Is Golden Comet the same as Red Sex Link?

[twinmom+1VT]

Hi Everyone,

Sorry if this is a silly question. I had a Golden Comet who I adored, very friendly and an amazing egg layer. She was killed by some dogs that roamed onto our property and I definitely want to replace her in the Spring. Here's my question though, is a Golden Comet the same as a Red Sex Link? Everything I read about both birds they sound the same. Murray McMurray also doesn't offer the Golden Comet but they do have a sex link.
Thanks!

 

[BeardedLadyFarm]

If not the same, they should be VERY similar. They are produced in a similar matter using similar stock. Each hatchery maintains its own lines of breeding stock to make these hybrid egg machines. They give them their own names from time to time as well to make them sound like something exclusive.

By all accounts, they are generally friendly and great egg layers. I'm not sure what Golden Comets are made of, but any of the red sexlink chickens should be quite similar.

 

[Desert Rooster]

i belive they are golden comets, they're also known as cinnimon queen, and red star

 

[txliss]

Copied from Feathersite.com

Sex-Links

Text by "an anonymous friend"

Sex-Links are chickens which can be sexed at hatching, usually by color but sometimes by feather development. They are planned crosses, which are hardier and more productive than their parents' respective breeds. (Ed. note: Be aware that these are breed hybrids and will not breed true.)

(Ed. note: If you came to this page by some name that is not mentioned herein, it's because I can't keep up with all the commercial names that sex-linked chickens are marketed under, but I try to link the names to this page when I come across them. It should also be noted that the California White is a white egg laying Sex-link.)

Both Red and Black Sex-Links use a red male for the father. Either a Rhode Island Red or a New Hampshire may be used.

Black Sex-Links are produced using a Barred Rock as the mother. Both sexes hatch out black, but the males have a white dot on their heads. Pullets feather out black with some red in neck feathers. Males feather out with the Barred Rock pattern along with a few red feathers. Black Sex-Links are often referred to as Rock Reds.

Red Sex-Links are the result of various crosses. White Rocks with the silver factor (the dominant white gene would produce all white offspring) are crossed with a New Hampshire male to produce the Golden Comet. Silver Laced Wyandotte crossed with New Hampshire gives the Cinnamon Queen. Two other crosses are obtained with Rhode Island White x Rhode Island Red, and Delaware x Production Red. These two crosses are simply called Red Sex-Links. Males hatch out white and, depending on the cross, feather out to pure white or with some black feathering. Females hatch out buff or red also depending on cross, and they feather out in one of three ways.

Buff with white or tinted undercolor (such as Golden Comet, Rhode Island Red x Rhode Island White)
Red with White or tinted undercolor (Cinnamon Queen)
Red with Red undercolor (Delaware x Production Red) (In this color pattern it is almost impossible to distinguish daughters' color from father's color.)

 

[Fred's Hens]

Actually the "secret recipe" for most of these red sex links is a patented, closely held secret by the genetics folks who produce the breeding stock for the hatcheries. Some disclose the "type" of RIR and the "sort of" kind of white bird used, but nonetheless.....

There are at least a half dozen known, patented, genetics corporations versions.

I think, for example, Cackle sells at least 4 different versions and someone else may be sells 5 different flavors.

Lots of folks make and sell generic, non patented versions as well.

 

[flgardengirl]

I thought they were technically the same as brown sex links (from Ideal version anyhow) RIR male x silver factor White Rock female. ??? They list thier red sex links as RIR male x Delaware female...
I was just wondering which was a golden comet so I could order some.. I am thinking she (my golden comet) looked more like the golden sexlink chicks on the Ideal website which are listed as
(RIR males x RIW females) Reallly confused which to order. I want some just like the golden comet I have now....
Here's the link
https://secuservices.com/ideal/newideal/Products.aspx?Category=Sex Links

 

[Fred's Hens]

There seems to be three or four commercial, patented parent stock varieties, at least.
There also seems to be countless "home made" sex links sold by the top 50 hatcheries in the US. These mixes are a closely guarded secret.

These people rarely give you genuine information as to exactly what makes up this or that bird, and if they do, the information is not all that helpful. When they say Rhode Island Red, what kind of RIR? When they say Rock, is really a Rock or a Rock "type"?

I have some Red Sex Links that I too would like to get again. What are the odds that I am actually going to get the precise mix I got in the past? Not very likely. We do the best we can and that's about all we can do.

Recently, I go a different hatcheries "mix". They are quite different from what I got in the past and quite different from what was pictured. Take note.

That said, I really, really like what I got. They are actually quite gorgeous. I'll let you know in a month if they also lay as well.

 

[flgardengirl]

I just read a post that had a picture of the same kind of hens I have (golden comet). They said they got them at Ideal as Golden sex links so I guess I will order that. Thanks. I love my GC she lays an extremely dark egg for a SL and lays it pretty much everyday.

 

[tadkerson]

Golden Comets, Isa Browns, etc. are names given to hybrid birds produced by a company. Golden Comets are produced by Hubbard. Hubbard has put research and testing into producing a superior egg layer. Hubbard is the only company that can produce a Golden Comet- they own the rights to the name.

Tim

 

[fowled-out]

The original golden comet is a RIRxRIW cross from Hubbard. Hatchery strains are good layers, but commercial layers are machines! I use to have ISA Browns, they laid up to 1-1/2 years non-stop and gave me an egg every other day for another year.