Are you a poultry farmer or a backyard chicken enthusiast looking for a chicken breed that will produce enormous amounts of eggs without ever failing you? Well, the Cinnamon Queen chicken is a perfect alternative for you. This chicken is not only an excellent egg layer but also a medium-sized chicken that can double up as a great table bird.
However, when it comes to raising rare chicken breeds such as this one, you can’t just wake up one day and decide to add it to your existing flock. You need to take your time to understand such a breed to learn about its habit in terms of its personality, temperament, and raising needs and demands.
That’s exactly what this guide will discuss. But, before we get started, allow me to mention that the Cinnamon Queen is a sex-links chicken that was developed after crossing the Rhode Island Red rooster and Rhode Island White hen. The result is a red sex-linked chicken that has an exceptionally high production record.
A Short History of Cinnamon Queen Chicken
The Cinnamon Queen is a modern-day chicken breed that doesn’t have a lot of information on the internet. This chicken was developed as a result of selective breeding to have a breed that could solve most of the poultry farmers’ worries.
Two of these worries include low egg production and common health issues suffered by most contemporary breeds. So, to solve these problems, breeders decided to selectively cross a Rhode Island Red male with a Rhode Island White female. The result was an autosexing chicken breed that had a fast growth rate and laid lots of eggs regularly.
Despite its excellent production rate, this chicken has a docile nature and is hardy enough to survive in both warm and cold environments. Another rare advantage of this breed is that it’s an autosexing breed. This means that breeders can determine the sex of the chicks immediately after hatching.
So, if you’re raising Cinnamon Queens in a suburban backyard, then it’s easy to end up with a hen-only flock to avoid excessive crowing noises from the roosters.
But, despite all the bells and whistles, the Cinnamon Queen is a hybrid bird. Since it’s not a true and pure breed, this bird is not pedigreed, meaning it’s not recognized as a standard breed. But, despite lacking an APA standard, the Cinnamon Queen is a breed that’s adored nationally due to its numerous benefits.
Specifications of Cinnamon Queen Chicken
| Origin | The USA |
| Size | Roosters: 7.5 Pounds; Hens: 6.5 Pounds |
| Egg Laying | Around 300 Eggs Annually |
| Egg Size & Color | Large Brown Eggs |
| Temperament | Docile, Gentle, Curious, Active, & Friendly |
| Broodiness | Rare |
| Primary Purpose | Dual Purpose. Utilized for both meat and eggs |
Physical Appearance and Breed Standard of Cinnamon Queen Chicken
If you’re raising the Cinnamon Queen chicken alongside other breeds, then it’s important to learn about its physical appearance to distinguish it from the rest. That’s the main reason why we’ve added this section.
So, to begin, the Cinnamon Queen is a sex-links chicken that’s easily sexed by its color. Starting with the baby cinnamon queen chicken, these are easy to sex as males are white while females are brown. The same goes for adult chickens where females have a spicy beautiful shade of brown and red with tips of white or light amber on their feathers.
The roosters, or should we call them “Kings” have an off-white color on the feathers with reddish-brown flecks on the saddle feathers.
Both chickens have broad breasts, round shapes, and medium-sized bodies. Back to the coloring, the Cinnamon Queen picks much of its color from its parents, the Rhode Island Red and White. By mixing these colors, you get a mosaic-like tint that’s beautiful and quite different from that of other contemporary chickens.
Away from the color, the Cinnamon Queen has a bone-colored beak, red comb and wattles, yellowish-orange eyes, clear upper ears, and yellow/greenish legs. About their weights, roosters weigh around 7.5 – 8 pounds while hens weigh around 5.5 – 6.5 pounds.
Lastly, you need to know about the pedigree of the Cinnamon Queen. Now, this chicken is not a heritage breed but rather a hybrid. Therefore, it’s not recognized by the APA as a standard breed meaning it can’t be registered in national and international poultry shows and exhibitions.
Productivity of Cinnamon Queen Chicken (Egg Laying and Meat)
The Cinnamon Queen is exactly what comes to mind when you talk of a prolific egg-laying chicken. After all, this is the main reason why breeders decided to cross the RIR and the RIW. Since it has the genetic advantage of its parents, this breed can lay around 3 – 4 eggs weekly making it a combined 280 – 300 eggs annually.
Now, imagine raising a flock of such hens. You’ll not only harvest enough eggs to cater to your needs, but you’ll also have a lot of eggs to sell commercially. But, despite the high number, what’s even more interesting about the eggs is the enormous jumbo size. If there was an award, these eggs could be the undisputed winner for the largest, cutest, and most delicious eggs.
But, despite being great layers, the Cinnamon Queen has a worrying trait where its production is highest in the first 3 years. Due to age and molting, egg production lowers steadily after 3 years by about 15%. By the time it reaches 6 – 7 years of age, egg production declines to as low as 45% to 35%.
Thankfully, with such info at your disposal, it’s easy to plan by readying pullets every year to replace the aging hens. Although we’ll discuss this later, the high egg production of Cinnamon Queens exposes them to various illnesses such as reproductive tract problems, cancer, and kidney problems.
When it comes to meat products, the Cinnamon Queen is not a great option despite being marketed as a dual-purpose breed. However, that doesn’t mean that you can’t have them for dinner, especially when they reduce their egg production. But, just to mention, if what you’re looking for is a breed that can produce a lot of meat, then you can consider others such as the Cornish Cross, Jersey Giant, Bresse, and Orpington among others.
Cinnamon Queen Chicken Characteristics (Personality and Temperament)
The Cinnamon Queen is hailed for its overall utility. Other than its high production rate, most keepers, especially newcomers prefer to raise this chicken breed for its low maintenance and incredibly friendly temperament. So, if you have an existing flock and you’re wondering whether this chicken will get along well with the rest, then you don’t have to panic.
Just like its parents, the Cinnamon Queen is docile, calm, and very friendly. When added to an existing flock, this bird will remain calm and quiet and will never pick up fights or bully other birds. In fact, the Cinnamon Queen will never attempt to upset the existing pecking order guaranteeing a harmonious lifestyle in the coop.
In terms of getting along with humans, the Cinnamon Queen will tend to follow you around to get some treats and receive some affection. This chicken also knows how to interact with children meaning it won’t get overly aggressive if mishandled.
Other than that, the Cinnamon Queen is a naturally curious bird that enjoys spending time outdoors foraging for pasture. It also enjoys roaming and exploring making it an active breed.
About getting broody, this chicken is not known for being a broody breed. However, when it gets broody, it makes an excellent mother. Also, most breeders confess that Cinnamon Queen pullets rarely go broody. However, once they’re around 2 – 3 years old, about 5% of them can go broody from there.
Cinnamon Queen Hen vs Rooster
| Roosters | Hens |
| Roosters weigh 7.5 – 8 pounds | Hens weigh around 5.5 – 6.5 pounds |
| Male chicks are identified by their white down | Female chicks are identified by their red down |
| Adult roosters have white feathers with reddish-brown patches on their saddle feathers | Adult hens have a spicy brown color with white patches on their body and tail feathers |
| Roosters are active, protective, and quite territorial | Hens are gentle and calm |
| Large comb and wattles | The comb and wattles are smaller |
Cinnamon Queen vs Golden Comet
The Cinnamon Queen and the Golden Comet are two hybrid breeds that were developed to increase production, in which case we’re talking of egg production. These two chickens were crossed selectively from egg-laying and dual-purpose breeds, with the dual-purpose breed being the Rhode Island Red and the egg-laying breed being either the White Leghorn or the Rhode Island White.
The result of this selective breeding was sex-links chickens that were identical in terms of their plumage, temperament, and egg-laying ability. However, despite being similar in terms of disposition and productivity, these two have minor differences, which we’re going to highlight in this section.
- Origin/Parentage
The Cinnamon Queen is a hybrid developed after crossing the Rhode Island Red rooster and Rhode Island White hen. On the other hand, the Golden Comet is a hybrid chicken bred from the Rhode Island Red rooster and White Leghorn hen.
- Physical Features
Here, we won’t mention anything to do with the color as both breeds is very similar as they share the same Rhode Island Red parent. However, when it comes to size, Cinnamon Queens appear to be slightly larger than the Golden Comets. They weigh 6.5 – 7.5 pounds while Golden Comets weigh around 4 – 6 pounds.
- Egg Laying
Here, both breeds are intended to lay a lot of eggs annually. Cinnamon Queens manage to lay 280 – 300 eggs while Golden Comets manage 300 – 330 eggs annually. Here, you’ll notice a difference of 30 eggs. Secondly, Golden Comets often slow their egg-laying pace after 2 years, which is not the case with Cinnamon Queens.
Common Health Issues of Cinnamon Queen Chicken
Speaking of health issues, it’s important to note that Cinnamon Queens are hybrid breeds that have no known health conditions. This is one major benefit of hybrids over their heritage sisters. In fact, this is the second major reason poultry keepers prefer hybrids over heritage chickens, with the first benefit being high egg production.
But, despite warding off common genetic diseases common to their heritage parents, hybrid chickens such as the Cinnamon Queen are usually haunted by their excellent egg-laying ability. This comes in the form of developing reproductive tract problems due to straining their bodies excessively to lay eggs.
In fact, the problem becomes worse when you stretch these chickens to their egg-laying limit rather than allow them to lay eggs naturally. The result is cancer in their respiratory tract, kidney problems, egg binding, and other serious infections.
Although we’ll discuss the raising tips of Cinnamon Queen chickens, high-production breeds such as these require extra care to stay healthy. They require fresh feed and water and a less crowded coop to prevent them from contracting viral infections such as Fowl Pox, Avian Influenza, Coccidiosis, and Salmonellosis.
Required Environment for Cinnamon Queen Chicken
If you’re raising the Cinnamon Queens for the first time, then these chickens are among the easiest to raise. First, these chickens are hybrids meaning they’re hardy and manageable. Secondly, Cinnamon Queens are cold hardy making them ideal for both warm and cold environments.
Other than being hardy, these chickens are active and curious. Since they love roaming and exploring, they need a wider backyard space where they can scavenge for pasture.
They also have medium-sized bodies that force them to demand larger coop spaces. Since they also enjoy confinement, a large coop that provides them ample space is ideal to prevent overcrowding.
Lastly, Cinnamon Queen chickens are docile and gentle birds that get along well with other breeds. So, if you’re looking to integrate them into your current flock, you won’t have anything to worry about on their side.
These chickens will never interfere with an existing pecking order nor will they bully weak chickens or start fights. However, if you have extremely aggressive chickens in the existing flock, then you’ll have to find a suitable technique to introduce your Cinnamon Queen chicken to prevent it from getting bullied.
Pros and Cons of Cinnamon Queen Chicken
Pros
- Free Range: The first benefit of raising Cinnamon Queen chickens is their excellent free-ranging advantage. Although they accept the food provided by their caretakers, these chickens can roam around happily to scavenge for their own food.
- Good Egg Laying Ability: Now, just like all hybrids, these birds are hailed for being prolific layers. The hens can produce up to 300 eggs annually.
- Nutritious Eggs: Not only are they good layers but these chickens also lay jumbo-sized brown eggs that are loaded with Vitamins, minerals, and beneficial cholesterol among other components. These eggs are nutrient powerhouses that benefit the body in myriad ways.
- Hardy: Cinnamon Queens are cold hardy and tolerant to diseases common to most heritage chickens. This makes it easy to raise these chickens provided they’re given ample care.
Cons
- Poor Reproductive Health: As great egg layers, Cinnamon Queen chickens are susceptible to common reproductive illnesses such as reproductive tract problems.
- Short Life Span: Just like most other hybrids, the Cinnamon Queen doesn’t have a lengthy lifespan. In most cases, their life expectancy is affected by factors such as poor coop conditions, poor diet and nutrition, diseases caused by parasites, and utilizing most of their energy in laying eggs.
- Reduced Egg Production: The issue of reduced egg production tends to discourage most keepers of Cinnamon Queen chicken. This mostly happens when laying hens age and egg production lowers by 15% after the first year.
Raising Tips for Cinnamon Queen Chicken
Now that you’ve learned a lot about Cinnamon Queen chickens, the next question you’re likely to ask yourself is whether these chickens demand any special care. From what we’ve learned, these chickens are hardy and have an independent temperament that allows them to forage and find their own food.
However, what they get out there is not enough to supplement their demands. So, what are some raising tips for these chickens in terms of feed, housing, and pest control?
Feeding
Starting with the feed, you’re all aware of the excellent productive stats of Cinnamon Queen layers in terms of laying eggs. So, to maintain high production, these birds require a diet containing around 16% proteins.
Therefore, you need to feed them with a commercial layer feed and then supplement it with protein sources such as dried mealworms, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and sprouted lentils.
Besides, Cinnamon Queens requires enormous amounts of calcium to maintain high egg production and the production of eggs with strong eggshells. Here, the laying hens require at least 2.5% – 3.5% of calcium. The calcium will come from both commercial feeds and calcium-rich foods such as oyster shells, crushed eggshells, limestone, and calcium grit.
Lastly, your chickens will require fresh drinking water and lots of vitamins such as vitamins A, D, and C. These vitamins can be found in leafy greens when your chickens are foraging.
Chicks
Just like adults, baby Cinnamon Queen chicken requires special care to grow. Remember these chicks are hybrid meaning they grow at a fast-alarming rate. So, to ensure they develop their feathers early, you need to feed them a 20% – protein starter feed for the first few weeks. From there, you can reduce the protein content as they mature.
Housing
When it comes to the coop, Cinnamon Queen chickens are considered medium-sized birds. Therefore, these chickens will be more than happy to have around 2 – 3 square feet of space per chicken inside the coop. In the outside run, you can gift them around 8 – 10 square feet of space.
Since these chickens are bred specifically for laying eggs, they need several nest boxes where they can accomplish their egg-laying business. The boxes should be 12 x 12 inches and 18 inches deep. The nest boxes should be placed in a dark, quiet, and private area and should have cedar shavings, hay, straw, or pine shavings as the bedding.
At night and during winter, your chickens will spend a considerable amount of time inside the coop. For that reason, you need to install roosting perches where the chickens can rest on. Here, the roosting perches should be 1.5 – 3 feet high and 2 – 4 inches thick. They should also be long enough to provide each chicken with up to 8 inches of space.
Next, the coop needs to be insulated and ventilated depending on the weather conditions. It should be raised and well protected against predators such as dogs, raccoons, and foxes. The coop should have a source of light, especially during winter to mimic daylight to improve egg laying.
Pest Control
Lastly, the Cinnamon Queens are hybrid chickens that demand special care. Just like other breeds, these chickens can become susceptible to parasite attacks such as lice and mites. So, to keep the flock safe, the chickens need regular inspection and vaccination. You also need to inspect the coop often and replace the bedding whenever it’s necessary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Is Cinnamon Good for Chickens?
Yes, it is. In fact, chickens eat cinnamon spice pretty well. Now, cinnamon has many known health benefits to chickens. First, cinnamon contains antioxidants that boost a chicken’s immune health. It also helps to fight infections and respiratory issues and prevents frostbites during winter by promoting the flow of blood on a chicken’s comb and wattles.
Q2. When Do Cinnamon Queens Start Laying Eggs?
As great egg-laying breeds, Cinnamon Queens begin their egg-laying journey at such an early stage. The pullets begin laying eggs at 16 – 18 weeks old where egg laying is considered high in the first laying cycle. However, as they age, egg production plummets, especially in the third year of their laying cycle.
Q3. What’s the Lifespan of Cinnamon Queen Chickens?
The best thing about Cinnamon Queens is that they live longer than most hybrid chickens. In most cases, their lifespan ranges from 3 to 7 years of age. Here, their life expectancy is dictated by the amount of care they receive from their caretakers.
Q4. Do Cinnamon Queens Breed True?
No, they don’t. Cinnamon Queens are a result of crossing the Rhode Island Red with the Rhode Island White. However, if you cross two Cinnamon Queens, you won’t get Cinnamon Queen chicks. Instead, what you get are chicks with completely different appearances. The chicks are not even sex-links like Cinnamon Queen chicks.
Q5. What’s the Cost of Buying Cinnamon Queen Chickens?
Unlike most hybrid chickens, Cinnamon Queens are quite cheap to buy. Day-old chicks will cost you around $3 – $5 while roosters will cost you $10 to $15. Laying hens, on the other hand, will cost you around $15 to $20.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, the Cinnamon Queen chicken is a common chicken breed that’s becoming increasingly popular in most American backyards. This chicken is well mannered, it’s easy going and it hates confrontations.
It’s also an extraordinary dual-purpose bird that boasts a high egg-laying capability. The eggs laid are jumbo-sized and are highly nutritious making this bird a sort after breed by most commercial poultry keepers. The Cinnamon Queen is easy to raise and maintain as it’s not affected by diseases common to heritage breeds.
Last but not least, the Cinnamon Queen is not a pedigreed bird as it’s a hybrid breed without a set standard.
Read Also:
- Rhodebar Chicken (Explained Details)
- California Tan Chicken (Explained Details)
- Asian Black Chicken (All You Need to Know)
- Sapphire Gem Chicken (All You Need to Know)
- Red Star Chickens (All You Need to Know)
- Golden Comet Chicken (Everything You Need to Know)
- The 12 Best Red Chicken Breeds
- Pekin Chicken (Explained Details)
- ISA Brown Chicken Breed (Everything You Need to Know)
- Rhode Island Red Chicken (Everything You Need to Know)
Hello, I am John Reid. I have been raising chickens for the last 15 years. I have got my experience from my father. My father is the owner of a large chicken farm. This is our family business that has been continuing for over 35 years. I am very interested in backyard chickens and I know how to take care of them. You can learn more About Us here. Happy Reading!!
