There are many chicken breeds in the world that come in a variety of colors and sizes. Grey chickens are one of the most popular colors. Included in Grey chicken breeds are chickens that have feathers of black to pale silver, blue or lavender. Each characteristic contributes to the formation of one of the grey chicken breeds.
1. Plymouth Rock
- Lifespan: 8-10 years
- Weigh: 7 – 8 lbs
- Egg Production: Good
- Egg Color: Brown
- Egg Size: Large
The Plymouth Rock chicken is considered to be one of the oldest and most famous American chicken breeds. These dual-purpose breeds will be perfect for raising because of their sweetness and friendliness.
As a dual-purpose chicken, Plymouth Rock is known for its high-quality meat and large egg production volume. Plymouth hen is the only hen who can compete against Rhode Island Red in egg-laying capacity.
Plymouth Rock got its name from the place where the Pilgrims landed when they arrived in America.
The breed has a wide variety of color schemes and hues developed from breeding it with other chicken breeds. Plymouth is perfect for growing on a farm or in a small area like your backyard.
Appearance
Plymouth Rock chickens are big chickens and can survive longer than other breeds. The Plymouth rooster usually weighs up to 9.5 pounds, while the hen is 7.5 pounds.
Plymouth Rock chicken has a full breast and long wide back. They have yellow skin, and their legs have no feathers. This breed of chickens have
Plymouth Rock chickens have reddish-brown eyes, red faces, and lobes with yellow beaks. They also have a medium size single comb.
The hens are darker in color than the roosters because of the two copies of their gene.
Temperament
Plymouth Rocks are calm and easy to tame. When one wants to raise them, considering the size of the pen is a must so they will have room to roam around.
Both this breed’s hen and the rooster are pleasant and friendly; they can pass as pets like dogs and the likes. They like to be touched and play with all the time that they don’t mind being placed in a confined space.
But just like other breeds, Plymouth Rocks enjoy it more outside where they can move around freely, like in the garden or your backyard.
Plymouth hens are excellent mothers. The hens can start laying eggs on the 18th week and produce 200 to 300 eggs a year. Plymouth Rock eggs are large light brown eggs.
2. Cochin
- Lifespan: 5 – 8 years
- Weigh: 8.5 – 11 lbs
- Egg Production: Less
- Egg Color: Brown
- Egg Size: Medium
Cochin chickens are best known for their “head-to-toe feathers.” Also known as the Cochin-China, the breed originated in Cochin where it got its name. Coming from a huge breed of enormous feathered birds that may be found all across the world, from Europe to North America.
Cochin Chickens have large and fluffy wings and feathers. They can be found in a range of hues, including brown, black, white, and patterned, in addition to grey.
Cochins can live for ten years and weigh up to 11 pounds for males and 10 pounds for females with adequate care. In two to two and a half years, the plant reaches maturity.
Temperament
Cochins are sociable and gentle birds. Even the roosters have a reputation for being laid-back. The lads are rarely aggressive, harsh, or argumentative.
Appearance
Cochin has soft and fluffy feathers from its face to the toes! Because of the fluffiness of its feathers, the legs should be fully feathered so that they can see from the side. Only feathers can be seen, not toes.
One distinct characteristic of the Cochin is its five-point comb, its wattles as well as its ear lobes. Their eyes are bright golden yellow in color. The color of the beak changes depending on the bird’s overall hue.
Whether it’s yellow or black horn, the darker the color of the feathers, the darker the color of the beak. Their skin, as well as the legs and toes, should also be yellow.
3. Australorp
- Lifespan: 8+ years
- Weigh: 8 – 10 lbs
- Egg Production: Good
- Egg Color: Brown
- Egg Size: Large
The Australorp Chicken is a breed that originated in Australia and is widely utilized for egg production. They’re perfect for barns and free-range farms. The Australorp Chicken is renowned for laying more than 300 eggs in a short period.
They’re the perfect animal for a farm that gets a lot of kids. Australorps are incredibly sociable creatures who don’t mind being hugged and touched all the time. This chicken can weigh up to 7 pounds for females and 8.5-12 pounds for males depending on health and nutrition.
Appearance
The black Australorp’s feathers have a beetle-green sheen in the sunlight, giving them a remarkable radiance. Australorps are blackbirds with beetle-green sheen, dark eyes, deep bodies, and are exceedingly active.
With a deep, firm body, the breast is full and well-rounded. The color of the wattles, earlobes, and comb should all be red. The comb should be erect with a maximum of seven points.
The standard-sized birds are large, with a male weighing between 812 and 10 pounds and a hen weighing between 612 and 8 pounds.
Temperament
They are a fast-growing breed with a shy disposition at first, but once they settle in, they will likely follow you around the yard if you have any treats in your pockets.
They will take confinement well. However, like other heavier, larger breeds, they will love free-ranging and combing the yard for bugs and tidbits because they enjoy being active.
Because they are slightly prone to obesity if maintained only in confinement, the exercise part of free-ranging is beneficial to them.
4. Andalusians
- Lifespan: 5 – 8 years
- Weigh: 5.5- 7 lbs
- Egg Production: Less
- Egg Color: White
- Egg Size: Large
This blue-feathered chicken is native to the Mediterranean region and described as having remarkable beauty. It is a breed that appreciates its independence and is capable of living in harsh environments.
Andalusian chickens are extremely productive. It’s an excellent winter egg producer, has white flesh with an abundance of breast meat (though the carcass isn’t very plump), is a vigorous forager, and is robust and hardy. Cockerels crowing at seven weeks are feathered and matured chicks.
Appearance
This is a sleek and attractive bird with a confident demeanor and upright posture. It’s a light, petite bird that’s quite active – roosters average roughly 7 pounds, while hens weigh about 5 pounds.
On the hens, the single comb is broad and may flop to one side a little; on the roosters, the comb should be straight and have 5 distinct points. The wattles and comb should be a vibrant crimson color. The earlobes are oval in form and white.
The eyes are a reddish bay hue, and the beak is horny with a small downward slope. Legs are free of feathers and slate blue in hue, with four toes on each foot.
Temperament
Humans are supposed to find this bird kind and interesting, although it is far from docile. They may seek out food from you, but they despise being picked up. Outside of confinement, it is a bird that enjoys foraging and wandering.
In comparison to most of our backyard hens, it is quite tough. Andalusians are an excellent layer. You can expect 3 white eggs per week, ranging in size from medium to large. This works up to about 150 eggs every year.
5. California Grey Chicken
- Lifespan: 6-10 years
- Weigh: 4.5 – 5.5 lbs
- Egg Production: Excellent
- Egg Color: White
- Egg Size: Large
The California Grey chicken originated in California in the 1930s, as its name suggests.
Horace Dryden created a high-powered chicken that could produce many eggs while still being suitable for meat. They lay white eggs and lay about 300 each year.
This chicken typically averages 4-5 pounds and has a 6-10 years lifespan, depending on nutrition and the chicken’s intended purpose.
Appearance
California Gray chickens are significantly lighter than Barred Rocks and substantially heavier than White Leghorns. Chicks have a white patch on the top of their heads and are primarily black with white spots on the chest, belly and wingtips.
The hens are darker black than the roosters, and their feathers are barred, black and white. The California Gray chicken’s shanks and toes are yellow in hue. They have a single reddish-brown comb and crimson wattles, and little white earlobes. California Gray roosters weigh about 2.5 kg on average, while hens weigh about 2 kg.
Temperament
The California Gray chicken is a commercial hybrid that can outperform the White Leghorn in terms of laying ability and longevity. They are extremely cold tolerant and make excellent winter layers.
They are less vocal and less flighty than Leghorns. It’s a friendly chicken breed that’s also relatively easy to take care of. California Grey can be raised in both free-range and confined situations.
Commercial hatcheries frequently have California Gray chicken accessible. They grow this breed for its broodiness, docility, hardiness, and consistent meat and egg output. They consume fewer calories and have a high egg-to-feed ratio.
6. Sapphire Gem Chicken
- Lifespan: 5 – 8 years
- Weigh: 10 – 12 lbs
- Egg Production: Good
- Egg Color: Brown
- Egg Size: Medium to large
The Sapphire Gem chicken is closely linked to the Andalusian chicken breed. The Sapphire gem chicken is a superb producer of brown eggs. The Sapphire Gem is perfect for people looking for a novelty chicken breed with a good egg layer.
The Sapphire Gem chicken was first introduced in the Czech Republic. A breeder in that country created this unregistered breed by crossing a Blue Plymouth rock chicken with a Barred Plymouth rock.
The breed has a dominant blue gene and was bred for its stunning appearance and excellent egg production capacity.
Appearance
Sapphire Gemstones appear awake and upright. This breed’s feathers are a variety of mild to dusky blues and lavender. The name ‘Sapphire Gem’ comes from the blue and purple tones of the bird’s plumage.
Because the Sapphire Gem is the color of their feathers can distinguish a sex-linked breed, male and female chicks shortly after hatching. Female Sapphire Gem chicks are completely blue, and male Sapphire Gem chicks have a white patch on their forehead or wings.
The Sapphire Gem chicken is a medium-sized breed. When fully grown, Roosters weigh roughly five pounds. Sapphire Gem hens weigh approximately four pounds when fully grown.
Temperament
The Sapphire Gem is a calm or friendly chicken.
Some chicken producers have even claimed that the chicks are quieter than those of other chicken breeds’ young.
The Sapphire Gem makes a fantastic free-range chicken because they appear to be good foragers. They also appear to be keen observers, suggesting they may be more aware of predators than other chicken varieties.
A fully developed Sapphire Gem hen will lay around 300 eggs per year or four to five eggs per week. Between the ages of 18 and 24, they will begin to lay eggs.
Other Colors of Chickens That Still Belongs To The Grey Chicken Breed
Grey chicken is achieved by a mixture of different varieties of chicken breeds, usually black-colored, blue shades, and lavender ones. There are also some techniques to make the feathers grey.
Most of the chickens under the Grey Chicken category have a majority of blue or lavender feathers. There are also some that are blue mottled, blue laced, or a few splashes of blue but still are considered grey chickens.
Lavender Chicken Breed
Lavender-colored chickens that belong to the Grey Chicken Breed have a dark grey coat of feathers with light purple undertones, giving them an even lavender tone.
Pekin
The Pekin chicken derived its name from the city of Peking, where it originates.
They are known to be adaptable and friendly. They are excellent egg layers that produce 200-300 large eggs every year.
The Pekin chicken has grey feathers with undertones that create a tone of a light lavender color. They are usually between 3-6 pounds with an average life span of 7-8 years.
Booted Bantam
The Booted Bantam is one of the most famous among the bantam chicken breeds. They weigh 25-30 ounces and are distinguished by their feathered feet, colorful patterns, and tall tails.
The feathers of the Booted Bantam are colored light grey with a mix of darker greys that look like light lavender. This chicken can live up to 10 years and can produce up to 200 eggs every year.
Orpington
Orpington chicken is originally from England like the Lavender Wyanddonette. Orpington is a double-purpose breed that is excellent in producing meat and eggs. They weigh 7 to 8 pounds and can lay 190 to 200 eggs annually.
Blue Chicken Breeds
Blue chickens, like the lavender-colored ones, also belong to the Grey Chicken Breed family. They have white or grey feathers that create a nice blue color.
Blue Plymouth Rock
The Blue Plymouth Rock is also great for both meat and egg purposes. They can lay 300 light whitish brown eggs every year. The Blue Plymouth weighs 5 to 6 pounds and can live up to 8 years.
Blue Easter Egger
The Blue Easter breed is originally from the United States. This breed is created for the purpose to create bright white pale blue eggs. They can produce approximately 200 eggs every year and can live up to 8 years.
Summary
Grey chicken breeds are made up of a variety of different color shades making them hard to identify. The chicken’s appearance is caused by multiple numbers of genes of different genetic combinations.
If you want to raise grey chickens, pick the blue variation which is more popular. But if you want something more sophisticated, you can choose the lavender ones. Both color combinations belong to the Grey Chicken breed.
Remember that color doesn’t really matter when you want to make a business of raising chickens. It is still the type, the quality of the chicken that you should focus on before buying anything.
Joseph Hudson has been raising chickens for over 15 years. In 2018, he completed the Agriculture & Natural Resources program at Mt. San Antonio College. He currently raises over 1400 chickens on his 7.5-hectare farm. He keeps sharing his experience on raising healthy and happy chickens on Chicken & Scratch.
