There are several different breeds that can be the parents of a Golden Comet. In most cases, these are breeds that have single combs. Some individual's combs can get pretty big and flop over. The combs do grow for a while as a hen matures. I'm not at all surprised the comb might lay over at 8 months. From your description, she seems to be a healthy hen. If she becomes listless or shows some signs of disease or parasites you can worry, but a comb falling over is not by itself a sign of disease or parasites.
Weight loss is a little harder to detect. A hen will lose around 2% to 3% of her body weight every time she lays an egg. If they are really losing weight, I'd consider worms first, then maybe mites and lice. A disease is also possible, but they should seem listless or have some kind of discharge or something like that if it is a disease. If she is acting normal, I would not worry.
To me, a hen that you can feel the breastbone is not the sign of an unhealthy hen. Quite the contrary. Many people feel that a human carrying a lot of extra fat around their middle is not in the best of health. Why would it be any different with chickens? Hens with a lot of fat can die (google fatty liver syndrome). A hen with gobs of internal fat can have egg laying problems like prolapse or the becoming eggbound. It can cause them to release two yolks in one day, leading to double yolkers or her laying two eggs in one day, one of which is soft shelled. Both of these can cause problems. Different breeds have different body configurations. Some are plumper than others. And it can vary within the breeds some, depending on the individuals. My Orpington look a lot plumper than my Australorp. But to me, a fat hen is not the sign of a healthy hen.
I hate to sound like I'm on a soapbox on this, but I have butchered young hens that were kept in a fairly large coop and run where they were plenty comfortable but did not get a lot of exercise. I fed them 16% feed and stuff from the garden like greens, squash, and tomatoes. I did not feed them scratch or things extra high in protein. When I processed them, the heart, liver, and gizzard had a lot of fat tightly wrapped around them. There was a double handful or more glob of fat at the vent area. I really don't see how an egg could get through all that fat yet they were laying very well and looked and acted healthy. I had one that fell over dead at about 9 to 10 months age from what I suspect was fatty liver syndrome. Now that I let them free range most of the time, they are not nearly as fat when I butcher them. I guess they are getting more exercise. I don't worry when a chicken is not real plump. I actually consider it a good thing.
Anyway, off my soapbox. I don't see anything in what you described that would concern me. Good luck!
Weight loss is a little harder to detect. A hen will lose around 2% to 3% of her body weight every time she lays an egg. If they are really losing weight, I'd consider worms first, then maybe mites and lice. A disease is also possible, but they should seem listless or have some kind of discharge or something like that if it is a disease. If she is acting normal, I would not worry.
To me, a hen that you can feel the breastbone is not the sign of an unhealthy hen. Quite the contrary. Many people feel that a human carrying a lot of extra fat around their middle is not in the best of health. Why would it be any different with chickens? Hens with a lot of fat can die (google fatty liver syndrome). A hen with gobs of internal fat can have egg laying problems like prolapse or the becoming eggbound. It can cause them to release two yolks in one day, leading to double yolkers or her laying two eggs in one day, one of which is soft shelled. Both of these can cause problems. Different breeds have different body configurations. Some are plumper than others. And it can vary within the breeds some, depending on the individuals. My Orpington look a lot plumper than my Australorp. But to me, a fat hen is not the sign of a healthy hen.
I hate to sound like I'm on a soapbox on this, but I have butchered young hens that were kept in a fairly large coop and run where they were plenty comfortable but did not get a lot of exercise. I fed them 16% feed and stuff from the garden like greens, squash, and tomatoes. I did not feed them scratch or things extra high in protein. When I processed them, the heart, liver, and gizzard had a lot of fat tightly wrapped around them. There was a double handful or more glob of fat at the vent area. I really don't see how an egg could get through all that fat yet they were laying very well and looked and acted healthy. I had one that fell over dead at about 9 to 10 months age from what I suspect was fatty liver syndrome. Now that I let them free range most of the time, they are not nearly as fat when I butcher them. I guess they are getting more exercise. I don't worry when a chicken is not real plump. I actually consider it a good thing.
Anyway, off my soapbox. I don't see anything in what you described that would concern me. Good luck!
