5dd69c9e_leghorn-14174-445.jpeg
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

Jayzandra
LOL^^
I have 3 white leghorns in my flock and they are the calmest of all the chickens. They are super inquisitive and smart. They even follow the dog around because they know she can sniff out scraps of food they can't see. They don't run away and instead "squat" if approached. We don't handle any of our birds as chicks or otherwise.
They lay numerous large white eggs.
 
S
Can anyone tell me if they've ordered from Cackle Hatchery, especially any White Leghorns, Rhode Island Reds or Golden Comets, Buff Orpingtons, White Rocks, Barred Rocks, Wyandottes, or Easter Eggers? I have a batch of Leghorns now (one hen who I love a lot and a bunch of roosters I want to get rid of). I got a batch of Black Australorps from Chickens from Backyards (which has great service) that are extremely skidish and unfriendly. Also, if I get any new breeds again, I want to try to make sure that are somewhat friendly, fairly docile and/or at least will fit well in a mixed flock without much aggression (allowing for a normal pecking order of course) and be easy to handle.
 
Brawley Leigh
I only have 2 dark brown leghorns but they are VERY friendly, following me around like puppies. They have to be right there investigating when I work in the garden. They come running when they hear the back door open. Easy to catch but really do not like being held...I'm working on that. They put themselves to bed in the coop each night around 7:30, all I have to do is go lock them in. These girls are only 14.5 weeks so have not started to lay yet and I'm looking forward to that time. Possibly only having 2 and hand feeding treats is why they come running but so far I'm very happy with their personalities. Have to add however that when I zip out the back door to retrieve something very quickly they beat me inside almost every time...even when they weren't on the porch when I went out...stinkers!! Oh, and the LOVE Greek yogurt, plain variety.
 
T
SYLVIA STEVENSON said:
Can anyone tell me if they've ordered from Cackle Hatchery, especially any White Leghorns, Rhode Island Reds or Golden Comets, Buff Orpingtons, White Rocks, Barred Rocks, Wyandottes, or Easter Eggers? I have a batch of Leghorns now (one hen who I love a lot and a bunch of roosters I want to get rid of). I got a batch of Black Australorps from Chickens from Backyards (which has great service) that are extremely skidish and unfriendly. Also, if I get any new breeds again, I want to try to make sure that are somewhat friendly, fairly docile and/or at least will fit well in a mixed flock without much aggression (allowing for a normal pecking order of course) and be easy to handle.
Click to expand...
I got 18 chickes my last batch n the only one that comes near me and let's me cuddle is my cochin
 
Itty Biddy Barn
Brawley Leigh said:
I only have 2 dark brown leghorns but they are VERY friendly, following me around like puppies. They have to be right there investigating when I work in the garden. They come running when they hear the back door open. Easy to catch but really do not like being held...I'm working on that. They put themselves to bed in the coop each night around 7:30, all I have to do is go lock them in. These girls are only 14.5 weeks so have not started to lay yet and I'm looking forward to that time. Possibly only having 2 and hand feeding treats is why they come running but so far I'm very happy with their personalities. Have to add however that when I zip out the back door to retrieve something very quickly they beat me inside almost every time...even when they weren't on the porch when I went out...stinkers!! Oh, and the LOVE Greek yogurt, plain variety.
Click to expand...
I have one black leghorn. She is BY FAR the friendliest girl I have. I've had her 2 days and she's already following me around. Also, she's very protective over the 4 Orpington's I have. They're much smaller than her & the 3 RI Red's I have. The RIR's are bullies and pick on the smaller birds incessantly, so the leghorn will stand between like a mediator. *giggle*
 
Nutmeg15
My Leghorns are something else! They are very active and LOVE to wind themselves around my feet when I am out in the run with them. I like to call them my little velociraptors because they remind me of small dinosaurs--very quick and always ready to jump up at me for treats!
 
DownwardDog
For those with friendlier Leghorns, are they White or Brown? I'm trying to figure out which to order from Cackle hatchery.
 
Hedgewitch
In the picture with this article, of juveniles, am I right in thinking that the one with the small pink comb is a hen and the one with the bigger, redder comb a young cockerel. I've 9 juveniles, about 3 months old now and have some of both but would like to sort the males out before they start to upset the neighbours - my present neighbours OK but they've just sold their house!
 

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Category
Chicken Breeds
Added by
Super Admin
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Reviews
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Rating
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