Are Leghorns good layers?

[lightchick]

The answer is "yes." Putting Vaseline on their combs will help some, but I think as low as Minnesota's winter temperatures drop, your Leghorns combs are still going to have serious problems with frostbite. Given the winter temperatures your Leghorns will have to endure, I'd go with with either Black or Red Sex Links instead, which are also laying machines, consistently churning out more than 300 eggs per hen per year. In fact, in really cold winter temperatures, they will outlay the Leghorns. My Black Sex Links (Black Stars) have been particularly persistant layers in very cold winter weather, and while their combs can get frost bitten, they are much smaller and less subject to it (particularly to serious frost bite) than Leghorns' combs.

Well the only problem with that is that I already have a Black Sex Link AND a Red Sex Link. I don't really want two of the same breed... Also I'd really like to get white eggs.
I have a Silkie, but Silkies don't lay that many eggs and mine hasn't laid any yet and she's almost a year old....

 

[Michael OShay]

Well the only problem with that is that I already have a Black Sex Link AND a Red Sex Link. I don't really want two of the same breed... Also I'd really like to get white eggs.
I have a Silkie, but Silkies don't lay that many eggs and mine hasn't laid any yet and she's almost a year old....

I'd go with something like an Austra White or a California White then. Excellent layers (both hybrids have White Leghorns are the mothers), but with a little more robust size and smaller combs for better handling of really cold winter weather. Also, both of these hybrids are less high strung and flighty than Leghorns (definitely easier to handle).

 

[enola]

California grey is another breed to consider. They do not have a huge comb, they are barred like a barred rock and lay a white egg. They have a very good feed conversion,too.

 

[lightchick]

OK, well I guess I'll go with a Californis white then! Thanks everybody for the info!

 

[silkiecuddles]

And leghorns come in all different colors now. So you can have a flock of all different colors AND lots and lots of eggs. There is at least one thread on this site about people who breed 'colored' leghorns. They come in black, red, white, exchequer, mottled, barred, light & dutch brown, buff, mille-fleur.......and I probably forgot a color or two. Some of the 'colored' varieties don't lay quite as well as the white and brown do, but, are still considered very good layers. Some of the colors come in bantam size also.

I love my leghorns! The only thing you need to be careful of - DO NOT crowd these hens!!!!

I've been looking into getting Leghorns. Will they turn cannibal if crowded? I used to have some turkens, who started cannibalizing each other. They went bye-bye.

 

[donrae]

I've been looking into getting Leghorns. Will they turn cannibal if crowded? I used to have some turkens, who started cannibalizing each other. They went bye-bye.

Any chicken can have behavioral issues if overcrowded. If you had a traditionally mellow bird like a Turken turn cannibal, I'd say take a look at management technique. Your question tells me you know your birds don't have enough space.

 

[Manningjw]

I'd go with something like an Austra White or a California White then. Excellent layers (both hybrids have White Leghorns are the mothers), but with a little more robust size and smaller combs for better handling of really cold winter weather. Also, both of these hybrids are less high strung and flighty than Leghorns (definitely easier to handle).

I second the Austra-white. It's a mixed bag in terms of temperament but generally speaking you will get more docile birds than pure leghorns or California Whites. A bit heavier body supposedly to increase winter laying as well.

 

[dekel18042]

OK. I think I'll get one....but one more question! I live in MN where it gets really cold so I'm wondering if a Leghorn would get frostbitten easily?

Since you're in MN, you might want to reconsider getting a leghorn or any other breed with large combs. Even using Vaseline sometimes the tips and extremities of the comb gets frostbitten. I'm definitely learning to prefer the smaller combed birds.
Right now I'm considering what I can get that is cold hardy, not flighty, a good flock bird, and lays white eggs just to add contrast to my egg basket.