How are the White Leghorns?

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I am surprised to hear everyone say they are skittish and not friendly. I have 4 white leghorn chicks who are the nicest out of my whole flock. They will follow me around the yard if I walk away from them and jump in my lap when I sit down.

My RIR's on the other hand squawk and scream when I pick them up and are just rude in general.
 
It has seemed to me, seeing such conflicting reports of leghorn temperaments over the years, that the people who report great skittishness seem to *mostly* have commercial-type hatchery leghorns; and the people with more lap-chicken type leghorns, they are usually from show stock or occasionally from hatchery-that-sells-mainly-to-backyarders-not-commercial-operations sources.

Pat
 
My leghorns are the friendliest chickens we have.
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They are from McMurray. Years ago I had a leghorn roo and he was the friendliest out of our mixed flock. Guess you need to make sure to get friendly leghorns when you're buying.
 
I have to chime in and say that my leghorns are also the nicest chickens I have. They are from MPC and follow me everywhere. I can pick them up and stroll around with them. I've never seen them fly ANYWHERE... It's probably because they were my first chicks and they were extremely babied, but even so I'd order them again. The white eggs are HUGE and they laid all through winter. They DID get frostbite on the combs, but it wasn't all that severe - never went black and it's now healing up. I don't think they lost much, if any, comb (unlike my non leghorn roo - he lost a few points).

And I second the RIR/Production reds - I bought both leghorns and 'rir' for my first chicks and while the RIR will come out for food, they scream like sissies if I try to handle them. They are MUCH more skittish than my same age white leghorns.
 
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How did you hatch eggs from a store??? being kept cold in the refrigerator would ruin it wouldnt it???
 
Me too! My 2 leghorns are quite friendly. They are the first to run / fly to greet me and even come in to hang out with me while I clean the poop boards. DD (7) likes to read to the chickens and there is always one or the other on her shoulder. Great layers as well. AND cute little yellow fluffy chicks! :>
 
Yep - mine are flighty. They always think I'm out to get them...

If the friendly ones are as efficient as the flighty, what a bird!

In my view, efficiency is the big strength of this breed and I'd take efficient over friendly. Smaller body size to maintain while still producing lots of large eggs and lively foragers. Had a couple red stars for a while and they seemed lazier by comparison. I've got some black australorp and black star chicks right now so it'll be interesting to compare. Hope to pick up some more leghorn chicks next week.

Oh yeah, they are a very handsome bird.

Good luck!
 
Old thread... but regarding being flighty; its all about management that can curtail that aspect to a point.

Also they do come in the ROSE COMEB variety to combat frost bite issues.
 

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