California Gray Chicken Breed – Origin, Traits & Facts

California Gray

The California Gray is an American breed of domestic chicken. It may be also known as the "production black".

Habitat

California Gray chickens are well-suited to a variety of environments, often thriving in backyard settings across the United States. They are adaptable to different climates and are often raised in both urban and rural areas. Their hardy nature makes them versatile in areas with varying weather conditions.

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Characteristics

SizeApproximately 40 cm

Wing Span60-75 cm

Male Weight3 kg

Female Weight2.5 kg

Life Expectancy6 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 4/5

Useful to know

The California Gray is known for being an efficient layer of large eggs. It was developed for both egg production and practical size for meat, making it a dual-purpose breed. This breed is less well-known than other American breeds but is valued for its productivity and hardiness.

Behaviour

TemperamentDocile

FlightinessLow

Foraging AbilityGood

Confinement Tolerance

California Grays are well-suited to confinement but enjoy free-ranging if space allows. They are calm birds and generally handle confinement well, making them suitable for backyard coops. They prefer space to roam but adapt well to smaller enclosures.

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Identification

Comb Type

Plumage Description

Feather Color

Leg Color

Earlobe Color

Eye Color

Feeding Habits

Diet

Preferred Environment

Requires Supplement

Population

Conservation Status

Species Status

Wild Population

Total Known Population

Egg Characteristics

Egg Color

Egg Size

Laying Frequency

Egg Production / Year

Start Laying Age (weeks)

Delaware

The Delaware is an American breed of chicken with an unusual plumage pattern. It was developed in the state of Delaware in the mid-twentieth century, and was initially known as the Indian River. It was briefly of some importance in the American chicken industry, until it was superseded by the common industrial Cornish Rock cross.

Dominique

The Dominique is an American breed of chicken, characterized by black-and-white barred plumage and a rose comb. It is considered to be the oldest American chicken breed, and is thought to derive from birds brought to America by colonists from southern England. It was well known by about 1750, and by the mid-nineteenth century was widely distributed in the eastern United States. It is a dual-purpose breed, but is kept principally for its brown eggs. It became an endangered breed in the twentieth century, but numbers have since recovered.

Java

The Java is a breed of chicken originating in the United States. Despite the breed's name, a reference to the island of Java, it was developed in the U.S. from chickens of unknown Asian extraction. It is one of the oldest American chickens, forming the basis for many other breeds, but is critically endangered today. Javas are large birds with a sturdy appearance. They are hardy, and are well-suited for both meat and egg production, especially by small-scale farms, homesteads, and backyard keepers.

New Hampshire

The New Hampshire Red or New Hampshire is an American breed of chicken. It was developed in the early twentieth century in the state of New Hampshire by selective breeding of Rhode Island Red stock; no other breed was involved. It is fast-growing, early-maturing, quick-feathering, and yields a meaty carcass. Mature birds are a light or medium red in color; they may fade in sunlight.