About Scots Grey Chickens

Scots Grey chickens, or just Scotch Greys, are a Scottish grey striped chicken. They have been known in Scotland since the 16th century, and were developed as barnyard fowl for small farms and crofts. Most likely they related to Dorkings and Malays. They are similar to Cuckoo Marans and Barred Plymouth Rocks, but their feathers have a less distinct pattern with a steel-grey base. They are dual-purpose chickens; they lay a good amount of white eggs and produse wholesome meat.  

Males and females can be differentiated based on the color of the adult birds, as hens usually have a noticeably darker hue. Scots Greys are relatively heavy chickens, with hens weighing 7-9 pounds (3.2-4 kilos), and roosters weighing 9-11 pounds (4-5 kilos). They have white skin, a single comb, and red earlobes.

They are active birds that do best under free range conditions, and may develop destructive habits when confined. They are hardy, and can forage well. Hens are not generally inclined to go broody.

Though they have been popular among poultry fanciers for exhibition, and have their own breed club, they are classed as an endangered breed by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust.