Leghorn advice needed !

[Penpal]

I've only ever had white leghorns. So, I wonder if the difference in broodiness and being better foragers is a trait specific to the fancy pants leghorns.

 

[McChooky]

Beg to differ. I have a splash leghorn that not only went broody (along side 2 other hens), but proved to be the best mother of the 3. She raised the babies to 10 weeks.

She (and the other leg/leg mixes are among the most alert birds. I free range all day (they sleep in a coop and have no run, so go wherever all day). The leghorns hit the feed bucket much less than my other breeds, preferring to forage the majority of their feed.

@Hazel feather Leghorn chicks will need the same care as any other chick. If you have adult birds, I highly recommend the mama hen heating pad tactic inside the coop with the other birds from day 1.View attachment 4277137tote has window and heat inside, pic taken on 1st day babies allowed out, around 4 days old.

Leghorns tend to be active, "flighty" meaning they fly fairly well at a very young age, curious, and not cuddly.

Babies raised in the flock tend to be trying to roost at 2-3 weeks, better equipped at predator evasion, and integrate more easily.

View attachment 4277140and the broody splash leghornView attachment 4277142View attachment 4277143

You have some beautiful chicks! I agree 100% about the leghorns! They don't get the praise they deserve!

 

[Echelontheory101]

Hi all ,
I decided to take the plunge and order leghorn hatching eggs ! I’m really excited to hatch and raise them ! I ordered exchequer and blue leghorns . I’d love to hear people’s experiences with leghorns and advice on hatching and raising them!
Thanks in advance!

I love my exchequer leghorn! I would say she's the most friendly to me in the group but the least friendly to the rest of the flock however that could just be her personality and not indicative of the breed entirely but do know they are known to be a little flighty and sometimes a bit of a bully. They are great foragers and do struggle a little bit with being cooped up so either free ranging or the more run space you can give them the better and because they're very high producers I know they can be more prone to reproductive issues. Can't wait to see yours!!!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Beautiful birds! First exchequers I've seen.

 

[Penpal]

I have a white leghorn with rust spots. Is she an exchequer?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I have a white leghorn with rust spots. Is she an exchequer?

Post pics.

 

[Hazel feather]

I have a couple pullets that just turned 16 weeks old that aren't laying yet but all of my other hens are laying except the 5 yr olds. They laid until December and quit. Maybe yours are laying somewhere else? What breed and age are your hens? Some don't lay good in the winter.Mine have cut back a lot

I have an olive egger ( ccl x cuckoo Marans) and she is a year on the 18 January and has never laid a single egg and still has a pale comb .
Two EE’s , they will be a year in February . Still no eggs . Their combs are getting redder , so fingers crossed they’ll lay soon !
Everybody else is either two years or older and stopped laying in early August . The breeds include a Brahma , a bcm , a welsummer , two Pekins and loads of hybrids and barnyard mixes .
They all eat organic feed ( layers feed ) and free range . I checked all their favourite places in the garden and poly tunnels. I put up several nest boxes and have fake eggs in them to encourage them to lay in the nest boxes .

 

[McChooky]

The biggest problem I see with adding a lightweight egg laying breed like leghorns is the weather(if you like in a cold climate like Colorado) They don't have much meat on their bones and are a warm climate bird -with big combs and are prone to frost bite

 

[McChooky]

I read a post from a lady who put a trampoline beside her chicken coop and it caused her chickens to stop laying.There are a lot of reasons why they won't lay.

 

[AshVau22]

I have 4 white leghorn in my mixed flock. I love them. Super sweet. Only ones who lay year round when not broody. I originally got them because they are unlikely to go broody or so I've read. Jokes on me because 2 of the 4 decided they wanted to be moms. Excellent mothers.