California White Chickens: Productive Layers Without the Attitude

Almost everyone gets chickens for the eggs. And if your chicken dreams begin and end there, California Whites are perfect. These birds are super productive layers. Like White Leghorns, but with a slightly friendly twist. But if you want a friend/ pet in your backyard flock, you’ll be disappointed.

A Brief History of the California White Chicken Breed

This is a story of clever breeding. The motive behind this breed was to create a bird that laid a ton of eggs and was easy to handle. Enter the California White, born from a mix of the hardy White Leghorn and the California Grey.

White Leghorns can be moody, easily startled, and flighty. But they are some of the best layers. The California White is as productive but without the personality flaws.

(Note: our White Leghorns have all had great personalities! But many chicken keeping find them hard to handle.)

Physical Description: More Than Just White Feathers

California White chickens are almost all white, with a few distinctive black spots. These spots are random and vary from bird to bird. So, no two California Whites have exactly the same patterning. This feature sets them apart from other white chicken breeds.

They’re are generally a bit larger than White Leghorns. White Leghorns are known for their slim, lightweight build.

Their body shape is well-proportioned. It’s more rounded than Leghorns, and when you pick them up they have a bit more heft.

Decent Personality Traits

When it comes to their personality, California Whites are….okay. They get along just fine with other breeds in the coop and won’t act like white Leghorns, flying over fences and running in every direction if they’re slightly startled.

But at the same time, they won’t necessarily follow you around looking for attention the way Buff Orpingtons will. Some people don’t care about this. But if you, get some other breeds too.

I do prefer their personalities over White Leghorns because they aren’t so skittish.

An Excellent Choice If You Care About Egg Production

This is why you pick this breed.

When it comes to egg production, California White chickens are in a league of their own. It’s not just about the number of eggs they lay; it’s the whole package. They start laying eggs at a young age and keep a steady pace. They are some of our most consistent layers all through the winter and lay lots of big white eggs even when it snows.

All in all, if eggs are your priority, California Whites are a smart choice. They are tied with White Leghorns for being the best white egg layers but they have a more friendly disposition as a tie breaker.

Adaptability to Their Environment

Like most chickens, they’ll do fine just about anywhere. Give them a coop with plenty of ventilation and proper insulation (if you live somewhere super cold), and they’ll be happy.

Caring for Your Flock

Honestly, caring for this breed is no different than any other. Shelter, fresh water, and food is all you need. One thing to keep in mind is that depending on the color of your surroundings, white birds will often stand out and be the first grabbed by predators. If you allow your flock to free range, keep this in mind.

An Economical Choice

The most frugal bird is probably a flock of white leghorn hens because they eat less than most breeds and give you lots of eggs. This is something called “thriftiness” which some breeds excel at.

But California white give you that better, calmer personality, and those pretty flecks of black. Some hatcheries do price them a bit high than white leghorns was well. But they’re still a good and frugal choice for the economically minded backyard chicken keeper.

Meat Production

They’re bigger than White Leghorn but still relatively small. This doesn’t mean you couldn’t butcher them, and if you end up with a lot of roosters it might be smart. But because of their prolific egg-laying abilities I’d keep them for that purpose instead. It’s what they were born to do.

Look at these varieties of meat birds if you’re interested in that.

Integrating with Other Breeds

Introducing California Whites to an existing flock is usually a smooth process. They tend to blend in without any chaos.

What About the Males?

We’ve had only one California White Rooster and it was, like every other male we’re have, terribly behaved around our small chicken. I’ve never personally experienced a gentle rooster, but apparently they exist.

A Great All-Around Breed

Modern chicken keepers more and more seem to appreciate a touch of personality (you can see this in the Cinnamon Queen as well, which is the brown egg laying equivalent of this breed. It’s a Rhode Island Red, but nicer.)

When birds are bred in this way it makes it easier to have a flock of one breed and feel like you’re getting everything in one. But if you want a pet, I wouldn’t choose this one.