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5dd69c9e_leghorn-14174-445.jpeg

Leghorn

Leghorn, Italy (hence the name of the bird) had its own native common chicken for hundreds of...
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General Information

Breed Purpose
Egg Layer
Comb
Single
Broodiness
Seldom
Climate Tolerance
All Climates
Egg Productivity
High
Egg Size
Large
Egg Color
White
Breed Temperament
Friendly, Flighty, Bears confinement well, Noisy, Shy
Breed Colors/Varieties
White, light brown, dark brown, black, blue, buff, Columbian, buff Columbian, barred, exchequer and silver
Breed Size
Large Fowl
APA/ABA Class
Mediterranean
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The Leghorn appears to derive from light breeds originating in rural Tuscany, though the origins are not clear. The name Leghorn was derived from Livorno, the Tuscan port from which the first birds were exported to North America. The date of the first exports is variously reported as 1828, "about 1830" and 1852. They were initially known as "Italians" and they were first referred to as "Leghorns" in 1865.

The Leghorn was included in the APA's Standard of Perfection in 1874, with three colours: black, white and brown (light and dark). Rose comb light and dark brown were added in 1883, and rose comb white in 1886. Single comb buff and silver followed in 1894, and red, black-tailed red, and Columbian in 1929. In 1981 rose comb black, buff, silver, and golden duckwing were also added.

The breed was first introduced to Britain from the United States in 1870, and from there re-exported to Italy. White Leghorns that had won first prize at the 1868 New York show were imported to Britain in 1870, and brown Leghorns from 1872. Pyle Leghorns were first bred in Britain in the 1880s; gold and silver duckwings originated there a few years later, from crosses with Phoenix or Japanese Yokohama birds. Buff Leghorns were first seen in Denmark in 1885, and in England in 1888.

A flighty breed, the Leghorn are popular today for their great egg production and also for exhibition.

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Leghorn eggs

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Leghorn chick

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Leghorn juveniles

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Leghorn hen

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Leghorn rooster

For more info on Leghorns and their owners' and breeders' experiences, see our breed discussion here:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/chicken-breed-focus-leghorn.1152504/
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Latest reviews

Fluffy_Moth_With_Silkies
Great meat and egg birds
Pros: Lots of large, white eggs
Cute little hens
Loud(er) crows
Great climate tolerance
We love the colors
Cons: Loud(er) crows
LOTS of clucking
Flighty
Good breed, great for meat and eggs. The hens are what you think of when you think of hens. The combs are a nice touch as well. They do pretty well with other breeds.

Very good review, good job on that!
Wacky Workshop
Pros: Amazing layers, 'standard chicken' look
Cons: Highly aggressive, unable to be handled, skittish, loud
Oh, boy, are these guys a lot to handle! I have three (used to be four) leghorns, and they are absolute jerks! They pick on the other birds, scream to no end (yes, they're all pullets), and I cannot get near them for anything! I wouldn't recommend these birds if you like having an intimate relationship with every single bird you own (like me). Only get them if you're looking solely for egg laying, and not looks, personality or style.
Purchase Price
$5.00
Purchase Date
2-28-22
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ChickyMudder
ChickyMudder
Mine were skittish at first but i kept them in a walk in brooder where i could he with them. Now the run to greet me. They are calm and so kind. Maybe I got a good batch from Hoovers Hatchery.
Wacky Workshop
Wacky Workshop
Yeah, perhaps. I've gotten more leghorns since then, and these ones are actually pretty nice! They're still a little skittish, but not aggressive at all. ^.^
PioneerChicks
Pros: Good layers.
Cons: Not at all friendly, flighty, extremely aggressive to other chickens.
They are good layers but not good pets. Very flighty and shy. Mine wouldn't stop picking on each other. They had a very strict pecking order and sometimes killed each other because of it.
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Comments

Resolution
and treat yourself to a couple of d'Anvers or Seramas or other tiny bantam to run in the same hutches as the Coturnix.
If anyone asks tell them they are domestic quail. People in Japan, Egypt and Russia, Denmark and even Sweden grow their own Coturnix on balconies in crowded high rises. They are personable, smart and lay lots of tasty eggs.
 
kinsey228
I have 3 of these ladies and they lay large white eggs every single day. Mine aren't as flighty as I expected, and act just like my other breeds. I wouldn't have a flock without them !
 
silkiechicken
They aren't that bad. And part of their flightyness is what let all leghorns escape a dog attack, while two sexlinks got captured. First at your feet first to run. Love them though!
Just get them from feed stores or hatcheries directly.
 
blueseal
excellent layers of white eggs. i have 9 of them myself. 6 of them came from meyer hatchery in ohio. great birds. got them in march of 2011, started laying in june.
 
they'reHISchickens
They sure lay eggs but flighty doesn't begin to cover their behavior. Chicken Little was a leghorn. The adolescent roos are enough to make you stop raising chickens and are worth even less as a meat bird.
The hatchery leghorns and the ones that schools hatch in the classroom are just psychologically crazy. But they certainly do lay eggs! If I were to raise these, I would find a good breeder and hope his were improved varieties.
 
TheWaddler
I know my Leghorn is unusual as the standard goes but she is great. She is from hatchery stock even tho that is not where I got her. She is my flock leader and is a great leader at that. She is never mean or pushy until its the last few scraps of treats left on the ground and then sometimes she will growl at the others to let them know they had enough treats for now =) She also lets the hens that are lower in the order hang near her and they don't get bullied that way because none of the other chickens will charge or mess with anyone sitting near her. She will jump in my lap for scratch/mealworms and tolerate being held....will be a little bummed when I lose her to say the least....hope my next flock leader is as good as her.
 
easyjet23
I have two White Leghorn/American Game cross roosters that are the most gentle roosters I've ever owned. I figured they'd really be flighty.
 
Cynthia12
My hens are the same way, don't mind coming around while I am out and about, and, they will come up to the door and peck at the door for treats..! I can pick them up, my white leghorn is easier to handle, the brown not as easy, but will put up with it. They like to announce their egg, but mine aren't real talkative, the brown will chatter while I'm out there. Love the egg production!
 
dlgd
So glad to hear about yours...I have whites...they are SO talkative! You can't beat them for their eggs. The hens are great, I've had a bit of trouble with the roos, they're TOO noisy! Having chickens is such a rewarding experience isn't it!
 
LaynaDon95
Mine isn't too noisy. I think she is my most quiet hen actually. The other two (RIR and Barnevelder) are always talking to the rooster and squawking after they lay. She is kinda flighty, but not unfriendly. Plus she lays big fat eggs! At least one a day. ;) I got two from her the other day. She's a keeper. I'm incubating two of her eggs right now. They will be RIR leghorn mix. She is white.
 
dlgd
You can't beat them for eggs! My oldest one, Estee, isn't noisy at all. If she thinks I have food she follows me like a puppy. My other 2, Trickcy and Micky gripe ALL the time! If I don't let them out of their run to free range soon enough they just kick up a fit!
Recently lost my favorite, Lily, to illness, and my best layer, Roma, to a fox. They were good girls too.
Love my girls though. I have several different breeds, mostly bantams, but the Leghorns are regular whites.
 
johnorem
Thank you for an objective review and one based on much experience. This kind of review is very helpful to those of us with limited experience with the different breeds.
My experience with Leghorns is one pet aged hen and the cockererls my mother would raise 100 at a time. That was nearly 60 years ago but I have vivid memories of butcher day.
 
smkchick
chickensforbackyards.com will ship as few as three. The site says to call for a shipping quote to areas other than the continental US. So they aren't saying they won't ship to Canada, although it may cost you a couple of limbs! Let me know how it works out for you...
 

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Category
Chicken Breeds
Added by
Super Admin
Views
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Watchers
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Reviews
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Rating
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