Brown Leghorns: Pics, Info, and Resources

[laurend82891]

Fred Zillich's leghorns lay very well. I got RC whites from him, and RC dark browns (he has other colors too).

The whites are a bit more seasonal, the dark browns more year around steady.

The whites matured a bit faster than the dark browns.

The whites have eggs a tiny bit larger than the dark browns, but both lay a good sized egg, only a bit smaller than a production white Leghorn.

The dark browns are the most "predator aware" chickens I have ever had, super skittish, but they still consistently lay in the nest boxes.

I only very, VERY rarely let my chickens out to free range, since I have way too many predators, but I think his dark browns would be stellar free rangers.

I haven't had any medical issues with any of his stock.

So, they will not lay as well as production white Leghorns from a hatchery, and their eggs will be a bit smaller, BUT, they do lay very well, and unlike the production White Leghorns that I have gotten from hatcheries (who are prone to prolapse and vent gleet), I have had zero problems with the dark browns.

Also, the dark browns should be excellent free range foragers.

They sound like a great option for us!

Does Fred have a BYC account or email that you know of in case he doesn't see my fb message?

 

[Alaskan]

@laure8929

Not that I know of.

Make a post, and tag him in the post, he will see it for sure then.

The Facebook "other" folder loves to swallow things.

 

[cree57i]

Dark Brown Leghorn 9 days old today. Backwoods Poultry stock.

 

[cree57i]

Dark Brown split to Isabelle leghorn-2days old today.

 

[Alaskan]

@cree57i

Keep posting pictures.

I haven't seen stock from Backwoods Poultry, so would love to see how they turn out.


Are the Isabelle from the same place?


Did you sex the chicks? Know what you got?

 

[cree57i]

@cree57i

Keep posting pictures.

I haven't seen stock from Backwoods Poultry, so would love to see how they turn out.


Are the Isabelle from the same place?


Did you sex the chicks? Know what you got?

Yes, the Isabelles were originally from Backwoods Poultry farm. I have more pictures in my albums that you can get to below my signature. I sold all the earlier splits except for these few that I am letting grow out. They are 3 1/2 mo. old isabelle X DBL. They are not from the same parent stock as the above chicks. Not the best of pictures. I sold the brown leghorns from this group and only kept these cockerels.

 

[Alaskan]

I really like the Isabelle coloring, and have been told that they lay well for a colored Leghorn.

However, I have promissed myself that I will never again buy birds with single combs... So, thanks for letting me enjoy the photos!

 

[cree57i]

I really like the Isabelle coloring, and have been told that they lay well for a colored Leghorn.

However, I have promissed myself that I will never again buy birds with single combs... So, thanks for letting me enjoy the photos!

I understand entirely. These little guys don't have supplemental heat and haven't gotten frostbitten...yet. The breeders do have some heat though. I cannot imagine trying to keep them from frostbite in Alaska. It is challenging enough in Tennessee! I plan to keep my albums updated, so feel free to stop by and enjoy them anytime!
The isabelles don't lay as well as the DBL, but they are not slouches either. About 5 eggs/week.

 

[Alaskan]

Very nice!

I got a mixed pack of colored leghorns from a breeder last spring and have been a bit disapointed. The eggs are on the small size of medium.

I have three three year old White Production Leghorns... Those girls have such big combs, but they are such troopers, that I have kept them. They tend to get small frostbite spots on the part of the comb where it folds. They heal up after awhile, and crazily enough, the combs are fine come summer. Other chickens with single combs loose the thin comb points to frost bite, but those old ladies keep their points since they lay against their faces.

Anyway, I have tried to be ruthless at getting rid of all single comb birds, because I do not like to see them uncomfortable... But still have a few...


In regards to frostbite, LOTS of ventilation, super important. I do not heat.

 

[laurenanne]

Danish Brown Leghorn
Hatch date-October 7 2015
About 22 weeks old and just laid her first egg. Super flighty birds. Why don't the like me?!?