Have you been thinking about adding some productive layers to your backyard flock? Golden Comet chickens might just be the perfect addition! As someone who’s raised these beautiful birds for years, I’m excited to share everything you need to know about this incredible hybrid chicken
What Exactly Is a Golden Comet Chicken?
A Golden Comet chicken isn’t actually a “breed” in the traditional sense – it’s a sex-linked hybrid chicken that results from crossing a New Hampshire rooster with a White Rock hen. These gorgeous golden-reddish chickens are one of the most popular and widely kept hybrid hens in America and for good reason!
Some folks get confused because these chickens go by several different names:
- Golden Buff
- Red Star
- Gold Sex-Link
- Cinnamon Queen
Sometimes these names are used interchangeably, which can definitely cause some confusion when you’re ordering chicks. Just remember that the true Golden Comet specifically comes from that New Hampshire and White Rock cross.
The Origins of Golden Comets
Golden Comets were originally created by the Hubbard firm for the commercial egg industry. They were designed specifically to be egg-laying machines! But their friendly temperament and incredible productivity quickly made them popular with backyard chicken keepers too.
Being a sex-linked chicken means you can determine the gender of the chicks at hatching by their coloration – the females are golden buff with stripes, while males display a paler yellow color. This is super useful if you live somewhere that doesn’t allow roosters!
What Do Golden Comet Chickens Look Like?
Golden Comets are pretty small for standard chickens, with hens usually weighing around 4 pounds and roosters hitting about 6 pounds. They typically have:
- Light to medium reddish-brown feathers (sometimes with white flecks)
- Single upright combs that are bright red
- Yellow/brown beaks
- Yellow eyes
- Yellow legs with 4 toes on each foot
- Bodies shaped like an inverted triangle
- Tails held high, almost perpendicular to their bodies
When they’re chicks, they have yellow fluffy feathers with a rusty tint to them. As they grow, they develop those characteristic adult features that make them so recognizable.
Golden Comet Personality – The Friendliest Chickens Around!
I absolutely LOVE the temperament of Golden Comets! They’re easily one of the friendliest chicken breeds you can raise. They’re:
- Super laid-back and curious
- Gentle and docile
- Not prone to fighting (they’re like the peacemakers of the flock!)
- Great with children and don’t mind being picked up
- Sometimes prefer human company over other chickens
These chickens are perfect for families with kids since they won’t chase or become aggressive. I’ve noticed that my Golden Comets actively avoid trouble – if there’s squabbling in the coop, they’ll just walk away from it.
Egg Production – The Real Star Quality!
Let’s be honest – the main reason most of us consider Golden Comets is their AMAZING egg production. These girls are absolute egg-laying champions:
- They lay 5-6 eggs per week (that’s around 330 eggs annually!)
- Start laying super early – at just 16 weeks of age
- Produce medium to large brown eggs
- Continue high production for about 2 years
When most chicken breeds are still growing up, Golden Comets are already filling your egg basket! They often start laying earlier than other popular breeds:
| Breed | Typical Laying Age |
|---|---|
| Golden Comet | 16 weeks |
| White Leghorn | 16-17 weeks |
| Rhode Island Red | 18-20 weeks |
| Plymouth Rock | 18-20 weeks |
| Sussex | 20 weeks |
| Buff Orpington | 24 weeks |
| Maran | 30 weeks |
Sometimes these early layers seem confused about their eggs at first and might lay in odd spots. You can help them figure out nest boxes by using fake eggs or golf balls as decoys.
Broodiness (or Lack Thereof)
Unlike some chicken breeds, Golden Comets rarely go broody. This is actually a big advantage if your main goal is egg production, since broody hens stop laying. However, it means that if you want to hatch Golden Comet eggs, you’ll need an incubator.
Just remember – even if you hatch eggs from your Golden Comets, the chicks won’t be true Golden Comets! To get more Golden Comets, you’d need to maintain that specific cross of New Hampshire roosters and White Rock hens.
Health and Lifespan
Golden Comets were bred specifically for production, which means they don’t typically have many breed-related health problems in their first 3 years. However, their lifespan is usually shorter than some other breeds – typically 4-5 years rather than 6-8 years.
The main health concerns to watch for include:
- Common chicken issues like lice, mites, and worms
- Reproductive problems after age 3 (egg yolk peritonitis, tumors)
- Potential frostbite on combs in very cold weather
Their incredibly high egg production takes a toll on their bodies, which is why commercial operations typically replace these hens after about 2 years. In fact, many Golden Comets available for “rescue” are retired commercial layers.
Creating the Perfect Environment
Golden Comets are pretty adaptable birds. They tolerate:
- Various climates (both hot and cold)
- Confinement well (they don’t need a ton of space)
- Different living situations
For a happy, productive Golden Comet, provide:
- At least 3-4 square feet of coop space per bird
- Fresh nesting material like hay or straw
- Plenty of shade and water in hot weather
- Warm bedding in cold weather
These birds are excellent foragers if allowed to free-range, but they do just fine in confinement too. Their small size makes them perfect for smaller backyards where space is limited.
Who Should Consider Golden Comets?
I’d recommend Golden Comets to:
- Anyone wanting LOTS of eggs
- Families with children (these birds are super kid-friendly)
- Beginners (they’re low-maintenance and easy to care for)
- People with limited space
- Those living in areas where roosters aren’t allowed
They’re fantastic for 4H projects and can be almost self-sufficient if allowed to free-range. Plus, they make minimal noise, which your neighbors will appreciate!
Challenges of Raising Golden Comets
Nothing’s perfect, right? Here are a few downsides to consider:
- Shorter lifespan (typically 4-5 years)
- Can’t breed true Golden Comets from Golden Comet parents
- May experience a drop in egg production after 2-3 years
- Their natural curiosity might get them into trouble if free-ranging
Their egg production will gradually decline after about 2 years, and by around 3 years, egg laying may slow significantly or even stop. This is just the nature of high-production hybrid birds.
Getting Along With Other Chickens
Golden Comets typically get along great with other chicken breeds, especially the more peaceful ones like:
- Cochins
- Plymouth Rocks
- Faverolles
- Orpingtons
- Barred Rocks
- New Hampshire Reds
- Rhode Island Reds
Because they’re so easy-going, they’re a great choice for mixed flocks. Just be careful about putting them with aggressive breeds that might bully them.
Should You Get Golden Comets?
If you want a friendly chicken that lays TONS of eggs and doesn’t require much space or special care, Golden Comets are a fantastic choice! We’ve had ours for years and they’re still some of my favorite chickens.
They’re great for:
- Egg production
- Beginners
- Families with kids
- Small spaces
- Mixed flocks
Just remember that they won’t live as long as some heritage breeds, and you can’t breed them to get more Golden Comets. But for pure egg-laying joy and friendly personalities, these chickens are hard to beat!
FAQs About Golden Comets
Are Golden Comets dual-purpose chickens?
Not really. While technically you could eat them, they’re quite small and wouldn’t feed a family on their own. They’re primarily egg layers.
Can you hatch Golden Comet eggs?
Yes, but they aren’t good setters, so you’ll need an incubator. Remember, the chicks won’t be true Golden Comets.
How long before Golden Comets lay eggs?
They start laying around 16-17 weeks (4 months), which is earlier than most breeds!
Are Golden Comets cold hardy?
Yes, they handle cold pretty well, but their combs can get frostbite in extreme cold. Make sure they have warm bedding in winter.
Can Golden Comets fly?
They can fly, but they rarely do unless they’re trying to escape a predator. Their lightweight bodies make it possible for them to get over fences if they really want to.
What Makes a Golden Comet?
The Golden Comet chicken is a cross between a New Hampshire Red or Rhode Island Red rooster and a White Plymouth Rock, White Leghorn, or Delaware hen. Upon hatching, these chicks can be sexed by color instead of the traditional vent sexing. Male chicks are yellow at hatching, and females hatch a reddish brown.
Golden Comets are part of the sex link group of chickens. Sex Link chickens get their name because they can be sexed by color upon hatching. Golden Comets are not the only name these chickens go by: Golden Buff, Golden Sex Link, Red Sex Link, Red Star, and Cinnamon Queen are also common names.
8 Golden Comet Chicken Pros
With their sex link characteristics, Golden Comets have a one hundred percent sexing accuracy. Not worrying about unwanted roosters has saved many chicken keepers from headaches and heartaches.
Golden Comets are both heat and cold-hardy. Unlike many heritage breeds, these lively hens tolerate summer heat and winter chills without ill effects and will even lay through the hottest summer months.
Golden Comets do not breed true (more on that later). Since they are consistently bred from new parent birds, they are not at a high risk of developing breed-related illnesses. These healthy hens may also be less likely to develop certain other diseases, including Marek’s disease.
The Golden Comet chicken is a delightful pet. Comets have a calm and relaxing personality and make ideal family companions. While they are known for their quiet nature and affectionate temperaments, Comets have an attitude that sets them apart from other flock members. Hens of this breed love interacting with their owners and will sit on your lap for hours.
When not bonding with their favorite person, Comets can usually be found at the back door begging for a treat. These hens are food-motivated and will do anything for a tasty snack.
Golden Comets are peaceful chickens who dwell with other flock members without a hitch. These hens prefer to stay out of flock squabbles and will move to the opposite side of the run to avoid conflicts.
Their calm and peaceful nature may make them vulnerable to bullying when housed with more aggressive breeds.
If there is one thing everyone agrees on about the Golden Comet chicken, it is that you can’t beat its egg production. Golden Comets are egg-laying champions and will easily outperform all your other brown egg layers.
Golden Comets were bred to lay, with each hen laying as many as three hundred extra-large eggs annually. Eggs come in various browns, ranging from tan to deep reddish brown. Some eggs even have speckles similar to those of a Welsummer’s egg.
Comets are naturally quiet chickens, which gives them an advantage for backyard flocks with close neighbors. While they do sing the egg song and make other noises, they don’t feel the need to make a fuss all day long.
The Golden Comet chicken is the brown egg-layer answer to the Leghorn. These hens were bred to produce eggs without costing the farmer too much money. With their small bodies, Golden Comets do not need to consume as much feed to lay an egg as heritage breeds. This attribute has made Comets the most popular brown egg layer in backyard flocks and factory farms worldwide.