s age and diet, with older hens generally laying larger eggs.
The incubation period for Golden Comet eggs, like most chicken breeds, is around 21 days.
It’s crucial to provide the eggs with the right temperature and humidity conditions during this time to ensure successful hatching.
Comet Chickens Temperament As Backyard Pets
Comet Chickens aren’t just great egg-layers. They also make wonderful backyard pets. They are known for their friendly demeanor and adaptability and fit well in family environments.
If you’re planning to raise them at home, here are a few pieces of information you need to know:
Golden Comets have a docile and friendly personality. They get along well with humans and other poultry, making them a delightful addition to a mixed flock.
Their calm disposition makes them a joy to have around the farm. They are also approachable, easy to handle, and can even be trained to some extent, offering a great way for children to learn about caring for animals.
Aggression isn’t a typical trait of Golden Comet chickens. They are more likely to be friendly and calm.
If aggression occurs, it’s usually due to stress, overcrowding, or health issues, and it’s less common than with some other breeds.
Golden Comet chickens aren’t generally noisy. They have a relatively calm demeanor and don’t typically make excessive noise except for the usual clucking and egg-laying announcements. This makes them suitable for urban or suburban settings where noise can be a concern.
While Golden Comet chickens can technically fly, they are not particularly skilled or enthusiastic flyers. Their moderate weight and size usually limit their ability to fly high or far, making keeping them within your yard easy.
Golden Comets need about 4 square feet of coop space per chicken as medium-sized chickens and 10 square feet of outside run. However, they love to forage and explore, so the more space you can provide, the happier they will be.
Golden Comets don’t usually overeat. These chickens have a healthy appetite, which supports their prolific egg-laying. Providing a balanced diet and allowing them to forage can help maintain their health without leading to overeating.
The amount of feed a Golden Comet chicken needs can vary based on age, size, and laying status. Generally, an adult laying hen consumes approximately 1/4 to 1/3 pounds of feed daily.
Pros And Cons of Having Golden Comet Chicken Breed
| Pros of Having Golden Comet Chickens | Cons of Having Golden Comet Chickens |
| Prolific egg layers | Offspring won’t breed true |
| Docile and friendly | Not the best for meat production |
| Hardy and adaptable | Needs a balanced diet for egg production |
| Starts laying early | Can be prone to overeating |
| Good for various climates | Require enough space to avoid stress |
| Ideal for backyard farming | Health issues can impact egg-laying |
| Suitable for families and kids | Costs associated with feed and care |
| Low noise levels | Laying rate can decrease in winter |
| Good foragers | Possible pecking if overcrowded |
Golden Comet Chickens FAQs
Can you eat golden comets?
Yes, you can certainly eat Golden Comets. While they’re primarily known as fantastic egg layers, they are also considered dual-purpose.
This means they can also be used for meat, although their meat production is not as high as some other breeds.
Can golden comets reproduce?
Golden Comets can reproduce but do not breed as true as a hybrid breed. This means that if you breed a Golden Comet with another Golden Comet (or any other chicken breed), the offspring won’t necessarily have the same traits as the parent chickens.
The resulting chicks could show a mix of characteristics from the breeds that went into creating the Golden Comet (primarily White Rock and Red New Hampshire).
My Favorite Chicken and Duck Supplies
This list contains affiliate products. Affiliate products do not cost more but helps to support BestFarmAnimals and our goal to provide farm animal owners with accurate and helpful information.
Manna Pro Oyster Shell keeps eggs strong. Before I gave my chickens oyster shell, I had the oddest eggs, many with weak and irregular shells. Now, I don’t have an issue.
Layer Feed by Manna Pro. I like pellets rather than crumbles as my chickens eat them better and less gets wasted or scavenged by rodents. A good layer feed makes the difference in hens laying many more eggs.
My chickens love this mealworm treat, which gives added protein, something that’s great during molting and winter months.
There are many ways to feed and water your chickens. I like this food and water setup the best because it reduces waste, saves me time feeding and watering, and keeps the food fresh longer. Except, in the winter, I use a heated waterer. The only problem is the heated waterers need to be replaced every few years.
I love this chicken veggie hanger. It makes it easy to give your chickens produce from the garden and keep them occupied in the winter with a fresh head of lettuce.
These chicken toys are a hoot! They will help curb bullying and keep your chickens active, especially in the winter when hens tend to get more lethargic.
Conclusion
Golden Comet chickens are a versatile breed known for their great egg-laying capabilities, friendly disposition, and adaptability to different climates and conditions.
They make excellent backyard pets for families and first-time chicken keepers.
Their numerous benefits make them a worthwhile addition to any flock. Their amiable nature and prolific egg-laying habits make them stand out as golden stars of the chicken world.