Backyard chicken raising has become a popular trend in recent years. There are so many breeds to choose from it can be challenging to know which ones to choose! Two breeds you can purchase are Cinnamon Queens and Golden Comets. But are they the same?
Cinnamon Queens and Golden Comets are two different crossbreeds. They are known as sex-link crosses because their gender can be determined by feather color. Both are dual-purpose chickens. But the breeds used to make the crosses are different.
If these birds are so similar, then how do you know which one to choose? Is one better than the other? How do you choose which chicken breed is right for your needs? Read on to find out!
Cinnamon Queen Vs. Golden Comets Chickens
Cinnamon Queens and Golden Comets are the breed names for a specific type of chicken. These chickens are crosses between egg-laying and dual-purpose breeds. In this case, the dual-purpose breed is Rhode Island Red. This creates a breed of chicken called a sex-link.
What Does Sex-Link Mean?
Sex-link is a term used to describe animals whose gender can be identified based on their color or markings. For example, red sex-link chickens can be identified in two ways. The females will be orange or red with some white. The roosters will be cream with orange or red markings.
Sex-link chickens are also not necessarily a specific breed. You can’t cross two sex-link chickens and get another sex-link. They must be a cross between two different chicken breeds to make the crossbreed chicken. Otherwise, they won’t have the genetic predisposition for sex-linking.
How Are They Similar?
Both of these chickens are very similar. They both have a beautiful red color with cream accents. They both can be sexed based on their color with approximately a 95% accuracy rate. Both crosses will also produce rich, brown eggs.
Disposition
Both crosses can be described as active and friendly. They may also be considered flighty and high-strung. This tends to happen with chicken breeds that are high egg producers. However, they should still be friendly as long as they are well-socialized.
Production
Both chickens have a very similar production rate. They will both produce approximately 250-320 eggs per year. They are also similar in body weight. Hens can weigh anywhere from 6-7lbs and roosters will be anywhere from 8-9lbs. Both breeds also mature faster than other breeds.
How Are They Different?
While these two crosses are very similar, they do have some distinct differences. The first is with their parent breeds. Golden Comets are typically a cross between a Rhode Island Red and a White Leghorn. This gives them the meat production of a Rhode Island with the egg production of a Leghorn.
Cinnamon Queens, on the other hand, are a proprietary cross created by Cackle Hatchery in Lebanon, Missouri. They are a cross between a Rhode Island Red and a Rhode Island White. These birds may be heavier set than Comets because they are crossed with two Rhode Islands.
Comets And Queens Vs. Other Breeds
These two crosses are considered dual-purpose chickens. That means they can be used for either egg production or meat. However, they’re different from other dual-purpose breeds because they produce more eggs per year.
Because they are crosses that also means they will be slightly smaller than other dual-purpose breeds. For example, a Buff Orpington hen weighs approximately 8lbs. But she’ll only produce 200-280 eggs per year. So keep that in mind when choosing the breed that’s right for you!
Why You Should Choose These Chickens
These chickens are a great choice for those who want to start a small egg business. These chickens balance a high egg production with a reasonable meat bearing capacity. So, if the chickens quit laying, they can also be sold for meat.
Golden Comets can be found at many different hatcheries across the United States. The breeds used to make the cross may change depending on the hatchery. True Cinnamon Queens can only be purchased from Cackle Hatchery, but similar variations can be purchased from others.
How To Choose The Chicken That’s Best For You!
The first thing you should do when purchasing chicks is make sure you have all of your supplies beforehand. You will need:
- Chick feed
- A brooder
- A waterer
- A heat lamp
- Bedding
Then you will need to check your city ordinances for how many birds you can keep and how large your coop can be. Keep in mind that a full-size chicken should have 1 foot of roost space, 2 sq. ft. of floor space, and 3 sq. ft. of run space per bird. This may change depending on the breed size.
Once you’ve confirmed how many chickens you can have you can start looking at what breeds to get! Think about what you will be using the chickens for. Will they be primarily pets, egg producers, or meat producers? That will change what breeds you choose.
Conclusion
If either of these crosses fits your needs, then you can’t go wrong with either of them! They’re both a great combination of egg and meat production. They’re relatively easy keepers that can be trained to be friendly.
The crucial thing to remember when buying chickens is to choose a breed that fits your needs. Chickens can live anywhere from 5-10 years if they aren’t processed for meat. So be prepared to have them for a long time!
