Isa Browns or Golden Comets?

[HannahKline14]

So about 14 weeks ago we bought 3 chicks from tractor supply they just said they were laying hens I was so excited to get them I wasn't really concentrating on the breed now we have 11 pullets and I know all the other breeds. At first we were sure they were isa browns now their combs and wattles are getting red and I read that close to when they lay their combs and wattles get red (1 I particular is pretty red but I know their not roosters because their tails and the males are different colors in both breeds) but their combs can't to big. So the question are they Isa Browns or Golden Comets? (Sorry about the pics they're kinda camera shy ill try to put them in order from when we got them( I should know for sure when they lay because I read golden comets lay about 16 weeks old and Isa browns lay about 20

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

Golden comets and isa browns are the same thing- red sex links.

 

[FuzzyCritters]

It's really hard to tell the difference. You will have to wait until they are fully feathered to know.

 

[HannahKline14]

Golden comets and isa browns are the same thing- red sex links.

But Isa browns are a cross between rhode island reds and rhode island red whites and golden comets are rhode island reds and white leghorns and golden comets lay on average 330 eggs a year while isa browns lay on average 300( mainly the first year) also golden comets lay sooner but could also pass away sooner aswell.

 

[HannahKline14]

It's really hard to tell the difference. You will have to wait until they are fully feathered to know.

I do believe they are fully feathered, they are 14 weeks but I should know when their laying because if they are golden comets they should lay in about 2 weeks more or less. And I know it's hard to tell in the pics but their combs and wattles are pretty red and isn't that a sign their about to lay. Either way should I open the nest boxes up now?

 

[FuzzyCritters]

I do believe they are fully feathered, they are 14 weeks but I should know when their laying because if they are golden comets they should lay in about 2 weeks more or less. And I know it's hard to tell in the pics but their combs and wattles are pretty red and isn't that a sign their about to lay. Either way should I open the nest boxes up now?

It's never a bad idea to open the nest boxes early--that way they can get used to them even if they are not going to lay for a few more weeks.
What I meant by fully feathered was in terms of pattern, I should have made that more clear. Golden comets usually have some white neck feathers (but ISA's sometimes have those too), and ISA browns are usually a bit lighter colored. At the time they start laying they should have all their adult colors.

 

[MotherOHens]

Well... TSC uses Hoover Hatchery so I went to that website to see if both types could be found there.
Unless I missed it, it seems that HH carries Isa Browns but not Comets.
By default, I'd assume you had Isas.

 

[Pixelsaurus]

I have a similar question. I bought 6 pullets at TSC March 30th. They didn't tell me the type - and I am so new to this I thought "pullets" was a type of chicken When I called back a few weeks later, they said they were either Isa Browns or Golden Comets. Here is how they looked at 13.5 weeks.

I thought we had Isa Browns - and we named the girls The Brownie Troop. Here they are at 15.5 wks.

Then today - their 16wk mark - I found a soft shelled egg on the board. When I looked up the two breeds I see that Golden Comets lay as early as 16wks, and Isa's are closer to 20-22 wks.

Two questions:
1. Is seeing a soft shell egg a sign that she is about to start laying? ( Perhaps a silly question, but I am crazy new to this and I couldn't find a good article or post about soft eggs and early layers)
2. Do I have Golden Comets?

Thanks!!
Ginger

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

But Isa browns are a cross between rhode island reds and rhode island red whites and golden comets are rhode island reds and white leghorns and golden comets lay on average 330 eggs a year while isa browns lay on average 300( mainly the first year) also golden comets lay sooner but could also pass away sooner aswell.

The differences are so slight, and there are so many names for red sex links, that it’s hard to know exactly which “type” you have. Not all golden comets will lay 330 eggs a year, lay sooner, and have a shorter lifespan. And not all isa browns will lay 300 eggs per year, etc.
Though, as for their genetics, that’s something I know less about. I believe @nicalandia knows more about red sex link breeding.

 

[Mamatomany123]

I have a similar question. I bought 6 pullets at TSC March 30th. They didn't tell me the type - and I am so new to this I thought "pullets" was a type of chicken When I called back a few weeks later, they said they were either Isa Browns or Golden Comets. Here is how they looked at 13.5 weeks.
View attachment 2241057

I thought we had Isa Browns - and we named the girls The Brownie Troop. Here they are at 15.5 wks.
View attachment 2241058

Then today - their 16wk mark - I found a soft shelled egg on the board. When I looked up the two breeds I see that Golden Comets lay as early as 16wks, and Isa's are closer to 20-22 wks.
View attachment 2241059

Two questions:
1. Is seeing a soft shell egg a sign that she is about to start laying? ( Perhaps a silly question, but I am crazy new to this and I couldn't find a good article or post about soft eggs and early layers)
2. Do I have Golden Comets?

Thanks!!
Ginger

It's not a sign that shes about to start, it's a sign that she is. Make sure shes either of layer feed or has oyster shell for calcium. When they first start laying things can be a little wonky. My new layer has had a soft shell. I also went our to 2 eggs broken so I now have 2 layers who are for some reason laying while they roost.