Breed Questions: Leghorn.

[BYCforlife]

Hi! I had one Brown Leghorn, she had the most personality out of all of my chickens. Out of Buff Brahmas and Easter Eggers, she laid the most eggs and very consistently.

She always went to the roost before my other chickens, so she could get her spot. She once perched on top of my chicken wire fence, which is 5 feet tall. She pretty much hopped up.

My only bad problem with her was she was too brave. When a hawk came into the run, the other chickens fled, but she waited too long to see what the beautiful thing was swooping towards her.

There's my opinion/short story.

 

[MagpieDucks]

raising-chickens.org/california-white.html
backyardchickens.com/threads/california-white.439189
Here is some information I found on them.
My favorite bird ever since starting chickens was a California White named Snow White. She was the friendliest and the first to start laying, she laid 2 eggs on her first day of laying! She quit laying early though. Much earlier than she should have. She passed away in June of 2016.

I currently have 4

 

[sylviethecochin]

Okay, when I call them bullies, I'm really saying that they're more likely to pick on chicks than any of my other hens are. They don't really pick fights with hens of similar size. They tend towards cowardice, in my experience. They're cold hardy, except for the huge comb that was made for frostbite.

In general, as a purely functional laying flock, I recommend. I would not recommend for a small backyard flock.

 

[sourland]

Leghorns are, have been, and will always be my favorite chicken breed. I have never found them to be finicky, aggressive or beset with reproductive tract problems. They are easy on the eye in all of their many varieties. The only drawback in my opinion is that the single comb varieties are susceptible to frost bite. They can be flighty, but because of this have been more predator elusive than heavier birds.

 

[BantyChooks]

he quit laying early though. Much earlier than she should have.

That's the issue with a lot of the power layers. My sex-links only lay for a year. Leghorns made two and still laid fairly decently for a while after that if I remember right.

 

[BantyChooks]

The only drawback in my opinion is that the single comb varieties are susceptible to frost bite.

There's a rose comb variety, yes? Brown?

 

[The Angry Hen]

Absolutely. They're better layers than sexlinks and on less feed too. I am getting 3--4 eggs a day from 4 pullets even in this frigid weather. In summer I get 4/4. They lay for longer than many of the other production breeds.

Leghorns don't go broody much at all. They're hardy, healthy, and hens don't get frostbite if you keep them right. Even in -40*C weather.

As for temperament, if you don't handle them they are nutty, crazy, and the most neurotic birds you'll ever see. However, with a bit of care and work, they can be lovely birds that are quick to learn and follow you everywhere. It doesn't require much, just keep touching them and they calm quickly. They're pretty sharp sticks, even if a bit flighty. I have one hen that will fly up on scaffolding to "help" me whilst I'm painting and will generally get into anything I'm doing. I haven't owned any males of that breed, so I can't say on them.

Overall, if you just want layers, they would be my first recommendation. They get along well with flockmates and are quite pretty to look at.

Edit: The birds I am describing are White Leghorns. I do not own the Brown variety.

You had me at neurotic.

Thank you so much for all this helpful info, I really do appreciate your review on them. After hearing the info you have to say, I am actually leaning towards them more than the Sussex I have. (My Sussex are Neurotic but snooty).

I'd be leaning towards the white variety if I got them.

-Angry Hen

 

[sourland]

There's a rose comb variety, yes? Brown?

Dark brown for sure, and perhaps light brown also. In my experience the colored varieties have a longer egg laying life than the white production bred birds. Another drawback to some is that they tend to be a non broody. To others that may be a plus.

 

[The Angry Hen]

Hi! I had one Brown Leghorn, she had the most personality out of all of my chickens. Out of Buff Brahmas and Easter Eggers, she laid the most eggs and very consistently.

She always went to the roost before my other chickens, so she could get her spot. She once perched on top of my chicken wire fence, which is 5 feet tall. She pretty much hopped up.

My only bad problem with her was she was too brave. When a hawk came into the run, the other chickens fled, but she waited too long to see what the beautiful thing was swooping towards her.

There's my opinion/short story.

Thank you! That's a great review. terribly sorry for your loss of her.

Leghorns are, have been, and will always be my favorite chicken breed. I have never found them to be finicky, aggressive or beset with reproductive tract problems. They are easy on the eye in all of their many varieties. The only drawback in my opinion is that the single comb varieties are susceptible to frost bite. They can be flighty, but because of this have been more predator elusive than heavier birds.

Just what I wanted them to hear. i rather them flight than aggressive. I am glad that you overall have had good luck with the breed. Thank you very much for responding.

raising-chickens.org/california-white.html
backyardchickens.com/threads/california-white.439189
Here is some information I found on them.
My favorite bird ever since starting chickens was a California White named Snow White. She was the friendliest and the first to start laying, she laid 2 eggs on her first day of laying! She quit laying early though. Much earlier than she should have. She passed away in June of 2016.

I currently have 4

Thank you very much for the link, Tim!

Terribly sorry for your loss.

That's a nice collection.

-Angry Hen

 

[sourland]

I'd be remiss if I did not mention that some of the most human aggressive roosters that I have ever met have been white leghorns.