California Greys???

[Bullitt]

That's ok if they produce the eggs to go along with the appetite.

I think the California Gray has a smaller appetite than most breeds of chickens.

If you search online, you will see that the California Gray is listed on many top 10 lists for best egg-laying breeds. And often several of the "breeds" on the list are sex-link hybrids.

If you want white eggs, you won't go wrong with California Gray pullets. You should get 250 to 300 eggs a year from each California Gray.

And unlike the hybrids, you can breed California Grays to produce more in the future. In addition, California Grays are much calmer than Leghorns.

The California Gray is one of the best all-around chicken breeds.

 

[farmhand]

The California Gray is one of the best all-around chicken breeds.

Right now I am trying to decide between the California Gray and Norwegian Jaerhon which is a smaller bird known for laying large white eggs. I can pick up hatching eggs locally for the NJ.

 

[Bullitt]

Right now I am trying to decide between the California Gray and Norwegian Jaerhon which is a smaller bird known for laying large white eggs. I can pick up hatching eggs locally for the NJ.

I know there are two types of Norwegian Jaerhon -- the dark and the light. I know they lay well, but I do not know the number of eggs that they will lay per year.

If you can't decide, I suggest getting some California Grays and some Norwegian Jaerhons. Then you can find out if you like them both or if you prefer one breed over the other.

 

[farmhand]

Quote: I just knew someone here was going to suggest that.

 

[Bullitt]

I just knew someone here was going to suggest that.

The correct answer is always more breeds.

 

[farmhand]

I thought I would test the waters by posting an add on craigslist asking if anyone in my area wanted to share an order for California Gay’s from Privett. Within one hour I had all the offers I needed. Add 3 more California Gray converts to the list.

 

[tommysgirl]

Hey that is great! This is super news

 

[Geneticsnut]

I just wanted to add this note for the Cal. Gray boosters. Whelp hatchery has Production Blacks (California Grays) listed in their 2014 catalog. I purchased some of these girls three years ago from Whelp and they are still laying their hearts out. I keep a dim light on 24/7 through the winter months and they keep on laying (except through their moult) huge pure white eggs all winter despite our cold temps in Ia. NOTE : After crossing a barred rock and a white leghorn it takes generations of selective breeding to eliminate the brown/tinted egg color.

I've used these girls in crosses with buff leghorns to develop buff barred leghorns. The biggest obstacles have been shank color and barring modifiers. Cal. Grays have white skin with broken black external color while leghorns demand yellow shank color and I'm suspecting that neither of them posses the proper modifier traits to produce a well defined barring pattern.

 

[farmhand]

I just wanted to add this note for the Cal. Gray boosters. Whelp hatchery has Production Blacks (California Grays) listed in their 2014 catalog. I purchased some of these girls three years ago from Whelp and they are still laying their hearts out. I keep a dim light on 24/7 through the winter months and they keep on laying (except through their moult) huge pure white eggs all winter despite our cold temps in Ia. NOTE : After crossing a barred rock and a white leghorn it takes generations of selective breeding to eliminate the brown/tinted egg color.

I've used these girls in crosses with buff leghorns to develop buff barred leghorns. The biggest obstacles have been shank color and barring modifiers. Cal. Grays have white skin with broken black external color while leghorns demand yellow shank color and I'm suspecting that neither of them posses the proper modifier traits to produce a well defined barring pattern.

One of the reasons I wanted California Grays was to work with crossing it with a U of A Blue( Americana x White Leghorn cross developed at Univ. of Arkansas) which lays a blue egg and make it auto-sexing. At this point I know little of genetics but having fun learning. Any input is welcome.
My CA Gray chicks are coming Feb 14th. I have a batch of chicks hatching today. Hoping they will be close enough in age to mix.

 

[tommysgirl]

One of the reasons I wanted California Grays was to work with crossing it with a U of A Blue( Americana x White Leghorn cross developed at Univ. of Arkansas) which lays a blue egg and make it auto-sexing. At this point I know little of genetics but having fun learning. Any input is welcome.
My CA Gray chicks are coming Feb 14th. I have a batch of chicks hatching today. Hoping they will be close enough in age to mix.

within two weeks of the same age is fine for mixing chicks! Your hatch sounds like it is going great and I am excited for you to be getting your CGs this month.