Loved my Golden Comets - looking for similar

[bayareapilot]

I was going through some old photos that I came across some of the golden comets that I had they were a sex-linked breed. I picked the sex link because I didn't want to risk having a rooster.
I absolutely loved the golden comets, the only problem though is they were prolific egg producers - not a day went by even through winter that they didn't lay. Then by the time they were about 3 years old I lost them to egg laying issues.

It was especially hard losing them because they were easily the friendliest chickens I've ever had. They would follow me all over the run. When I sat down they jump up and sit in my lap. They were like little puppies so to speak.

My understanding with this particular sex Link is that they're designed to be very prolific in egg-laying and that tends to bite them by the time they reach a few years old.

So, I don't want to risk going through that again and was wondering is there a breed of chicken that is as friendly as the golden comets were that is not a sex-link breed?

I mean they were wonderful, I didn't have to do anything to Garner their trust they just followed me everywhere around the run when I was taking care of the run and the coop. As I said earlier, as soon as I sat down they jump in my lap and I pet them on their feathers and it was wonderful. Never had a breed like that before and was of course looking to see if I could find a non-sex-linked breed that has a very similar personality? Thanks in advance to anyone who can help.

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

I've raised Golden Comets along with other sex linked breeds like Isa Browns, Black Stars, and am currently raising Cinnamon Queens. They definitely do have a personality that's hard to beat. You can get them as started pullets who has had no time put into them, and yet they still will come running to you like you were there since they came out of the egg.

Of non sex linked breeds, Buff Orpingtons usually come out on top. They are one of the most common backyard chickens. You can get them in more colors than Buff, such as, Black, Lavender, or like one of the hens I had, Lemon Cuckoo. Most are good personality wise, but some do require some time put into them because every bird is different. I've raised both Buffs and other colored Orpingtons, and more times than not, they were very friendly and were excellent around kids. (Just my Betty alone proved how good they were. She was even good around strangers at public events away from the farm! She'd let them pet her, walk her on a leash, and she'd eat out of their hands and even do a trick I had taught her for them!)

One downside of the Orpingtons is that they are a heavy breed and won't lay as good as a Sex Link (which eggs don't sound as much as a problem to you). There are different varieties of them as well, such as Hatchery, American, and English. As far as I know, any variety is good, though some look better, and others are more heat tolerant. They are also a broody breed, so if you get the right ones, you might have one or two trying to hatch chicks (with or without a rooster present).

Personally, I think Orpingtons is your best bet. If you wanted variety, some other breeds include:

• Brahma (comes in Buff, Light, and Dark)
• Rhode Island Red and New Hampshire Red (these are where most RSLs come from)
• Barred Rock (another bird the Sex Link come from, but more of the White variant, they tend to be wanderers)
• Australorp (these may require extra time)
• Sussex (most common are the Speckled, but are prone to crop problems)
• Easter Egger (Ameraucana, Americana - Hatchery, etc, good for colored eggs, but aren't always friendly- some might need extra time put into them)
• Silkie (higher maintenance and brooders, but make awesome family pets)
• Cochin (basically Orpingtons but with feathered feet, highly broody)

There are plenty of other breeds as well, but these are some of the more common ones. I have raised all of these except for the Cochin, and they were all great birds. My overall best personality-wise were definitely the Orpingtons, NHR and RIRs, Brahmas, and Sussex. They'd come up to just about anybody and would eat out of any person's hand.

 

[bayareapilot]

I've raised Golden Comets along with other sex linked breeds like Isa Browns, Black Stars, and am currently raising Cinnamon Queens. They definitely do have a personality that's hard to beat. You can get them as started pullets who has had no time put into them, and yet they still will come running to you like you were there since they came out of the egg.

Of non sex linked breeds, Buff Orpingtons usually come out on top. They are one of the most common backyard chickens. You can get them in more colors than Buff, such as, Black, Lavender, or like one of the hens I had, Lemon Cuckoo. Most are good personality wise, but some do require some time put into them because every bird is different. I've raised both Buffs and other colored Orpingtons, and more times than not, they were very friendly and were excellent around kids. (Just my Betty alone proved how good they were. She was even good around strangers at public events away from the farm! She'd let them pet her, walk her on a leash, and she'd eat out of their hands and even do a trick I had taught her for them!)

One downside of the Orpingtons is that they are a heavy breed and won't lay as good as a Sex Link (which eggs don't sound as much as a problem to you). There are different varieties of them as well, such as Hatchery, American, and English. As far as I know, any variety is good, though some look better, and others are more heat tolerant. They are also a broody breed, so if you get the right ones, you might have one or two trying to hatch chicks (with or without a rooster present).

Personally, I think Orpingtons is your best bet. If you wanted variety, some other breeds include:

• Brahma (comes in Buff, Light, and Dark)
• Rhode Island Red and New Hampshire Red (these are where most RSLs come from)
• Barred Rock (another bird the Sex Link come from, but more of the White variant, they tend to be wanderers)
• Australorp (these may require extra time)
• Sussex (most common are the Speckled, but are prone to crop problems)
• Easter Egger (Ameraucana, Americana - Hatchery, etc, good for colored eggs, but aren't always friendly- some might need extra time put into them)
• Silkie (higher maintenance and brooders, but make awesome family pets)
• Cochin (basically Orpingtons but with feathered feet, highly broody)

There are plenty of other breeds as well, but these are some of the more common ones. I have raised all of these except for the Cochin, and they were all great birds. My overall best personality-wise were definitely the Orpingtons, NHR and RIRs, Brahmas, and Sussex. They'd come up to just about anybody and would eat out of any person's hand.

Oh this is a perfect overview I can't thank you enough for it! . For me my chickens are backyard pets. That they lay eggs at all is just a swell feature but just not primary for me. I I enjoy my other chickens but my goodness nothing was like the personality those golden comets had. The breed you suggested which was non sex-linked sounded like a good way to go. That they don't lay like other breeds is sort of inconsequential to me as you gathered.

So the so-called golden comets which I understand go by other names are a combination of a Rhode Island red and something else.

I'll check out the hen breed you mentioned and thank you for taking so much time for such a detailed response. It is very much appreciated thank you