California Greys???

[Michael Apple]

I ordered 25 chicks from Privett last summer and divided them up between 3 local folks. All 3 of us for various reasons did not keep a roster so I'm not a good source of hatching eggs.

However for anyone interested in the breed, I am very impressed with the breed if your looking for very good egg production from a smaller bird. In addition they are calm and curious and fit in well with other breeds.

The roosters are often regarded as aggressive. Mine is an example of that, but is very attentive and good to his hens. I'm very fond of him. They do tend to gather underfoot, so you have to watch your step. Out of 15 birds, one had kinky back and one was culled for exhibiting Marek's symptoms. All were vaccinated for Marek's. They are good layers and not neurotic like Leghorns. It would be a shame for this breed to become endangered.

 

[tommysgirl]

The roosters are often regarded as aggressive. Mine is an example of that, but is very attentive and good to his hens. I'm very fond of him. They do tend to gather underfoot, so you have to watch your step. Out of 15 birds, one had kinky back and one was culled for exhibiting Marek's symptoms. All were vaccinated for Marek's. They are good layers and not neurotic like Leghorns. It would be a shame for this breed to become endangered.

Absolutely! Does the Rooster come after you? I am considering starting a breeding program with them in the future and am curious.

 

[farmhand]

Quote: I have absolutely zero experience working with California Gray Roosters. But the hens are so laid back I can't imagine them being that bad as a breed. My personal rule of thumb on why roosters act bad is;
25% environment
25% breed
50% The ro's personal disposition. (And nothing's gonna change it)
Which is why a breeder will cull bad behavior and sell nice disposition chicks. And then someone buys from a hatchery and doesn't understand why a rooster from the same breed acts so bad. Not that I'm bashing hatchery stock. I like buying hens from hatchery's because their so productive. My two cents.

 

[farmhand]

@tommysgirl I would personally love to see you start breeding these birds here in California. But be ready to collect lots of nice white eggs. With my two hens I find two eggs most days when I collect. One egg once in a while and rarely none. They are a smaller bird, friendly and curious. But you most likely know this already.

 

[Michael Apple]

Absolutely! Does the Rooster come after you? I am considering starting a breeding program with them in the future and am curious.

He will if things get excitable. He generally just follows closely. He can't win because I have opposable thumbs, a saw, and a file. The only roosters I've had that didn't display aggression to humans was a Wyandotte Bantam and a Cuckoo Marans. Roosters are generally aggressive. That's their nature. I just accept it. Some people quickly blame a rooster for spurring their kid, when it is their own fault the kid was spurred, not the rooster. The rooster is only protecting his hens and territory. If people want a cuddly pet, they shouldn't depend on a rooster to be that.

 

[Michael Apple]

I have absolutely zero experience working with California Gray Roosters. But the hens are so laid back I can't imagine them being that bad as a breed. My personal rule of thumb on why roosters act bad is;
25% environment
25% breed
50% The ro's personal disposition. (And nothing's gonna change it)
Which is why a breeder will cull bad behavior and sell nice disposition chicks. And then someone buys from a hatchery and doesn't understand why a rooster from the same breed acts so bad. Not that I'm bashing hatchery stock. I like buying hens from hatchery's because their so productive. My two cents.

I think that just like any breed, enough room on clean range, well ventilated / well kept housing, proper ratio of hens to a rooster, good nutrition, periodic deworming, and you have a healthy flock. I've had a number of different breeds over time, from Games to Mediterraneans, and have never had to cull a rooster for his aggression. I think people make a mistake when they get a mixed flock with 3-4 lb hens and an 8-10 lb rooster. It is an amateur mistake where the rooster is often blamed for hens getting injured.

 

[farmhand]

I think that just like any breed, enough room on clean range, well ventilated / well kept housing, proper ratio of hens to a rooster, good nutrition, periodic deworming, and you have a healthy flock. I've had a number of different breeds over time, from Games to Mediterraneans, and have never had to cull a rooster for his aggression. I think people make a mistake when they get a mixed flock with 3-4 lb hens and an 8-10 lb rooster. It is an amateur mistake where the rooster is often blamed for hens getting injured.

You make some very good points.

 

[Mr King]

If I cross my barred rock rooster with my white leghorn chickens,should I get California grays? Or isn't that way? Have any of you done it yourself?

 

[tommysgirl]

No. It is not a simple cross that produces a hybrid. It is a true breed which therefore breeds true. The Drydens developed it from Barred Plymouth Rock and Leghorn stock but it was a process that took generations upon generations before they got the breed to where it is. The BR and the LH are the foundation stock. It's like with a Delaware. Their foundation is New Hampshires and Barred Rocks but you can't make a Del with a simple cross of those two breeds.

If you decide you want them, (they are awesome!) You can get them from Privett Hatchery in New Mexico. They have the original Dryden line but Strombergs carries them as well and I have heard that they get theirs from Privett. I also found that Welp offers them. Privett sold me mine and I was really very happy with the quality of the chicks when they arrived. They were much bigger and healthier than chicks I had received from another hatchery.

 

[Mr King]

No.  It is not a simple cross that produces a hybrid.  It is a true breed which therefore breeds true.   The Drydens developed it from Barred Plymouth Rock and Leghorn stock but it was a process that took generations upon generations before they got the breed to where it is.  The BR and the LH are the foundation stock.   It's like with a Delaware.   Their foundation is New Hampshires and Barred Rocks but  you can't make a Del with a simple cross of those two breeds.

If you decide you want them, (they are awesome!) You can get them from Privett Hatchery in New Mexico.   They have the original Dryden line but Strombergs carries them as well and I have heard that they get theirs from Privett.  I also found that Welp offers them.  Privett sold me mine and I was really very happy with the quality of the chicks when they arrived.   They were much bigger and healthier than chicks I had received from another hatchery.

Thanks alot.! A friend of mine wanted some and i misunderstood when did the research on Google so i cross B.R. with. White leghorn, and i was getting the yellow baby chicks some with black spots so i was confused. I'm going to focus on my leghorns to improve them since i got them from hatcheries. They 're good layers but i will like to take the best out of them. Thanks for the info so i can pass it on.