However, they’re hardier than other breeds and tend to maintain their productivity with only a minor amount of care. This does not mean that Golden Comets can easily survive without at least some temperature controls, especially cold weather. Notably, the Rhode Island Red ancestry gives them generally good tolerance to both cold and heat. As a cross between Rhode Island Red and White Rock hens, they’ve received many of the best qualities of both breeds. Ultimately, though, that’s only practical at the end of their lives and doesn’t serve as a good choice for regular meat. Eating two of these chickens at once might be a better way to get a good amount of meat on the table. If you don’t want to waste any more than necessary, you can cull and eat older Golden Comets and non-productive layers. That’s a lot faster and produces far more meat. Regular meat chickens are usually processed after just one to two months of growth following an optimal feeding pattern. That’s a little low for a meat chicken, so you won’t see much actual meat on them.įurther, that’s at the time in their lives when they’ll have the most meat. Older members of this breed have the most meat, but even then, they rarely exceed five or six pounds. Golden Comets are not a good choice for producing chicken meat because they are smaller birds. Golden Comet chickens are docile and friendly Meat Production Although the quality may start to deteriorate when they’re modestly into their third laying season. This means that they tend to produce eggs throughout their lives. Notably, Golden Comets are such prolific egg-makers that their slower rate, about three to four eggs per week, is comparable to the regular rate of many other breeds. You can expect 300 – 330 eggs per year for approximately the first two years, after which they tend to start slowing down. Most Golden Comets are productive for about three years after they start laying eggs. Since they lay eggs in all seasons, you can start raising them anytime and get a predictable supply of about five to six eggs per week from each hen. More specifically, they see the maximum amount of egg production for 18-24 months after they start producing eggs, which is usually about four months after birth. They don’t produce full-size eggs until they’ve had more time to grow, but within a few more weeks, they should be producing full-size eggs quite readily. Note that the eggs of young Golden Comets will typically start small. One, the Maran, can take as many as 30 weeks. Most other chickens take at least 20 weeks to begin laying eggs. The most comparable breed is the White Leghorn, which also starts laying at 16 – 17 weeks. Golden Comets usually start laying eggs at 16 weeks old, which is on the low end for egg-producing chickens. Golden Comets lay brown eggs. Shell color has no meaningful impact on nutritional value or flavor, although some people may prefer brown eggs for aesthetic reasons. Medium and large eggs are among the most popular sizes, which is another reason people pick this breed. Medium eggs are about 1.75 ounces while large eggs are about two ounces.Īs mentioned above, Golden Comets usually start with small eggs for a short time as their bodies finish growing, then start producing their regular, full-size eggs. This is an industrial measurement, not an opinion statement on their general size. Golden Comets produce medium-to-large sized eggs. They are one of the best best egg laying chickens for backyard farms and homesteads. This makes them a reliable, consistent layer and good to add with a flock who only produce in the warmer months. Hens will continue laying during the cold and winter months. On average, a Golden Comet chicken will lay six eggs per week. They are prolific layers, laying up to 335 eggs per year. This makes them relatively safe around other pets or small children, as well as good companions for other relaxed breeds. As we’ll discuss in more detail, they are generally calm and friendly birds. To a lesser extent, Golden Comets are also popular choices as pets. Golden Comet chickens are egg-laying powerhouses, making them an excellent choice for small flock owners who want eggs as often as possible or commercial enterprises that want to maximize egg production as early as possible. Here’s everything you should know about this hybrid chicken breed before you get started. While you can eat their meat, flock owners generally don’t choose them as a meat breed because they are small. Are you thinking about raising a Golden Comet chicken? Golden Comets are fantastic egg-layers, which makes this the primary reason many people raise them.
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