Brown Leghorns: Pics, Info, and Resources

[carcar80]

Has anyone else had problems with their BLH being aggressive to new chicks?

I was actually just bragging on mine this weekend for being so accepting of new kids. My BLH are 7 weeks old now and I've been adding other breeds as young as 3/4 weeks as they outgrow the brooder with no issue whatsoever. Of course, this is in a ~5x10 run with multiple feeders, etc to give the best opportunity for a smooth intro.

 

[Alaskan]

I have found mine to be nirmal in regards to agression.

 

[Frutfarm]

I have 9 one-month-old BLHs. One cockerel, 8 ladies. Tips on how to keep them from being terrified of me? They arrived as day old chicks from Cackle Hatchery and are beautiful. I try to handle them once a day, but they super flip out every time. I know flighty is a bit of their nature, but hoping to keep the stress down. I think it will help when we move them from their outdoor brooder box to the more open air chicken tractor. I can climb in there with them and get them accustomed to seeing a whole person and not just scary hands reaching in like a hawk from the sky.

 

[Alaskan]

Once they are outside, start training them to come when you call and toss out treats.

They are very food motivated.

 

[Frutfarm]

Once they are outside, start training them to come when you call and toss out treats.

They are very food motivated.

Thank you for the tip! They did readily eat food out of my hands the other day, so I'll keep that up. I took one little lady out to our fenced in garden area today to see if she would enjoy foraging while I refilled the duckies' water. She just came right back to me and just wanted me to hold her while she looked around. That surprised me. I put her down a couple more times with the same result. I guess she at least recognizes me and every time the wind kicked up she found me to be a safe place. That's an exciting development in behavior. I think I will keep this up with different birds every day.

 

[Alaskan]

That sounds excellent.

Definitely train them to come when you call and give them a treat. Your life will be MUCH easier.

 

[Alaskan]

Frutfarm, I forgot to ask, do you have light brown, or dark brown leghorns?

 

[Frutfarm]

Frutfarm, I forgot to ask, do you have light brown, or dark brown leghorns?

I'm going to guess Dark Brown. They are just listed as Brown Leghorns from the Hatchery. They're very beautiful for pullet-stage! Other breed pullets we've had look so teenage-rough at this age. Our cockerel's comb is looking pretty impressive, already, too! He's been deemed "Big Red."

 

[Alaskan]

Very awesome!

I think when the hatchery doesn't specify, then you have light browns. Light browns are most common. We will know once they start to get their adult feathers. The light browns are much more colorful, the girls get this great peachy wash on their chest. Huh... I think I used the wrong color word...


Anyway, we shall see

 

[Frutfarm]

What?! My BL cockerel started crowing today! We got him as a day old chick in late March-we've never had a roo in the 3 years that we've raised birds start crowing this early-they have been 5mos, at least! Does this breed crow earlier or something? It sounded so little and adorable!