Introduction
Golden Comet chickens are a popular choice for both new and experienced poultry keepers due to their friendly nature and prolific egg-laying capabilities. In this post, I’ll guide you through what to expect as your Golden Comet chicks grow from hatch to eight weeks old, covering their appearance, behavior, and care needs at each stage.
Week 1: From Hatch to Chicks
When your Golden Comet chicks first hatch, they’ll be covered in soft, fluffy down. At this stage, their primary needs are warmth, access to food and water, and a safe environment. Make sure to keep the brooder at around 90-95°F to ensure their comfort.
- Feeding: Start with a high-quality chick starter feed. They’ll be navigating around their brooder, so ensure that food and water are easily accessible.
- Appearance: Expect them to be small and fluffy, typically in shades of yellow with a slight brown tint on their backs.
Week 2: Growing Up Fast
By week two, your Golden Comets will start to grow their feathers, transitioning from soft down to the beginnings of juvenile plumage.
- Care Tips: Continue maintaining a warm environment, but begin to reduce the temperature by 5°F each week.
- Social Behavior: They’ll become more vocal and start exploring their surroundings more in search of food.
- Appearance: Look for emerging feathers, with a mix of yellow and brown.
Week 3: Developing Teenagers
Now at three weeks old, your chicks will be more active and exploring their space with greater confidence.
- Feeding: You can continue with the starter feed, but ensure they have grit available if they start pecking at other food sources.
- Appearance: Feathers will start to fill in more fully, and you’ll notice a definite shift in their size and posture.
Week 4: On their Way to Adulthood
At this stage, their growth is noticeable, and they’ll be starting to look more like adult chickens.
- Temperature: You can reduce the brooder temperature to about 80-85°F.
- Behavior: Expect some playful pecking and interactions with each other as they establish their pecking order.
- Appearance: Their feathers will continue filling out, especially the wing feathers.
Week 5: The Teenage Phase
Your flock will be very active now and curious about everything around them.
- Housing: If you haven’t done so already, it might be a good time to introduce them to a larger space or outdoor run on warm days.
- Feeding: Continue with starter feed while providing additional protein sources like mealworms or higher protein feed.
Week 6: Almost Ready for the Coop
At six weeks, you’ll begin to see more distinct coloring, reflecting their adult plumage.
- Behavior: They’ll start to develop more of a routine and can be observed foraging and dust bathing, which indicates they’re happy and healthy.
- Appearance: Noticeable feather growth has transformed their appearance significantly.
Week 7: Growing Independence
Now your Golden Comets are nearing full maturity, and their social behaviors will become more defined.
- Transitioning to Coop: It’s a good time to prepare for transitioning them to the coop. Start spending time introducing them to the new space.
- Health Checks: Ensure they are free of any signs of disease or parasites.
Week 8: The Beautiful Adults
By week eight, your Golden Comets are nearing their adult size, and you’ll see a stunning transformation in their appearance.
- Feeding Tips: Switch to a grower feed as they will be transitioning to the adult diet. Watch their weight to ensure they’re growing optimally.
- Appearance: Their feathers will be mostly filled out with a lovely pattern of gold and brown, setting a beautiful visual in your flock.
Conclusion
Raising Golden Comet chickens can be an incredibly rewarding experience. They grow rapidly, and by week eight, you’ll have a lively, beautiful flock that’s just about ready to start laying eggs. Keep sharing your journey, experiences, and any tips you find along the way!
Feel free to ask questions or share your own experiences with Golden Comet chickens in the comments below!
